Why Vogt wants to be in the Bundesrat and why young men feel threatened – the Sunday News Greens want to be in the Bundesrat, FDP and SVP battled the left and the GLP has ambitions

Healthcare and pharmaceutical industry launch initiative

A broad alliance of associations of pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, laboratories, pharmaceutical wholesalers, doctors and the consumer forum is launching a national citizens’ initiative entitled “Yes to medical security of supply”. Collection of signatures will begin in early 2023, as reported by the “SonntagsZeitung”. With its demands, the initiative makes the federal government responsible. The initiators demand that the responsibility for the safety of medical care in future lies with the federal government and no longer with the cantons as is now the case. They are calling on the federal government to create structures in Switzerland so that the production of medicines can be maintained in the basic stock.

For Zurich: That’s why Hans-Ueli Vogt wants to join the Federal Council

Former SVP National Councilor Hans-Ueli Vogt justified his candidacy to succeed Ueli Maurer in the Federal Council with the claim of the Canton of Zurich to a seat in the state government. It starts with the economic importance of the city of Limmat, Vogt said in an interview with the “SonntagsBlick”. When it comes to financial equalization, the Canton of Zurich is a top donor while the Canton of Bern is a top recipient. The fact that he does not belong to the inner circle of the Zurich cantonal party is irrelevant. And he is not afraid to lose to Bern’s top favorite Albert Rösti. “Only those who are not afraid of defeat can fight freely,” Vogt said. He appreciates good conversation more than an event in the Rössli hall with beer and song.

Burnouts among doctors are increasing significantly

Burnouts among doctors are on the rise. The number has almost doubled since 2015, according to the NZZ am Sonntag. Nearly 200 medical professionals sought help last year due to stress, anxiety or self-doubt. Two out of three requests for help came from female doctors. This share has been stable for years. They are often conscientious, competent and sensitive women who exhaust themselves in the dual role of mother and doctor, says Mirjam Tanner, psychiatrist at the Advice Center for Doctors in Crisis (ReMed). Just because men ask for help less often doesn’t mean they do it better. Doctors only have a higher inhibition threshold than their colleagues.

Russians fight back against Swiss sanctions

In agreement with the EU, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on more than 1,000 Russians in response to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. But not everyone on the sanctions list wants to accept this, the SonntagsBlick writes. Some vehemently deny that they belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s circle of power. They therefore demand to be removed from the sanctions list. According to the Directorate of Economic Affairs (WBF), removal requests were submitted in five cases. The Federal Council as a whole has the last word. According to the WBF, the rule of law is thus fully preserved.

Switzerland wants to return Russian refugees

Switzerland is taking a hard line against Russian dissidents. In one case in Ittigen near Berne, a 17-year-old woman who speaks good German, along with her mother and sister, was asked to leave Switzerland and return to Russia. The family had fled from Russia to Switzerland five years ago, as the “SonntagsBlick” writes. The children’s father is an anti-government activist. According to the “SonntagsZeitung”, a doctor who had fled from St. Petersburg to Switzerland had a similar experience. After you are deported, you will be threatened with involvement in the Ukraine war on the Russian side. The State Secretariat of Economic Affairs rejected her asylum application because she had not yet been called up for military service on her flight.

Swiss products are still sold in Russia

Thousands of companies have left Russia because of the war in Ukraine. This also applies to Swiss companies. This is apparent from research by “NSZ am Sonntag”. Although the companies no longer serve the market, many of their products are still available there. This applies, for example, to Victorinox pocket knives, of which counterfeits are sold via the Internet in Russia. Victorinox announced that the company was observing the development, which violated trademark regulations. Watches from the Swatch Group, computer accessories from Logitech and Lindt chocolate are also still sold in Russia, although the companies have turned their backs on Russia.

Cities rely on so-called ecological district heating

Against the background of the energy crisis, the cities of Zurich, Basel and Bern are massively expanding their district heating networks. The red-green governments of the three cities say this is climate-friendly. But to have enough heat in winter, the cities have to burn large amounts of natural gas, writes the “NZZ am Sonntag”. In Zurich the share of fossil fuels is 45 percent in the winter months and 25 percent in Bern. One third of the district heating in Basel is made up of natural gas all year round. The use of residual heat from waste incineration plants also poses ecological problems. The Swiss incinerators emit several million tons of CO2 every year. The fact that the residual heat must still be climate-friendly according to the law is becoming increasingly controversial politically.

Young men feel threatened by women’s progress

Young men and not the old people are annoyed by the progress of women. This was the result of an EU-wide study by the University of Gothenburg, which was conducted in 27 countries, the “SonntagsZeitung” reports. The question was whether promoting women was at the expense of men. Most 18 to 29 year olds answered with a clear yes. The older the male respondents got, the more the agreement decreased. Switzerland was not part of the study. However, the same indignation is also noticeable here. Men are increasingly complaining that quotas for women and diversity measures put them at a disadvantage. That also applies to the career opportunities that affect the men.

Coop, Migros and Co. should waive quantity discounts for meat

Volume discounts on meat and other fresh products should soon be over. Because the sale of products in multipacks causes food waste. The federal government wants to put an end to this. According to the “SonntagsZeitung”, the major retailers have signed an action plan to combat food waste. The Federal Council wants the measures to be implemented voluntarily. Multipacks with fresh goods should be kept out of the refrigerator. Volume discounts should be revised for perishable goods and replaced with a discount on the individual product. The retailers are aware of the problem. Migros has introduced smaller packaging. Coop is committed to an industry-wide solution and still waiting.

Swiss employers fight against minimum wages

Swiss employers criticize minimum wages in Geneva and Neuchâtel. According to “Le Matin Dimanche”, an important round of talks will take place tomorrow Monday for the Economic Commission of the National Council. The committee is discussing a motion by the Council of States Erich Ettlin (middle OW) that wants to give national generally binding collective labor agreements (GAV) priority over the minimum wage. The motion is supported by 27 professional associations. According to Ettlin, cantons such as Jura, Basel-Stadt and Ticino, which have introduced a minimum wage, are already applying the new regulations. The motion has now been passed by the Council of States. The cantons of Neuchâtel and Geneva are trying to persuade the National Council to reject the initiative. He attacks the autonomy of the cantons. (sda)