With approval of the anti-immigration vote, Switzerland could become a hub for organised crime, police warn; knife attacker could lose his Swiss citizenship; and more news in our Monday roundup.
If anti-immigration proposal passes, ‘Switzerland could become a haven for organised crime’
This a warning issued by Karin Kayser-Frutschi, president of the Conference of Cantonal Police Directors.
Concretely, if the ‘No to million’ initiative is approved by voters on June 14th, Switzerland’s security would be compromised because “measures aimed at curbing immigration could also limit or even end the country’s access to European police database,” she said.
This would diminish Switzerland’s capacity to fight against organised crime, terrorism, and human trafficking.
Consequently, “Switzerland could end up becoming an isolated island within Europe, a potential haven for organised crime,” she added.
Radicalised knife attacker could lose his Swiss citizenship
Nesip Dedeler, the perpetrator of the attack last week in Winterthur – during which three people were injured – is a naturalised Swiss citizen.
As his offence is considered a ‘terrorist act’, a number of politicians have called for the revocation of his naturalisation and subsequent deportation back to his native Turkey.
However, according to legal experts, this could only happen after the criminal proceedings have concluded with a legally binding verdict; only then a decision could be made regarding the revocation of Dedeler’s Swiss citizenship.
READ MORE: Under what circumstances could you lose your Swiss citizenship?
And speaking of deportations…
British pedophile to be expelled from Switzerland to the UK – even though he had never lived there
In a curious case, a British citizen residing in Switzerland was convicted in Cambodia of sex crimes against children. After serving a prison sentence there, he returned to Switzerland.
But the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) had ordered his deportation to his country of origin, the UK – a decision which he appealed to the Federal Administrative Court on the grounds that he was born in Switzerland and had never lived in Great Britain.
The Court has, however, upheld SEM’s decision, stressing that though born and raised in Switzerland, the pedophile had never become naturalised, and is therefore a foreign citizen who “represents a serious threat to public order in Switzerland.”
Good news: Switzerland is no longer the world’s most expensive country
This dubious honour now belongs to Iceland, according to its own study which found that the cost of living there is 3 percent higher than in Switzerland.
As recently as 2024, Swiss prices were on average 7 percent higher than in Iceland.
However, since September 2024, the inflation rate in Switzerland has not exceeded 1 percent, while in Iceland it has never fallen below 3.7 percent during the same period – affecting the cost of living in the process.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
