Latest poll reveals that the anti-immigration initiative will be approved by Swiss voters; family benefits for cross-border workers will continue to be calculated “according to Swiss standards; “and more news in our roundup on Thursday.
Anti-immigration initiative will be approved by Swiss voters, latest poll suggests
When it comes to the ballot box on June 14th, the rightwing ‘No to 10 million’ initiative will win the support of 52 percent of voters.
This is the finding of a voter survey carried out by the Tamedia media group on April 22nd and 23rd among 16,000 voters.
As for main reasons, the risks associated with immigration – including security, crime, as well as a burden placed on housing and other key infrastructure – are the top concerns cited.
Conversely, opponents believe that accepting the proposal would jeopardise bilateral agreements with the EU and exacerbate the shortage of skilled labour.
Family benefits for cross-border workers will continue to be calculated “according to Swiss standards”
The National Council rejected a motion from a Ticino MP Lorenzo Quadri, who called for family allowances for foreign workers to be adjusted to the cost of living in their country of origin.
“In Ticino, where there are approximately 80,000 cross-border workers, the difference between the cost of living and that of Italy is significant,” he argued. “Furthermore, thanks to the strengthening of the franc against the euro, cross-border workers’ salaries are increasingly comfortable relative to the cost of living in their home countries. Therefore, the allowances they receive should be proportional to the cost of living in their country of residence, not to that of Switzerland.”
However, adjusting the amount to the purchasing power of the country of residence “is contrary to the principle of equal treatment” between Swiss and EU citizens, deputies ruled.
Vaud MPs are in favour of providing Interrail passes for young people
The cantonal Parliament wants to further explore the idea of offering an Interrail pass -valid for train travel throughout Europe – to residents of Vaud when they turn 18.
MPs will assess the feasibility of such a project, aiming to instill a love for train travel in young people.
Supported by the Left and the Green Liberals, this motion was narrowly approved this week.
Several deputies highlighted the volume of greenhouse gas emissions generated by the aviation sector and emphasised the need to prioritise sustainable alternatives, such as rail.
Swiss household wealth rises to over 5,000 billion francs
Yes, the Swiss are still (very) wealthy: Household financial assets increased by 119 billion (up 3.8 percent) in 2025, according to the Swiss National Bank.
This rise was mainly due to increase in occupational pension entitlements as well as various investment schemes.
Furthermore, households benefited in 2025 overall from capital gains due to higher stock market prices.
Net worth (financial assets plus real estate wealth minus liabilities) increased by a total of 226 billion to 5,132 billion francs – up 4.6 percent.
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