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New official information on Swiss federal politics – contextualised, sourced and checked every day.
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The essentials at a glance
As of · covers through · 31 articles
Newly added
- Presidential visit to ChinaDuring a visit to China, President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin will meet President Xi Jinping on Friday, 30 October 2026. Following the meeting, Switzerland and China will sign the upgraded bilateral free trade agreement.P1Guy Parmelin travels to China for presidential visit and signing of upgraded free trade agreementNew
- Collective wage agreements for 2026The social partners signatory to Switzerland’s main collective labour agreements (CLAs) agreed on an average increase of 0.5% in actual wages and 0.8% in minimum wages for 2026.P1Actual and minimum wages rose by an average of 0.5% and 0.8% respectively in 2026New
- Listeria warningListeria has been detected in smoked trout fillets Nature by the brand Nautica, sold at Lidl Switzerland. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) recommends that the affected product not be consumed. Lidl Switzerland has immediately withdrawn the product from sale and initiated a recall.P1Public warning: Listeria in smoked trout fillets Nature by the brand Nautica, sold at Lidl SwitzerlandNew
- Parliament’s visitor centreThe Finance Committee of the Council of States proposes referring the visitor centre proposal back to the Federal Council or the Administrative Delegation respectively, with instructions to establish the centre in a federally owned property and seek a leaner operating solution.P1Parliament’s visitor and information centre: referral back and further clarification
The key points in brief
- Food safety in the Switzerland–EU packageThe National Council Science, Education and Culture Committee has begun deliberations on its assigned elements of the Switzerland–EU package: the new internal market agreement on food safety and the corresponding legislative amendments.P1National Council science, education and culture committee begins deliberations on Switzerland–EU package
- Switzerland–EU package hearingsThe National Council's Political Institutions Committee has begun hearings on its assigned parts of the Switzerland–EU package. It will continue its work at its meeting on 12 and 13 November 2026.P1Switzerland–EU package: Hearings on the free movement of persons and the dynamic adoption of EU law
- Security Policy StrategyIn his Basel speech on 22 October 2026, Federal Councillor Martin Pfister outlined three objectives of the Security Policy Strategy: making Switzerland more resilient, improving protection and strengthening defence capability.P1«Eine kleine Statistik der Unsicherheit» — translation: “A brief statistical overview of uncertainty”
- F-35A fixed-price reportAt its meeting on 21 October 2026, the Federal Council adopted its response to the report «Fixpreis F-35A» by the National Council Control Committee. It accepts six of the seven recommendations in full and one in part; some have already been implemented.P1F-35A fixed price: Federal Council adopts its response to the National Council Control Committee’s report
Decisions and next steps
- Occupational pension adjustmentsSurvivors’ and disability pensions under the compulsory second pillar will be adjusted to price trends from 1 January 2027. For some pensions, this is the first adjustment; others have already been adjusted previously.P1Occupational pensions: adjustment of survivors’ and disability pensions to price trends from 1 January 2027
- Short-time work compensationOn 21 October 2026, the Federal Council discussed the framework conditions for short-time work compensation. In view of the improved economic situation, it intends to proceed with a gradual normalisation of short-time work compensation.P1
- Minimum Taxation OrdinanceAt its meeting on 21 October 2026, the Federal Council amended the Ordinance on the Minimum Taxation of Large Enterprise Groups. It is thereby implementing two parliamentary motions with identical wording. These call for OECD administrative guidance to be applied one year later than envisaged internationally.P1Federal Council amends the Minimum Taxation Ordinance
- SERV Act consultationOn 21 October 2026, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the partial revision of the SERV Act.P1Federal Council opens consultation on partial revision of the SERV Act
Keep an eye on
- Double surnames from 2027At its meeting on 21 October 2026, the Federal Council decided that the corresponding amendment to the Swiss Civil Code (CC) would enter into force on 1 January 2027.P1Double surnames will be possible again from 1 January 2027
- Closer partnership with CanadaThe Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council submitted a motion on 21 October 2026 calling for substantially deeper relations with Canada and examination of a strategic partnership. Stored source version 5 records its status as Submitted.P1Business 26.4707: Closer partnership with Canada
- Preventive detention orders set asideThe Federal Supreme Court set aside the orders revoking authorisation for early execution of a measure and ordering preventive detention. It remitted the case to the President of the Criminal Appeals Court of the Cantonal Court of Vaud.P1Federal Supreme Court 7B_1056/2026: detention orders set aside for violation of the right to be heard
- Begging charge: appellant acquittedThe Federal Supreme Court acquitted the appellant because his conviction under Art. 11A LPG/GE was disproportionate. The case was remitted solely for a new decision on the costs and party compensation for the cantonal proceedings.P1Federal Supreme Court acquits appellant of begging charge
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