Yes to a 13th month AVS and no to higher retirement

Voters have agreed to a 13th month pension payment - and said no to raising the retirement age.

The strength of the yes vote for the extra AVS payment surprised many analysts. While polls were signalling it would pass, many pollsters called it too close to call. But in the end 58.2% said yes as did 15 cantons. 

It’s thought there was an element of protest by voters. Many had watched while the government handed out cash to the failed Credit Suisse and to Ukraine – all while struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. 

But the initiative to raise the retirement age failed. The youth wing of the Liberal Party, which launched the vote – called it a black day for the young. 

They say with the 13th payment and no raise in the retirement age, the pension fund is now ´severely endangered’. 

 

 

 

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play