Swiss FM Cassis Tours Middle East Amid Domestic Challenges
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis embarks on a Middle East tour next week, while domestic issues like refugee numbers and vehicle safety come into focus.
Cassis will visit Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait over four days, starting next Wednesday. This trip follows a previous visit to the region, where he discussed a peace plan for the Gaza Strip. Additionally, he will visit Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, where discussions and agreements related to the peace plan will take place.
The half-fare ticket system in Switzerland will remain and become cheaper. A new bonus system is being introduced to make it more affordable.
The Swiss Climate Strike has apologized for using an anti-Semitic song in a Gaza demonstration video. The SP party has submitted a resolution labeling Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as genocide. However, Switzerland's influence in international peace efforts has waned after the Gaza ceasefire, and it was not invited to the peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Refugee numbers in Switzerland have reached a record high, with over 100,000 people holding refugee status. The Federal Office for Civil Protection plans to acquire new mobile sirens for 10 million francs to improve emergency communication.
The FDP party faces internal divisions over EU relations, with some members threatening a split. Meanwhile, vehicle safety is a concern, with 780,000 untested cars on Swiss roads, accounting for 11.2% of the total vehicle fleet.
Looking ahead, the annual inheritance volume in Switzerland is expected to exceed 100 billion francs in 2025.
Cassis's Middle East tour aims to advance peace efforts, while domestically, Switzerland addresses refugee numbers, vehicle safety, and political divisions. The future also holds significant changes in inheritance volumes.
