Swiss vote in favour of scrapping rental tax and introduction of electronic identity; government earmarks more money to build affordable housing; and other news in our roundup on Monday.
Two times ‘yes’: This is how the Swiss voted in Sunday’s referendum
Some 57.7 percent of voters were in favour of abolishing the rental imputed value tax for both primary and secondary homes.
The second issue on the national ballot – the introduction of the electronic identity (e-ID) – also passed, but by a much narrower margin – only 50.39 percent backed it.
READ ALSO: What’s at stake in Switzerland’s September referendums?
In local balloting, more than 54 percent of Vaud voters turned down the proposal aiming to shorten the period of residence for foreigners to be able to vote and stand for elections at the communal level,
And in Zurich, 61.7 percent of voters agreed to limit the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers to October through December.
READ ALSO: Sunday’s key votes in Swiss cantons
Government wants to release more money for affordable housing
To relieve chronic shortages, the Federal Council wants to accelerate the construction of affordable apartments by injecting an additional 150 million francs into the specially-created fund for the years 2030 to 2034.
“It thus responds to the ever-increasing challenges facing the housing sector as a result of population growth and immigration,” it said.
It added that “the lack of affordable housing is primarily a problem for low-income households, but increasingly also for the middle class.”
The fund is used to grant repayable loans to non-profit housing developers for the construction, renovation, and purchase of properties, as well as the acquisition of building plots.
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‘No booze’: Swiss legislator wants to hit back at the United States
Switzerland is one of the countries hardest hit by the customs duties (39 percent) imposed by the United States in August.
Even so, the Federal Council has so far taken no punitive countermeasures, relying, as Swiss do, on diplomatic channels instead.
But that passive approach is not good enough for MP David Roth, who has submitted a parliamentary motion calling for targeted tariffs on highly symbolic American products, such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, bourbon, and Boeing aircraft components.
“These are products manufactured in regions that overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump,” Roth said. “That’s the card we should play with him.”
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Switzerland has the second richest population in the world
By the end of 2024, total financial assets in Switzerland grew by 8.7 percent to €269 trillion (251 trillion francs).
This growth was even higher than in the already strong previous year (+8 percent). And he gross financial assets of Swiss households rose by 4.2 percent in 2024.
This is what emerges the Global Wealth Report published by insurer Allianz Switzerland.
Switzerland is ranking second, behind the USA (311,000 euros), but significantly ahead of other Western European countries.
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