Switzerland’s rejection comes several years after neighboring countries like Austria and Germany began recognizing some form of third gender on official documents.
Heating one’s home and water to more than 19°C and 60°C, respectively, may result in daily fines of up to 3,000 Swiss Francs and prison sentences up to three years.
Zelensky’s oligarch-friendly tax structure—along with wealthy Ukrainians receiving social welfare benefits abroad—have come under increased scrutiny across Europe.
More than two-thirds of Swiss voters—72%—voted in favour of increasing their contribution to the agency. Their refusal would have had serious repercussions on the overall functioning of the institution.
Just last week Switzerland insisted on its role as a neutral country regarding sanctions against Russia. But following international and national pressure, the government stepped in line with the EU on Monday.
Swiss media companies had seen their revenue streams dry up over the past 20 years, pushing many publishers to the brink of extinction. Even so, a proposed law to subsidize private media companies with public money was rejected by Swiss voters.
The new provisions concern about 0.0015% of the Swiss population. But that is not the point: it is a signal of the resolutely progressive path that Switzerland intends to take.
