![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/538619849_highres.jpg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
The SBC initiative seeks to cut the annual licence fee for the national broadcaster from CHF335 ($429) to CHF200 and exempt all businesses. <\/p>\n
Jean-Christophe Bott \/ Keystone <\/p>\n
The Swiss have voted on\u00a0four\u00a0national\u00a0issues: a proposal to\u00a0reduce funding for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC),\u00a0a shift to\u00a0individual taxation for married couples,\u00a0the creation of a climate fund,\u00a0and an initiative\u00a0– and\u00a0a counterproposal\u00a0– to\u00a0anchor the future of cash in the constitution.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
This content was published on <\/p>\n
March 8, 2026 – 12:00\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/simon-bradley-profileImage-42391095.png\")
<\/p>\n
\n I am a climate and science\/technology reporter. I am interested in the effects of climate change on everyday life and scientific solutions.
\nBorn in London, I am a dual citizen of Switzerland and the UK. After studying modern languages and translation, I trained as a journalist and joined swissinfo.ch in 2006. My working languages are English, German, French and Spanish. <\/p>\n
Will the Swiss agree to almost halve the radio and TV licence fee \u2013 a move supporters say would ease pressure on households and businesses?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n According to early trends reported by the gfs.bern research institute at 12pm, the\u00a0\u201cSBC\u00a0initiativeExternal link<\/a>\u201d is likely to fail clearly alongside the climate fund proposal. The individual taxation for married couples initiative is unclear at this stage. However, Lukas Golder, a political scientist at gfs.bern institute said as mobilisation of voters in cities has been high, he expects a yes vote. <\/p>\n Support for the counterproposal to anchor the future of cash in the constitution is strongest.<\/p>\n A first results projection is expected at 12:30pm. Further results are expected within hours, along with those for the other proposals.\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0\u201cSBC\u00a0initiativeExternal link<\/a>\u201d, backed by the right-wing Swiss People\u2019s Party, the Swiss Union of Arts and Crafts and the youth wing of the centre-right Radical-Liberal Party,\u00a0seeks to cut the annual licence fee\u00a0for the national broadcaster\u00a0from CHF335 ($429) to CHF200 and exempt all businesses.\u00a0Swissinfo is part of the SBC which funds half its budget via the licence fee.<\/p>\n Recent polls\u00a0suggested\u00a0opponents\u00a0had\u00a0gained ground\u00a0and\u00a0that battle lines\u00a0were\u00a0largely\u00a0fixed, but the contest remained\u00a0close.\u00a0Ten days\u00a0before the vote,\u00a0a\u00a0survey<\/a>\u00a0by the gfs.bern research institute reported\u00a054% opposed, 44% in favour and 2% undecided, up two percentage points from around one month earlier.\u00a0Opposition is strong on the left and centre;\u00a0Radical-Liberal supporters are divided but lean towards a no vote.\u00a0<\/p>\n Supporters\u00a0argue\u00a0Switzerland\u2019s licence fee \u2014 the highest in the world \u2014 must fall as living costs rise. They\u00a0say\u00a0the SBC should refocus on its core\u00a0public service\u00a0mission and that CHF850\u202fmillion ($1.1\u202fbillion) would\u00a0cover\u00a0essential services.\u00a0They also claim audiences\u00a0are shrinking,\u00a0especially younger ones;\u00a0mistrust\u00a0of the public broadcaster\u00a0remains\u00a0highest\u00a0in German-speaking regions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Opponents include the government, parliament, all governing parties except the Swiss People\u2019s Party, and cultural, scientific\u00a0and sports\u00a0organisations. They warn\u00a0that such cuts would severely reduce programming and regional coverage, undermining the diversity and quality of public-service media. They\u00a0stress\u00a0the SBC\u2019s unique role serving all four national languages and its independence from commercial ownership.\u00a0<\/p>\n This\u00a0is the second\u00a0attempt to\u00a0cut\u00a0SBC\u00a0funding. The\u00a0\u201cNo Billag\u201d initiative<\/a>\u00a0to abolish the licence fee entirely was rejected by 71% of voters in 2018.\u00a0Even if today\u2019s\u00a0proposal\u00a0fails,\u00a0the fee will still be reduced to CHF300 per household by 2029 after a government decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n >> Read more in our explainer on the SBC initiative:<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Swiss Politics\n <\/p>\n Explainer: Swiss to vote on initiative to cut media licence fee <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Jan 12, 2026 <\/p>\n The \u201cSBC initiative\u201d would reduce the licence fee for households and abolish it for companies. What are the arguments for and against? <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: Explainer: Swiss to vote on initiative to cut media licence fee The end of the \u2018marriage tax penalty\u2019?<\/p>\n Swiss voters are also deciding Sunday on a referendumExternal link<\/a> challenging parliament\u2019s decision last year to introduce individual \u2013 rather than joint \u2013 taxation for married couples. After strong early backing, support for the tax overhaul weakened<\/a> over the campaign: initial trends after voting closed at midday suggested that the outcome was still unclear.<\/p>\n Currently, married couples file a joint tax return, with both incomes and assets combined.\u00a0Depending on their income split, they may pay more or less than unmarried couples.\u00a0Under the reform,\u00a0each spouse would file separately and be taxed on their own income. In most cases, this would reduce the overall tax bill for married couples where both spouses work and\u00a0eliminate\u00a0the\u00a0so called\u00a0\u201cmarriage penalty\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Supporters, such as women\u2019s section of the Radical-Liberal Party, argue\u00a0individual taxation would encourage women to work more, improve career prospects and pensions, and help ease the\u00a0skilled labour\u00a0shortage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Critics, who launched the referendum against the law, said the change would undermine the traditional family model and would benefit dual-income households over single-income ones, especially those with a high income. Cantons also warn of fiscal losses and big administrative burdens in dealing with the volume of new tax returns.<\/p>\n >> For more details, check out our explainer on individual taxation:<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Swiss Politics\n <\/p>\n Swiss vote on individual taxation: end of the \u2018marriage tax penalty\u2019? <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Jan 9, 2026 <\/p>\n On March 8, Swiss voters will decide whether to introduce individual taxation for married couples. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: Swiss vote on individual taxation: end of the \u2018marriage tax penalty\u2019? A future for cash \u2013 but how?\u00a0<\/p>\n The Swiss are moving away from using cash. Debit cards, credit cards and digital apps \u2013 especially\u00a0Swiss payment app Twint\u2013 are increasingly popular.\u00a0Yet\u00a0most Swiss are in favour of conserving banknotes and coins, recent studies have showed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Voters are deciding on Sunday whether to\u00a0secure\u00a0the availability of cash in the constitution. They face two options: the popular initiative (\u201cCash is freedomExternal link<\/a>\u201d)\u00a0and the government\u2019s counterproposal. Voters must say yes or no to each, then answer a subsidiary question\u00a0indicating\u00a0which\u00a0option\u00a0they prefer if both\u00a0pass.\u00a0<\/p>\n The initiative was launched by the Swiss Freedom Movement, known for campaigning against mandatory vaccinations. While the government and parliament support the idea of protecting cash, they have put forward their own version.\u00a0<\/p>\n If approved, the initiative would require the constitution to guarantee the availability of\u00a0cash. It would\u00a0spell out\u00a0that the Swiss franc is the national currency and oblige the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to ensure the supply of cash. The counterproposal uses the broader legal term \u201ccash\u201d instead of \u201ccoins or banknotes\u201d and does not stipulate that supply must be \u201csufficient\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Politically only the Swiss People\u2019s Party backs the initiative; the counterproposal is supported by both chambers of parliament, the cantons and major business and labour groups.\u00a0A latest\u00a0poll<\/a> showed the initiative slipping to 61% support, while the counterproposal has risen to 70%.\u00a0<\/p>\n >> Here is our explainer on the \u201cCash is freedom\u201d initiative:<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Swiss Politics\n <\/p>\n Swiss to vote on preserving cash as a payment system <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Jan 19, 2026 <\/p>\n On March 8, the Swiss will decide whether the availability of cash should be enshrined in the constitution. An explainer. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: Swiss to vote on preserving cash as a payment system Climate fund flop<\/p>\n An\u00a0initiativeExternal link<\/a>\u00a0to create a federal fund to boost the development of renewable energies and protect the country\u2019s biodiversity\u00a0looks\u00a0set to fail.\u00a0The latest\u00a0gfs.bern poll<\/a>\u00a0showed 65% opposed, 31% in favour and 4% undecided.\u00a0<\/p>\n Launched by the left-wing Social Democratic Party and the Greens, the initiative calls for 0.5% to 1% of Switzerland\u2019s GDP\u00a0a year\u00a0\u2013 roughly CHF\u202f4\u20138\u202fbillion\u00a0(2024 figure) \u2013\u00a0to be invested in climate and nature protection and in expanding renewable energies, including solar\u00a0power.\u00a0<\/p>\n The government and a parliamentary majority\u00a0argue the plan\u00a0is too costly and would\u00a0have\u00a0limited impact, noting\u00a0Switzerland already spends about CHF2\u202fbillion\u00a0a year\u00a0on climate and energy measures and CHF600\u202fmillion on biodiversity.\u00a0<\/p>\n >> Read more about the climate fund initiative:<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Climate adaptation\n <\/p>\n Explainer: Should some of Switzerland\u2019s wealth be set aside to fight climate change? <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Jan 28, 2026 <\/p>\n On March 8, Swiss voters will decide on an initiative to create a fund to accelerate the development of renewable energy in Switzerland. An explainer. <\/p>\n
\n More from this author <\/a><\/p>\n
\n English Department <\/a><\/p>\n![\"SRG](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/543754669_highres.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n <\/a><\/p>\n![\"Elderly](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/629587740_highres.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n <\/a><\/p>\n![\"Despite](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/273891550_highres.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n <\/a><\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pannelli.jpg\")
<\/p>\n