Voters have agreed to a 13th month pension payment - and said no to raising the retirement age.
The strength of the yes vote for the extra AVS payment surprised many analysts. While polls were signalling it would pass, many pollsters called it too close to call. But in the end 58.2% said yes as did 15 cantons.
It’s thought there was an element of protest by voters. Many had watched while the government handed out cash to the failed Credit Suisse and to Ukraine – all while struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
But the initiative to raise the retirement age failed. The youth wing of the Liberal Party, which launched the vote – called it a black day for the young.
They say with the 13th payment and no raise in the retirement age, the pension fund is now ´severely endangered’.