Parliament is discussing a motion from Carlo Sommaruga which is calling for a special immigration quota for the descendants of Swiss nationals but are no longer eligible for a passport.
While the exact numbers are not known – it’s estimated there are tens of thousands in South America alone.
Backers of the idea say many keep links with Switzerland, some continue to speak the language, know traditional songs and dream of re-connecting.
But as they’re not European nationals, they can’t get a visa to find work.
The government has already rejected the idea - but the final decision will be made by parliament.
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What's likely under the tree this year?
