Swiss to vote on anti-immigration initiative in June, and court rules that teenage pranks can’t prevent naturalisation— these are among the news that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup
Swiss to vote on anti-immigration initiative in June
The Federal Council has scheduled the Swiss People’s Party’s (SVP) ‘No to 10 million’ initiative to be put to a national vote on June 14th.
This will put an end – one way or another – to the SVP’s longstanding effort to cut the number of EU immigrants coming to Switzerland in the future, aligning it with the country’s population growth.
And while it is still too early for an accurate prediction, there are indications that the initiative could win the voters’ approval.
READ MORE: Switzerland announces June date for referendum on anti-immigration proposal
Several cantons will hold referendums on local issues in March
Aside from the federal referendums to be held on this day, voters in several Swiss cantons will also weigh in on matters of regional importance.
Among them are efforts to cut social assistance in Aargau; the move aiming to make the introduction of 30 km/h speed limits on main roads contingent on voter approval in Basel-Country; an amendment to regulate minimum wages for summer jobs in Geneva; and preventing wage dumping in Ticino.
READ MORE: The big issues Swiss cantons will vote on in March
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Judges rule teenage pranks can’t prevent naturalisation
The naturalisation commission in Aargau refused to grant Swiss citizenship to a woman from Eritrea because when she was 15 years old, she joined other teenagers in door-ringing and egg-throwing pranks.
However, the cantonal court has upheld her appeal against this decision, ruling that denying this person naturalisation solely on the basis of this youthful prank is “arbitrary and disproportionate.”
READ MORE: Court backs woman denied Swiss citizenship over doorbell pranks
US-bound travel from Switzerland suffers from the ‘The Trump slump’ effect
For years, the USA was one of the favourite travel destinations for Swiss tourists.
But this is no longer the case.
Travel industry figures show that while 60,883 tourists from Switzerland arrived in the United States between January 1st and March 31st, 2024, in 2025, the number fell to 48,712 during the same period.
Experts attribute this decline to Donald Trump’s policies – both globally and toward Switzerland as well.
READ MORE: Why are fewer Swiss travelling to the United States?
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Switzerland’s public sector has become slightly more corrupt in 2025
In a new international ranking, Switzerland has fallen behind in terms of corruption in the public sector.
“Over the past 10 years, the proportion of people in the Swiss business community who consider corruption of public officials to be a common practice has increased significantly,” said Urs Thalmann, head of Transparency International’s Swiss chapter.
“Strategies should thus be implemented at both the cantonal and municipal levels to identify and reduce the risks of corruption through effective preventative measures.”
READ MORE: Is corruption growing in Switzerland?
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Several changes are in store for Swiss families this year
Though households in Switzerland are paying higher health and car insurance premiums in 2026, they also get some breaks in other areas.
For example, many families will benefit from lower tax rates thanks to locally approved cuts and an adjustment of taxation to (low) inflation.
Other positive changes includejhgher family/child allowance in some cantons, as well financial relief for parents who have kids in childcare facilities in Zug.
READ MORE: What changes for families in Switzerland in 2026?
