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.
Swiss Post announce job cuts
Swiss Post will eliminate up to 110 positions in 2027, blaming shrinking letter volumes and fewer over-the-counter transactions
Autumn arrives in Switzerland
The heatwave that has gripped Switzerland since May finally breaks tomorrow
Driver warning in Vaud
Drivers in western Vaud face four nights of disruption on the A1 next week.
Mixed results in school classrooms
Swiss 15-year-olds still rank among the world's best in maths and science, but their performance in reading and maths is sliding
Good news for household bills
Swiss households will pay a little less for electricity next year
Fuel reserves now in use
Switzerland is dipping into its emergency fuel reserves for the first time this year to keep petrol and diesel flowing
