Failed Eritrian asylum seekers could be sent to 3rd country

Parliament has voted to call on the government to reach an agreement with a third country that it can send failed Eritrian asylum seekers to.

Eritrean nationals can’t be sent back to their home country as it doesn’t allow forced repatriation of its nationals.

The motion was brought forward by the Liberal Party, it was passed by 120 votes to 75.

Many MPs cited the examples of the UK and its agreement with Rwanda and Italy that has a deal with Albania. 

The backers stressed there’s no question the asylum procedure wouldn't be carried out in Switzerland and it would only apply to those who fail.

More from Bitesize News

  • Citizenship remains one of the hardest on continent

    The Council of States has rejected a popular initiative that would have let foreigners apply for citizenship after just five years, closing the parliamentary door on the biggest attempt in years to loosen one of Europe's strictest naturalisation regimes

  • More gun crime in Annemasse

    Seven people are in French police custody after a shooting Monday evening at a drug-dealing spot in Ville-la-Grand, on the edge of Annemasse

  • Geneva land ownership change

    The canton of Geneva is set to become the sole owner of the land beneath Stade de Genève, buying out a parcel held by federal railways CFF for CHF 15.84 million

  • Agriculture warning after record breaking summer

    Farmers warn that another summer like this one would eat through their remaining reserves and force cuts to herds and crops

  • SNB interest rate stable

    The Swiss National Bank has kept its key interest rate at zero, sticking with a policy that has held since June 2025 even as oil-driven inflation ticks higher

  • Phone company going to court

    A Swisscom technician who spent 38 years at the company says he was fired for helping his 80-year-old neighbour cancel a subscription she never wanted

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play