Stories from Bern · Switzerland

Swiss National Council members Schmied, Müller, and Schakou are calling for increased oversight of the country's highest judges. Some cantons have already established judicial courts to provide independent oversight. Three members of the National Council are calling for the establishment of an independent judicial oversight body in Switzerland. SP National Councilor Jessica Jacou stated that current gaps exist in the system. She proposed an independent tribunal to act as a supervisor for the judiciary. The Swiss parliament is considering measures to limit the number of motions and postulates submitted. During a special session, no new motions will be allowed to be submitted. This is an attempt to reduce the flood of proposals, as the parliament does not wish to restrict itself.

Over one-third of employees in Switzerland report working during their leisure time to manage workloads, according to the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions.

Left-wing and anti-consumerist organizations in Bern have launched the 'Bern sans publicité' initiative. The proposal seeks to ban all commercial advertising throughout the city. Cultural posters and public display areas are excluded from the proposed ban.

The State Secretariat for Migration has appointed Arnaud Jacques to oversee federal asylum seeker centers. He will serve from October 2026 through December 2031.

The Swiss Federal Court acknowledged that a relationship existed between a male and female federal judge for a certain period. The proposal aims to maintain the separation of powers across Switzerland. Swiss authorities have dismissed the money laundering proceedings against Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan's former president. The Federal Supreme Court is currently not taking a position on the matter. It is unclear if the court's composition violates existing laws. The issues are currently being addressed by judges at the Federal Administrative Court and the Federal Criminal Court. The situation is accelerating political processes to clarify regulations and implement measures or laws. The matter involves the reputation of the judiciary.

A legislative proposal for a national violence protection law is expected to be submitted to the Swiss Federal Council early next year.

Twenty-seven women were killed in Switzerland last year, a figure described as the highest ever recorded. Experts state that a national strategy alone is insufficient to combat violence against women. Advocates are calling for a National Violence Protection Act to address the issue. Rebecca Schad from the Opferberatung Vierer in Winterthur is among those urgently demanding such legislation. Rebecca Schad of the Fiera victim counseling center in Winterthur stated that these figures represent only the tip of the iceberg. The current system varies significantly between different cantons. Rebecca Schardt from the Fiera victim advisory service in Winterthur is calling for an urgent national violence protection law to standardize rules across all cantons.

Swiss cantons are struggling to find solutions for covering the 142 national emergency hotline following the dissolution of highly qualified services. In the Canton of Bern, a previously established hotline was disbanded, forcing the region to seek independent coverage solutions.

A new study from Addiction Suisse shows that one-quarter of the Swiss population aged 15 and older consumed a tobacco or nicotine product at least once a month last year. The report indicates that nicotine consumption levels remain elevated across the country.

The Swiss National Council rejected an initiative to simplify naturalization processes for permit holders. The People's Chamber also rejected two related counter-proposals. The National Council's decision was followed by the National Council also rejecting two counter-proposals. A proposal for easier naturalization for second-generation foreigners in Switzerland is expected to face difficulties in the National Council. Green Party parliamentarian Sibel Aslan stated that individuals who have lived in Switzerland for years must currently pay thousands of francs and undergo a complex process to obtain citizenship. Parliamentarians have reportedly complained about the large number of proposals for 30 years. The source indicates that a specific proposal may face difficulty in the National Council. The Swiss parliament is experiencing a increase in motions, with nearly 3300 received last year.