The prisons are full – but not with criminals.
According to new federal statistics, more than half of all inmates are behind bars simply because they couldn’t pay a fine.
Last year alone, nearly 5,000 were jailed for not paying a fine - often for things like fare evasion.
Each short stay costs taxpayers around 200 francs a day.
A proposal in Parliament aims to replace such jail time with community service.
The Federal Council says this would ease the burden on prisons and save money.
Over 2,000 take to Geneva streets
Thousands of Geneva civil servants took to the streets yesterday afternoon, fighting budget cuts.
Geneva to fund French transport projects
After months of tension, Geneva and its French neighbours are moving toward closer cooperation.
Army loophole looks set to close
Parliament looks set to close a loophole that allows hundreds of people to escape military service.
WW1 shell found at Bains de Pâquis
Divers working near the Bains des Pâquis made a strange discovery - a World War One shell.
Train deal 'stupid'
Swiss Federal Railways is under increasing political – and press - criticism after it awarded a massive contract for new rolling stock to a German company and not a Swiss one.
Geneva strike and march this afternoon
Major disruptions are expected in Geneva this afternoon as state and subsidized sector employees go on strike.
