Push back on English use in government

Some parliamentarians are trying push back on a government decision to use English officially for its talks with the international anti-money laundering body, Financial Action Task Force – which is based in Paris.

But Carlo Sommaruga has tabled a motion calling on the government to keep Swiss languages as working languages with international organizations, noting that French is often an official language for international bodies. 

The government argues using English within international organisations is more efficient.

Another MP, Laurent Werhrli from canton Vaud, says there’s also a tendency for technical working groups within the Federal Administration to switch to English – even for solely Swiss matters. 

More from Bitesize News

  • Telecoms operator hacked

    Swiss operator Salt has confirmed hackers stole personal data belonging to its mobile customers

  • AI assists in recycling issue

    A Vaud recycling firm has switched on an artificial intelligence sorting line at its plant near Yverdon, aiming to close Switzerland's poor plastics recycling record

  • La Poste warning

    La Poste chief Christian Levrat warns Switzerland's postal service could disappear within a decade without major changes

  • Financial gap widens between Switzerland and eurozone

    The gap between Swiss and eurozone interest rates has hit a record 2.5 percentage points, after the European Central Bank raised its benchmark to 2.5% at the end of last week while the Swiss National Bank sits at zero

  • More job cuts in Geneva

    Geneva's UN trade agency plans to cut 70 of its 500 staff, as funding pressure mounts

  • Voting day just 2 weeks away

    Geneva heads to the polls on 27 September to decide whether it should be easier for tenants to buy the flat they rent

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play