Fighting the pandemic has been expensive. The latest figures show the country is CHF 12.2bn in the red. That’s twice as much as budgeted.
CHF 14bn was spent on Covid measures, including compensation for reduced working hours, hardship cases and loss of earnings allowances.
But last year was still just under a billion francs less expensive than 2020.
The government says there should be no further extraordinary costs and the budget should return to normal next year – with CHF 600,000 surplus.
Geneva/Lausanne rail link under pressure
The rail link between Geneva and Lausanne is reaching breaking point.
Prison population climbs
The prison population has reached its highest level since records began, according to new figures released by the Federal Statistics Office.
Tax breaks for EVs under pressure
Electric vehicle tax breaks are coming under pressure across Switzerland as more drivers switch away from petrol and diesel cars.
Health insurance premiums will rise next year, but not as much
A slight slowdown is in sight for health insurance premiums.
Hundreds of kilos of asparagus stolen
A major asparagus theft has shocked farmers in canton Fribourg.
Broad coalition forms against 10 million vote
Cantons, cities and municipalities are uniting against the Swiss People’s Party’s “No 10 Million Switzerland” initiative ahead of next month’s vote.
