Thursday News Roundup: Latest Updates
- Vaud citizens will soon vote on potential changes to voting rights for foreigners, while train service reductions loom between Paris and lausanne.
- Residents of Vaud will have the final say on whether to reduce the waiting period for foreigners to obtain municipal voting rights.
- Simultaneously occurring, elected officials voice concerns about upcoming reductions in train service between Lausanne and Paris. Starting in 2026, the number of daily TGV trains will decrease from...
Vaud citizens are poised to vote on foreigner voting rights as train services face cuts between Paris and Lausanne, and Geneva schools implement new cross-border student restrictions: catch the key developments in Switzerland. In Vaud, a vote on reducing the residency requirement for municipal voting rights is on the horizon.Simultaneously occurring, those traveling by train may experience delays as officials curtail the number of TGV trains starting in 2026. Geneva’s schools will soon limit cross-border student enrollment, citing overcrowding concerns; plus, a survey reveals swiss identity remains robust. Stay informed with the latest updates across the country. for more detailed analysis, consult News Directory 3.Discover what’s next for these pivotal stories.
Swiss News Roundup: Voting Rights, Trains, and Geneva Schools
Updated June 13, 2025
Vaud citizens will soon vote on potential changes to voting rights for foreigners, while train service reductions loom between Paris and lausanne. Geneva schools are also set to implement new restrictions.Here’s a swift look at the latest developments in Switzerland.
Residents of Vaud will have the final say on whether to reduce the waiting period for foreigners to obtain municipal voting rights. The cantonal parliament agreed to shorten the residency requirement to five years in Switzerland. Currently,the Vaud Constitution mandates a 10-year residency in Switzerland,with three of those years in the canton.
Simultaneously occurring, elected officials voice concerns about upcoming reductions in train service between Lausanne and Paris. Starting in 2026, the number of daily TGV trains will decrease from six to three due to construction near Geneva. Swiss national railway company SBB announced that the Paris-Geneva-Lausanne line will terminate in Geneva because of construction. State Councillor Vassilis Venizelos noted the construction will lengthen travel times and strain the already busy Lausanne-Geneva line.
In Geneva, cross-border students will no longer be admitted to compulsory education starting in the 2026 school year. Cantonal parliament officials cited growing concerns about overcrowding in public schools as the reason for the new measure. A press release stated that existing measures are insufficient to guarantee adequate conditions, given demographic and migratory pressures. Currently, 738 pupils residing in France attend primary schools in Geneva.
In other news,a recent yougov Switzerland study reveals that only 4% of Swiss respondents primarily identify as European. The majority (69%) consider themselves Swiss, while 21% identify as both. Dual identification is more common among older respondents; 31% of those over 60 feel equally Swiss and European, compared to just 13% of those aged 15 to 29. Younger respondents (75%) are also more likely to describe themselves as primarily Swiss than older respondents (64%). This highlights a strong sense of Swiss identity, with limited identification as European among the Swiss population.
What’s next
Vaud voters will head to the polls to decide on the voting rights referendum, while transportation officials seek solutions to minimize disruptions from the planned Geneva construction. Geneva education officials will monitor the impact of the new admissions policy on school capacity.