Swiss to vote on easier naturalisation rules in February, and ‘winter’ viruses are already spreading — 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 easier naturalisation rules
Switzerland’s controversial initiative to shorten residency requirements for naturalisation will be voted on in a February 28th referendum.
The proposal (also known as the “Democracy initiative”) aims to cut the wait time before a foreigner can apply for citizenship from the current 10 years of residency down to five.
The initiative also calls for the federal government to be responsible for naturalisation, so that the procedure is standardised across the country.
Currently, individual cantons may impose their own naturalisation criteria, which are sometimes stricter than the ones set by the federal migration authorities.
READ MORE: Switzerland sets date for vote on bid to cut wait times for Swiss citizenship
What will happen to the 13th pension if the source of funding is rejected at the ballot box?
The first payment of the 13th monthly state pension is scheduled for December, but Swiss voters must still approve the source of the money for this expensive project – a hike in the Value Added Tax (VAT).
A referendum on this matter will be held on November 29th.
If voters turn down the proposal, the pension will be still paid, with money drawn from available pension reserves.
However, this means that these reserves will dwindle, so alternate sources of financing for the 13th pension would have to be urgently found.
READ MORE: Will the 13th pension be paid if Swiss voters refuse to raise the Value Added Tax?
‘Winter’ viruses are already spreading in Switzerland
Respiratory viruses circulate in Switzerland as the weather gets colder and can, in some cases, develop into severe illnesses.
Aside from about 200 varieties of common cold, health officials also warn that flu, Covid, as well as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are already being detected among the population, with the peak expected to be reached in coming weeks and months.
All of them are highly infectious with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
Vaccines for all three – especially for the elderly and people with chromic health conditions and compromised immune systems – are available, authorities say.
READ MORE: What viruses to expect in Switzerland this winter?
Switzerland prepares a plan to mitigate the effects of climate change
After record-breaking temperatures and extreme drought that hit Switzerland during the summer of 2026, the Federal Council set out objectives and defined key measures aimed at limiting the risks associated with climate change in Switzerland.
Furthermore, it “reached decisions concerning heat monitoring and the protection of human and animal health,” the government said.
“The objective is to enhance the adaptive capacity of the environment, society, and the economy.”
READ MORE: Swiss government unveils new strategy to combat heatwaves and drought
Swiss children can’t ‘inherit’ their parents double-barrelled surnames
After several law changes, double surnames will be permitted in Switzerland from 2027 – but for adults only.
Children, however, will only have one single surname – either the mother’s or the father’s.
The reason for this decision is purely pragmatic – that is, to prevent an accumulation of surnames over generations.
The ‘single surname’ rule applies to Swiss-citizen children only; it is more flexible regarding children born in Switzerland to foreign parents.
If the country of the child’s origin allows a double surname – or if such names are customary there – parents can request that the Swiss civil registry office registers their offspring under those names.
READ MORE: Why are children in Switzerland not allowed to have double surnames?
Neutral Switzerland is a major arms manufacturer
On November 29th, Swiss voters will decide whether their government should be able to supply arms to a state involved in an armed conflict.
And that brings up a pertinent question of why the neutral country is involved in producing and exporting weapons in the first place?
The country produces various military equipment, small arms, ammunition, armoured vehicles, and air defence systems – but why?
The government says it is primarily for defence purposes – yes, Switzerland is neutral, but it is an armed neutrality.
“Switzerland has its own armed forces to defend its territory and independence,” the government said.
READ MORE: Why is neutral Switzerland manufacturing and exporting weapons?
