News

Fact Check on the Chaos-Initiative

Switzerland is no accident. It is the result of generations who have founded families, immigrated, researched, cultivated, and collaborated. In doing so, they have overcome language barriers, cantonal borders, and, increasingly for decades, national borders. This cooperation and exchange form the basis of the Swiss prosperity that we now take for granted.

NO to the Amendment of the Civil Service Act

A vote on the amendment to the Civil Service Act will also take place on June 14. The amendment aims to solve an alleged personnel shortage in the military by weakening the civil service. Volt says NO to the amendment of the Civil Service Act because there are doubts about the claimed military personnel shortage, the reform is unconstitutional, it would lead to personnel shortages in critical sectors, and because civil service and military service should not be played off against each other.

Volt Switzerland Elects New Board at National Assembly in Basel

On Saturday, 18th April, Volt Switzerland held its annual National Assembly in Basel. Members from across the country gathered to elect a new board and approve revamped statutes and internal regulations; paving the way for continued growth over the next two years.

Volt says YES to a reform of property taxation

Switzerland is one of the few countries that applies an imputed rental value and taxes it under the income tax. Many property owners consider this rule unfair; accordingly, there have been repeated political initiatives to abolish it. In light of high private indebtedness, distortive incentives, and counterproductive deductions, a system change has been set in motion. We see these issues as core weaknesses of the current system and, despite reservations, support the shift in property taxation.

Volt says YES to e-ID

In September, Switzerland will vote again on e-ID. The new proposal stipulates that the federal government will issue the e-ID, which should increase trust. The e-ID serves as digital identity verification and is stored decentrally on the user's device to ensure security. We at Volt naturally support this solution, as we are calling for e-IDs based on the Estonian model throughout Europe.

Switzerland must stand together with the EU - now more than ever

With Donald Trump's presidency, the global situation is changing rapidly and calls for a strengthening of the European bloc are growing louder. However, Switzerland is choosing to wait and bury its head in the sand. We at Volt believe that this is the wrong approach and are calling for stronger cooperation with Europe on common defence and economically by concluding the Bilateral Agreements III until accession to the EEA.

Women in politics

The public space is a place for exchanges, meetings and the co-construction of society. As such, it must be a representative space, a diverse space, and a safe space.

Europe’s coming of age trial

Volt’s call to action to European leaders at the Emergency European Council European leaders had 4 months to prepare a plan to defend Ukraine and our democracy. Despite years of evidence that Trump only respects strength and punishes weakness, and repeated calls for urgent action, they thought the best strategy was to wait for an American plan.

Volt says YES to the Environmental Responsibility Initiative

We depend on a clean environment and a functioning ecosystem. However, our planet's resources are limited and with our current lifestyle, Switzerland consumes almost three times as many resources as are available on earth. Global warming and the extinction of species are already jeopardising life on this planet. We therefore urgently need to adapt our way of life to the environmental challenges. Volt therefore says YES to the environmental responsibility initiative.

Volt fully supports the new package of agreements between Switzerland and the European Union (Bilaterals 3)

After more than 190 meetings, Switzerland and the EU have agreed on a new, customised negotiation package aimed at making bilateral relations fit for the future. It includes the modernisation of existing agreements and the conclusion of new agreements on electricity, food safety and health. We at Volt will do our utmost to ensure that this new package is well received by the population.

Volt says NO to the Changes in the Rental Law

At the end of 2022, more than 60% of the 2.4 million households in Switzerland lived in rental or cooperative housing—a trend that is on the rise. The two current proposals on rental law aim to significantly restrict tenant protection for this majority, without leading to any notable improvement in the housing market. While the first proposal would make it easier for owners to assert personal use, the second proposal targets stricter regulations for subletting. We reject this weakening.

Volt says YES to the Amendment of the Federal Insurance Act (KVG)

There are numerous disincentives in the healthcare system and they are an extreme obstacle to efficient healthcare. The amendment to the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG) calls for a standardised distribution of treatment costs between the insurers and the cantons. Volt supports the reform, but also recognises that there is a strong need for further reform in the healthcare system.

Volt says NO to the National Road Expansion

Road traffic generates high costs and negatively impacts the environment and local residents. The expansion of national roads aims to reduce traffic jams, but it creates false incentives and leads to increased traffic. Volt rejects the federal decree on the 2023 expansion step and demands more investment in public transport.

Volt Kosova & Switzerland: More than just a cooperation

Volt Kosova and Volt Switzerland are part of the pan-European political movement and party that works for a more united, stronger, and fairer Europe. With a deep belief in the values of democracy, human rights, and equality, Volt is striving to bring these principles to every corner of Europe, including our two European non-EU countries.

Volt is running in the municipal elections in Bern

On 24 November, Bern will elect 80 new members of the city council. Volt is running for the first time and wants to bring best practices from Europe to Bern, particularly in the area of mobility. The expansion of the pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, mobility hubs and development towards a sponge city are all on the agenda.

Volt says YES to the Biodiversity Initiative

Biodiversity is essential for long-term prosperity and quality of life in Switzerland and worldwide. Due to various threats, including climate change and the intensive use of natural resources, biodiversity is severely endangered. We at Volt support the Biodiversity Initiative to promote effective measures for protecting biodiversity and to secure natural foundations.

Front Européen as a progressive alternative: Interview with Marie-Julie Jacquemot, candidate for Volt France

This week, we hosted Marie-Julie Jacquemot, Volt's French candidate for the 6th constituency of French citizens in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and François Aubriot, her deputy, in Zurich. Together we discussed the shift to the right in the European Parliament as well as Macron's decision to dissolve the parliament and the challenges this poses for France and therefore also for the EU.

Volt gets 5 pan-European MEPs elected

Volt, Europe’s only pan-European party, secured five seats in its second electoral race. The party will be represented by Anna Strolenberg, Reinier van Lanschot, from the Netherlands and Damian Boeselager, Nela Riehl and Kai Tegethoff from Germany.

Our Voting Recommendations for 9 June 2024

On June 9th, 2024, Switzerland will vote on the future of its energy supply with renewable sources and on two initiatives to finance its healthcare system. All three are hotly debated in Switzerland and we want to bring our usual out-of-the-box perspective.

Upholding International Justice: The Imperative of Supporting the ICC and the ICJ in the Hamas-Israel War

We affirm our support and respect for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

For a strong Switzerland in Europe: Launch of the Europe Initiative

Today the time has finally come: we are launching the Europe Initiative together with Operation Libero, the European Movement Switzerland and other organisations of the Europe Alliance.