Music hits 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Listen Live

Search

SVP now backs free testing

Thursday, 16 September 2021 04:00

In what appears to be a U-turn, the Swiss People’s Party is now backing the continuation of free Covid tests.

It was only last month when the two party members on the Federal Council, Guy Parmelin and Ueli Maurer, wanted to end free testing for the unvaccinated. 

But now the right-wing party has changed its position and is backing free testing. The party says if testing needed to be paid for, it would be a burden on the young and those with less financial means. 

The change in position may have something to do with a petition aiming to keep the tests free has now hit 235,000 signatures. 

The tests are costing the Confederation millions. 

But it now seems likely they will stay free as the left-wing parties have long supported free tests. 

Share

More from Bitesize News

  • Debate within SVP

    Cracks are showing inside the SVP over Christoph Blocher's neutrality initiative, ahead of the 27 September vote

  • New biometric card is coming

    Switzerland is rolling out its first biometric identity card, with applications opening from 2 October

  • Police warning in Jura

    Jura police are warning young adults about a car-leasing scam that could leave them facing heavy financial and criminal consequences

  • Raiffeisen job cuts

    Raiffeisen has announced it will cut up to 180 jobs next year, even as the bank posts one of its strongest half-year results.

  • SBB slow down new projects

    Switzerland's rail operator will now prioritise maintaining its existing network over building new lines, its new president André Wyss has said

  • Mixed weather conditions for the weekend

    Switzerland is heading into a mixed few days, with Saharan dust returning and thunderstorms sweeping in later today

Follow WRS

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play