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Today in Switzerland: A round-up of the latest news on Monday

The Local
The Local - [email protected]
Today in Switzerland: A round-up of the latest news on Monday
Could foreigners have the right to vote in Switzerland? Photo by AFP

Find out what's going on in Switzerland today with The Local's short round-up of the news.

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New travel and quarantine rules go into effect

Starting today, stricter regulations will apply for travellers arriving from abroad by air. They will have to show a recent negative Covid test before taking off for Switzerland. 

In addition, personal information of almost all travelers will now be systematically recorded, whether they arrive by plane, boat, bus or train.

The 10-day quarantine could now be reduced to seven days under certain circumstances. 

The Local will write a detailed article about the new requirements today.

Shutdown measures could be extended until summer

Originally, the closings of restaurants, bars and all non-essential businesses were supposed to end on February 28. But last week it was reported that these measures were not likely to be lifted until sometime in March.

But the Health Ministry is now considering extending the current shutdown measures until the summer to slow down the spread of coronavirus mutations, according to media reports.  

The decision is expected later this month.

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Swiss women to be commemorated on gold coins

Swissmint, the federal currency agency, announced the issue of a gold coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of women’s suffrage in Switzerland. It will be available for sale at the end of April at the price of 680 francs.

This 50-franc coin has a diameter of 25 mm, is made of 0.900 gold alloy and weighs 11.29 grams. About 5,000 copies will be produced and can be purchased from the Swissmint website. 

Swissmint

 

Foreigners' right to vote

Socialist deputies Ada Marra (VD) and Mustafa Atici (BS) are preparing a parliamentary initiative to demand the right to vote and to be elected for foreigners at the municipal level after five years of residence in Switzerland. 

The cantons of Fribourg, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura already allow non-citizens to vote, elect officials, and stand for election at communal level. Conditions vary from one canton to another, but in most cases a certain length of stay and/or a residence permit are required.

Geneva, which has the largest foreign population in Switzerland (45 percent), grants foreigners voting rights at communal level, but they can't run for office. 

Basel, Graubünden, and Appenzell Ausserrhoden have authorised their communes to introduce the right to vote, the right to elect and the right to be elected. But few of the communes have actually introduced these measures.

 

 

 

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Anonymous 2021/02/08 09:34
Where are the vaccines? What is the schedule for vaccination of each age group? Extending restrictions until Summer is nuts.

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