Swiss voters say yes to the 13th pension

In a remarkable decision, the Swiss citizens have voted by a clear majority in favor of introducing an additional, 13th annual pension payment. The latest referendum, which took place on Sunday, showed that 58 percent of the eligible voters support the proposal made by the unions. This result was achieved despite opposition from the government and parliament, who spoke out against the additional pension payment. The uniqueness of the Swiss system requires that a proposal must not only gain the approval of the majority of the overall population but also that of the majority of cantons. This hurdle was also overcome, according to the initial projections, as Lukas Golder from the polling institute gfs.bern highlighted on Swiss television. In contrast to this decision, the voters dismissed another pension proposal, which suggested an increase in the retirement age beyond 65 years, into the realm of fiction. Around 75 percent of voters rejected this idea. Apart from pension policy issues, the population of Zurich voted in a local referendum in favor of expanding the airport infrastructure. More than 60 percent of voters supported in the projections the extension of two runways at Zurich Airport.