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Only in Switzerland: Relive the 10 most Swiss stories of 2018

From cheesy science experiments to torturous citizenship interviews, here are the top ten stories from the last 12 months that could have only happened in Switzerland.

Published: 17 December 2018 20:55 CET
Only in Switzerland: Relive the 10 most Swiss stories of 2018
Cheese maker Beat Wampfler plays music to a wheel of Emmental. Photo: AFP

1) Swiss university launches country's first-ever degree in yodelling

When Lucerne's University of Applied Sciences and Arts announced it was adding yodelling to its Folk Music program this year, the story made international headlines. The art of yodelling is a long-standing tradition in Switzerland and is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. 

Swiss yodeller and course teacher Nadja Räss. Photo: andibrunner.com

2) Brit denied Swiss citizenship after 'failing raclette question'

Back in June, we covered the story of 43-year-old David Lewis who was denied the Swiss passport because he incorrectly answered several questions at a citizenship interview – including one about the origins of the cheese dish raclette. Our interview with him struck a chord with many readers of The Local.

3) Swiss researchers try to get ancient Roman fridge working (again)

A story combining great science, snow, ice, and plenty of persistence: What could be more Swiss? By the way, this particular tale had a happy follow-up (involving a bottle of beer, no less).

Researchers at Switzerland's Augusta Raurica Roman site. File photo: Peter-Andrew Schwarz

4) Swiss man loses shopping bag containing 800,000-franc cryptocurrency stash

When Thomas T. lost two cryptocurrency hardware wallets while on a shopping expedition in Lucerne, he was so eager to reclaim the funds, he appealed to national media outlets for help – in vain, unfortunately.

5) Swiss snowman's head takes 20 minutes to explode…and predicts poor summer

Zurich's huge Sechseläuten festival culiminates in the burning of the multi-umlauted Böögg, a massive snowman packed with explosives whose destruction marks the symbolic end of the winter. According to tradition, the length of time it takes for the Böögg's head to explode predicts the weather for the summer ahead. This year it took 20 minutes, but predictions were wrong as the summer proved very warm indeed.

The Swiss version of Groundhog Day – Zurich's Böögg burns. Photo: AFP

6) ‘Rubbish criminal’ sentenced to two days in Swiss prison

Stray rubbish bags, a missing tax sticker and some ruthlessly efficient rubbish detectives: This story delved into the messy world that is rubbish disposal in Switzerland. Oh, and just in case one rubbish story isn't enough for you, here's another.

7) Speeding duck clocked smashing speed limit in Swiss village

Back in April, a speed camera in the canton of Bern caught a duck going 52 kilometres per hour in a 30 zone. And to prove that police in Switzerland can have a sense of humour, the local force reached out to people on Facebook asking where they should send the fine.

Duck! Photo: Polizeiinspektorat Köniz

8) Basel police unveil cool new customized Tesla response cars

What do you do when you need a fleet of super-fast environmentally-friendly police cars? Order some Teslas, of course. That's what the canton of Basel-Stadt did this year when it spent nearly a million Swiss francs on seven vehicles from Elon Musk and company.

9) Swiss red tape: Court rules against retirees' 'flashy orange house'

When Willy and Marie Zysset decided to liven up their house in the city of Biel/Bienne by painting it orange, they spoke to local authorities to find out if they needed permission to replace the original “dirty brown” paint job. Things only got worse from there.

10) Cheesy music: Swiss experiment with sound to make cheese tastier

Although it sounds like a headline from a spoof article, this story took a (mostly) serious look at the attempts of one cheese maker in the Emmental region in central Switzerland to change the flavour of his produce by serenading it with music by everyone from Led Zeppelin to A Tribe Called Quest. We defy you to come up with a more Swiss story than this.

Swiss cheesemaker Beat Wampfler (L) and director of the Music Department at University of the Arts in Bern, Michael Harenberg Photo: AFP

For members

SWISS CITIZENSHIP

Do EU residents in Switzerland need to get Swiss citizenship?

If you come from the European Union or Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein (EFTA) and live in Switzerland you may be wondering whether applying for Swiss nationality is worth your while.

Published: 23 November 2023 09:11 CET
Do EU residents in Switzerland need to get Swiss citizenship?

While many foreign residents are impatiently waiting for the moment when they will be eligible to apply for a Swiss passport, others are in no rush to do so.
 
The desire (or the lack thereof) to become a citizen of Switzerland — in addition to maintaining their original nationality, if they decide to do so — varies from person to person, depending on many different factors.

The main one is undoubtedly whether the foreigner intends to stay in Switzerland indefinitely, or plans to return home eventually.

Another reason may very well be the desire to participate fully and completely in Switzerland’s  political life and democratic processes — that is, to vote in referendums and elections, and feel that your opinion matters.

But a lot may also depend on another factor: your nationality.

For people from third countries who have lived in Switzerland long enough — 10 years with  a B or L permit — before finally being eligible for their permanent residency C permit, is a huge event. (Americans and Canadians, on the other hand, can apply for a C permit after five years of consecutive residence).

It is therefore logical that many of these people, whose status in Switzerland has been conditional and tenuous for many years, will jump on the opportunity to be naturalised and ‘regularise’ their situation.

What about people from the EU / EFTA?

Admittedly, there is far less urgency — or need, for that matter — to become a Swiss citizen if you have a passport from an EU or EFTA state.

That’s because you have an almost unlimited access to Swiss jobs and residency, as well as sweeping rights overall. For instance, you are free to change jobs and move from one canton to another.

Another benefit that you, as a citizen of an EU / EFTA state have, is that you can come to Switzerland and look for work for up to six months without any visa requirements.

Also, in case of a job loss, an EU / EFTA citizen doesn’t have to leave Switzerland immediately.

Instead, they may stay in the country for at least six months to seek new employment. 

Another perk is that if you are living in Switzerland as an EU/EFTA citizen, you can purchase property – indeed, you have the same rights in this regard as Swiss citizens do.

You do not need a permit or any additional permissions that a Swiss citizen would not require to buy property. 

READ ALSO: Just how freely can EU citizens move to (and within) Switzerland?

All this to say that you can live in Switzerland pretty much indefinitely on your EU / EFTA passport, and neither your residency nor employment is subject to the same restrictions as those imposed on third country nationals.

You basically enjoy the same rights as Swiss citizens, except for the right to vote, which may or may not matter to you.

In that respect, you don’t need a Swiss passport, especially if you don’t plan to remain in the country longterm.

However…

…if you do want to continue living in Switzerland, it may be worth your while to apply for naturalisation, if only out of pragmatism.

That’s because if you leave the country for more than six months on a B permit, you will lose the residency rights (though can re-apply to have them re-established).

With a C permit, you have the benefit of putting it on hold for up to four years. But if you neglect to do so, then the permit (and your permanent residency status) will expire.

READ ALSO: How long can I stay out of Switzerland and keep my residency rights?

So in this respect at least, having a Swiss passport will give you more flexibility and security.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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