Stories from Fribourg · Switzerland

French-speaking cantons in Switzerland are uniting to implement the 142 helpline to support victims of physical, psychological, or sexual violence. The service, managed by Solidarité Femme Fribourg, will launch this Friday and will be free of charge.

A 58-year-old man fled from police during a routine check on roads in Fribourg using a modified electric scooter. The vehicle was equipped with two 2000-watt motors and could reach speeds of 127 km/h, which is six times the authorized limit.

The Fribourg State Council is preparing a 2026 bis budget following a setback with the state finance sanitation law. The state currently lacks a budget. The government began working on the new budget early this morning, with the revised proposal due before the Grand Council on June 23. The municipality of Scholl is particularly grateful for the support from Enetenberg for its libraries, as they could not afford the renovation costs themselves. The community retains 3 million primarily for flood protection.

Taxpayers in the canton of Fribourg should expect a rise in taxes. The Fribourg State Council faces fiscal challenges regarding the 2026 budget. Officials anticipate a rise in taxes due to the lack of a current budget and the rejection of the State Finance Assignment Law. The canton must address the upcoming costs of sanitizing the cantonal hospital. Current wealth is fully committed and insufficient to cover these projected expenses.

69% of voters in Fribourg rejected a budget restriction plan proposed by the Council of State. The plan was intended to curb government spending and align with the majority of the right-wing government and Parliament. The decision represents a rejection of the current administration's fiscal policy. Voters in Fribourg have rejected a proposed plan to implement budget restrictions. The turnout for the vote was low, with less than one-third of the electorate participating. The measures under consideration would have impacted the salaries of nearly 20,000 state employees. The left-wing parties gained momentum following the vote, despite low voter turnout. Fribourg is scheduled to renew its cantonal authorities in six months. The results indicate a potential shift in political momentum for left-leaning groups. Low voter turnout was noted during the proceedings.

The Fribourg cantonal parliament has approved a new austerity program led by a center-right majority. Voter turnout for the current budget vote for 2026-2028 is reported as extremely low, at less than one-third. The vote directly impacts the salaries of approximately 20,000 state employees. The Fribourg Cantonal Parliament rejected the financial sanitation law, which sought to cut 400 million francs in spending by 2028. The Fribourg Canton Parliament has rejected an austerity program affecting the 2026 to 2028 budgets. Approximately 20,000 state employees in Fribourg face direct salary impacts from the budget decisions. The rejection concerns the 2026-2028 budgets and follows a 500,000 Swiss franc profit reported for 2025. The outcome leaves the regional budget situation under continued scrutiny. The outcome represents a major setback for the government's financial policy in the region.