Controversy is brewing over accepting resident foreigners into the Basel-Country police force; rents are expected to increase slightly this year; and more Swiss news in our roundup this Friday.
Controversy over accepting resident foreigners into the Basel-Country police force
A motion submitted in the canton’s parliament by deputy Simone Abt from the Social Democratic Party, is calling for foreign nationals with a C permit to be allowed to become police officers.
The proposal is, however, stirring controversy with right-wing parties that oppose this move.
“We say no to opening of the police force to people without Swiss passports,” said Martin Karrer, a legislator from the populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP).
Others have a more moderate view.
For instance, Alain Bai, the spokesperson for the Liberal-Radical party (PLR) said that his group is also in principle against the proposal.
However, Bai submitted a ‘compromise’ motion: police training should be opened to foreigners on the condition of subsequent naturalisation.
Interestingly, the neighbour canton, Basel-City, began hiring permanent foreign residents for its police force in 1996, with some other cantons following later.
Rents are expected to increase slightly this year
Housing prices in Switzerland are continuing their upward trend, though at a slower pace than in previous years, according to a joint statement released Thursday by the real estate portal Homegate and the Zurich Cantonal Bank.
That’s because even though migration flows were lower in 2025, construction of new residential buildings still has not caught up with the demand, and rent increases are therefore expected to continue.
The average hike for 2026 is expected to be around 1.5 percent.
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Online commerce practices spark thousands of consumer complaints in Switzerland
Consumer protection agencies have received a total of 8,640 complaints and reports in 2025.
Foremost among them were complaints about the dropshipping – the spreading practice where companies sell products online without holding the actual inventory; when a customer buys something from their store, they purchase the item from a third-party supplier.
In all, over 1,500 disgruntled customers complained about it, according to a Swiss-German consumer group, Konsumentenschutz.
Other most-widely reported consumer grievances included mobile phone contracts and bills (351 reports), as well as online dating platforms (311 reports).
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Municipal authorities warn about the possibility of ice collapse on a frozen Alpine lake
Due to increasing visitor numbers, the risk of accidents on the frozen Lake Cauma, located in Flims, in canton Graubünden, has increased.
However, despite warnings, many people – including children – walk on the ice, which authorities say is “extremely dangerous” due to cavities under the ice surface.
The municipality is trying to prevent a disaster by adding more warning signs and providing additional equipment for the fire department, so it can respond quickly if needed.
READ ALSO: What are Switzerland’s rules for skating or walking on frozen lakes?
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