10.01.2025
On 24 November 2024, the Swiss electorate voted on four key proposals. Three were rejected, with only the health reform receiving a majority. The rejection was characterised by strong left-green mobilisation, environmental awareness and criticism of social and financial aspects.
20.12.2024
Voter turnout 35% | 1x relative majority against
If the environmental responsibility initiative had already been put to the vote on 8 December 2024, a relative majority of 49 per cent of voters with a firm intention to vote would have definitely or rather voted against it. 45 per cent would have definitely or rather voted in favour of it. The initiative is starting the main campaign phase on the back foot.
At 35%, voter turnout is well below the long-term average (47% between 2011 and 2023 according to the FSO).
12.12.2024
This year, the Swiss electorate is particularly concerned about healthcare. Environmental and climate protection come in second, followed by retirement provisions. Compared to previous years, financial concerns as well as concerns about immigration and security have increased the most. These and other trends were identified by a representative survey of 2,250 voters from across Switzerland in August and September 2024.
06.12.2024
How fair is Switzerland really?
Text: The 2024 Gerechtigkeitsbarometer (Equality Barometer), conducted by gfs.bern on behalf of Der Beobachter and supported by Coop Rechtsschutz, provides new insights into the perception of equality in Switzerland.
29.08.2024
On behalf of the municipality of Haute-Sorne, gfs.bern surveyed the population of the municipality on key topics such as quality of life, municipal merger, energy, water and youth. 2,215 residents of the municipality took part in this survey between 21 April and 21 May 2024.
12.03.2024
The collective attitude of voters in Switzerland towards the banks is and remains favourable. Moreover, in the eyes of voters, international competitiveness has changed little and assets continue to be regarded as secure. Nevertheless, the CS crisis has certainly left its mark.
21.02.2024
Voter turnout 52% | 1x Yes; 1x No
If the vote had been held on 10 February 2024, the initiative for a 13th AHV pension would have been accepted and the pension initiative would have been rejected by the electorate.
In the phase before the final mobilisation, the conflict patterns are recognisable and the state of opinion-forming on both proposals is advanced: Language, age and values are becoming more important in the vote on the 13th AHV pension. The pension initiative is still only supported by a majority of FDP voters. At 52 per cent, voter turnout would have been above the long-term average.
14.02.2024
The Board of Directors of gfs.bern is being renewed as part of the finalised company succession. Claude Longchamp, who founded the Institute for Policy and Communication Research in 2004 and has shaped it ever since, is leaving the Board of Directors on 31 March 2024 for a well-deserved retirement. Martina Vieli, an experienced political and communications consultant, former lobbyist and member of the extended management of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR, has been newly elected to the Board of Directors.
21.12.2023
New results of the population survey “How is Switzerland?” commissioned by SRG-SSR and its sub-units (SRF, RTS, RSI, RTR and Swissinfo) show what the Swiss population thinks about the economy and economic inequality.
27.09.2023
Politisierungswelle der Jugend flacht zunehmend ab: Der Trend der letzten Jahre in Richtung mehr Partizipation scheint gebrochen zu sein. Der Anteil der politisierten Jugend beschränkt sich, zumindest vorerst, auf einen harten Kern. Ein politisches Engagement kann sich auch zukünftig nur eine Minderheit vorstellen. Die Zeichen stehen also auf geringerer Beteiligung der Jugendlichen in den nächsten Jahren.
24.08.2023
A nationwide survey by gfs.bern shows: The majority of Swiss citizens are satisfied with their own lives, even if not completely and unconditionally. Satisfaction with private life is higher, while professional life leads to less satisfaction.
12.07.2023
With more than six decades of experience in political, social and economic opinion research, we are a pioneering player in the field of opinion research. Our insights into opinion formation in Switzerland and in direct democratic processes are considered groundbreaking. Throughout our company’s history, we have always taken the pulse of the times, adapted to constantly changing technological and social requirements and are prepared to survive in a rapidly developing, digitalised and internationalised world.
18.06.2023
During the Corona pandemic, the rapid development and market introduction of new medicines and vaccines seemed urgent. Even today, voters are open to some proposals.
25.05.2023
The TCS Travel Barometer gives an insight for the sixth time into the travel behaviour of Switzerland’s population. The representative survey of residents and TCS members shows which sources of information are particularly popular, how well people feel informed about travel, what news is perceived on the subject of travel and how the population feels about safety. The study, which was commissioned by TCS Switzerland over many years, makes it possible to interpret the development of opinion on the subject of travel not only currently, but also over time.
12.05.2023
Die Schweiz stimmt zum letzten Mal in der laufenden Legislatur ab.
Im Hintergrundbericht zur 1. SRG-Trendumfrage liefern wir die zentralen Informationen zu den Vorlagen der Abstimmung vom 18. Juni 2023, zum Abstimmungskampf und der politischen Grosswetterlage der Schweiz im Wahljahr.
12.05.2023
Voter turnout 40% | 3 x Yes
If the vote had already been held on 1 May 2023, all three bills put to the vote at the federal level would have been clearly approved. This applies most clearly to the OECD/G20 minimum taxation, followed by the climate law and the Covid 19 law. Voter turnout would have been below average for the time at 40 percent.
02.12.2022 | Monitor
On behalf of the TCS, we surveyed the Swiss population on the subject of electromobility for the fourth time in 2022.
02.12.2022 | Survey
EEA in the initial situation majority – polarization to be expected.
01.12.2022 | Evaluations
The transition barometer examines the situation of young people at the first transition point to upper-secondary level and the situation of apprenticeship providers each spring and summer.
23.11.2022 | Barometer
The environment is now the top concern of the Swiss population. The topics of AHV/ old-age provision and energy follow in second and third place, while the pandemic is no longer among the ten most important concerns.
17.11.2022 | Monitor
The easyvote political monitor is an annual survey of secondary school students. Commissioned by the umbrella organisation Swiss Youth Parliaments (DSJ), more than 1,000 15-25 year-olds were asked about their political preferences and forms of participation for the seventh time in 2022.
31.10.2022 | Survey
Almost three quarters of the Swiss resident population perceives a plastic problem.
27.09.2022 | Barometer
“Insecure instead of carefree: Young people in times of crisis” – this is the title of this year’s Credit Suisse Youth Barometer.
26.09.2022 | Data Science
With the “No” to the withholding tax, the SP has once again scored a success against business and the authorities at the ballot box. In contrast to the vote on stamp duty, however, the left did not succeed this time in making the issue loud and emotionally charged. The anti-corporate momentum of that time did not pick up to the same extent as then, and the proposal sailed towards the vote Sunday in the shadow of the two AHV proposals.
26.09.2022 | Data Science
The reform of the old-age pension system was accepted by a razor-thin margin. The initially comfortable approval dwindled more and more in the course of the referendum campaign.
24.09.2022 | Data Science
On behalf of Allianz Sicherheit, the gfs.bern research institute conducted an analysis of parliamentarians. Of primary interest was how well the individual parliamentarians represent security interests.
Security is a concept that is difficult to grasp, as it is defined differently by different people. It is therefore important to clearly delineate the focus of this analysis. This delineation is important because a political assessment of security involves very diametrically opposed value concepts. Depending on the political values, security can, for example, be assessed from a pacifist, military, cooperative or ecological perspective, which implies very different definitions of security.
24.09.2022 | Votations
Voter turnout stable at 44 % | 1 x no, 2 x yes, 1 x open.
If the vote had already been held on 4 September 2022, both AHV reform proposals would have been approved. A narrow majority would have rejected the livestock initiative. A relative majority would have accepted the withholding tax law. Voter turnout would have remained stable at an average of 44 per cent.
19.08.2022 | Votations
Voter turnout 45 % | 2 x Yes, 2 x close Yes.
If the vote had already been held on 8 August 2022, the livestock initiative and the two AHV reform proposals would have been approved. The Withholding Tax Act would only have been approved by a relative majority. Voter turnout would have been slightly below average at 45 percent.
14.07.2022 | Survey
The member survey showed that association members are most often employed in construction logistics, Swiss general cargo, part-load and full-load transport, and industrial and construction site waste transport. The two types of drivers with the highest gross wages have in common that they usually have more than ten years of service, are at least 38 years old and are unskilled. Most chauffeurs work 45 hours per week, while those under 50 are granted five weeks’ holiday and those over 50 six. The 13th month’s salary has become established in the industry and is paid by a majority of the association members directly from the beginning of employment. Slightly more than half of the federation members also pay out additional remuneration, whereby this most frequently takes the form of a bonus.
01.07.2022 | Votations
The vote on 15 May 2022 mobilised only a few people. Just around 40 percent cast their vote on the Film Act, the Transplantation Act and “Frontex”. This is shown by the results of the survey of 3,231 eligible voters in the VOX Analysis May 2022. The study was conducted by gfs.bern and financed by the Federal Chancellery.
15.06.2022 | Monitor
People in Switzerland are agreed that the country has coped well with the COVID crisis and the healthcare system passed the test put to it by the pandemic.
13.06.2022 | Monitor
War and pandemic prompt a change of thinking among Swiss voters!
31.05.2022 | Survey
Swiss voters are satisfied with the energy policy. As electricity could become scarce, supply security is now seen as paramount ahead of affordable prices and climate-neutral energy production.
19.05.2022 | Monitor
In collaboration with the research institute gfs.bern, MSD Switzerland conducted its first ever representative survey in the population on the quality of cancer care in Switzerland.
17.05.2022 | Evaluations
Despite critical voices in the media, the Swiss eHealth-Barometer 2022 shows that the majority of healthcare professionals favour the introduction of electronic patient records (EPRs) as defined in federal legislation. What healthcare professionals find particularly useful about EPRs is the way they optimize processes.
17.05.2022 | Survey
A Europe-wide survey by gfs.bern shows that EU citizens would have voted in favour of an expansion of Frontex following a campaign backed up by sound arguments. This result reveals a content-based decision-making maturity comparable with the situation in Switzerland regarding the same proposal.
17.05.2022 | Survey
A Europe-wide survey by gfs.bern in collaboration with Meisser Economics and the Direct Democracy Foundation shows that the majority of voters in the European Union would support an expansion of Frontex in a ballot.
15.05.2022 | Data Science
While the results on referendum Sunday in February were still “No, no and again no”, the verdict of voters today is “yes, yes and again yes”.
04.05.2022 | Votations
Turnout stable at 44 % | 3 x Yes.
If the vote had already been held on 24 April 2022, the film law, the transplant law and the funding of Frontex would have been approved. The turnout would have been a below-average 44 per cent.
28.04.2022 | Barometer
On behalf of Physioswiss, the Swiss physiotherapy association, we conducted a survey in 2021 on what Switzerland’s population thinks about physiotherapy.
26.04.2022 | Barometer
The TCS Travel Barometer gives an insight for the sixth time into the travel behaviour of Switzerland’s population.
12.04.2022 | Survey
On behalf of Amnesty International, we investigated where Switzerland’s population stands on sexuality, relationships and sexual violence in Switzerland as well as on resolving the issue of consent.
02.04.2022 | Votations
On 13 February, voters voted twice for the health of the population and twice against new sources of financing for companies and corporations.
01.04.2022 | Abstimmungen
Turnout 44 % | 3 x Yes.
If the vote had already been held on 18 March 2022, the Film Act, the Transplantation Act and the funding of Frontex would have been approved. Voter turnout would have been a slightly below-average 44 per cent.
31.03.2022 | Survey
The survey of around 2000 people from Limmattal – one of the fastest-growing regions of Switzerland – shows: the residential region is appreciated; there is more than one identity in the Limmattal; the valley offers many opportunities to combine living, working and recreation; there are particular challenges when it comes to traffic, noise and nature.
05.03.2022 | Survey
Swiss voters show they are uncertain where the journey with the European Union is leading and where it should lead. But the majority don’t want to go back on the advantages of the current bilateral agreements.
05.03.2022 | Survey
On behalf of Interpharma 2003, we surveyed Swiss voters on questions concerning relations between Switzerland and the EU.
13.02.2022 | Votations
Swiss voters have decided, voting once with and three times against parliament and government.
13.02.2022 | Votations
After the veiling ban and the care initiative, the tobacco advertising ban was adopted on 13.2., making it three popular initiatives that have already been adopted in this legislature. It was uncertain whether the ban on tobacco advertising would ultimately founder on the rocks of the cantonal majority at the end of the day, and whether it would suffer the same fate as the responsible business initiative.
11.02.2022 | Data Science
On behalf of the dioceses of Basel, Chur and St. Gallen, gfs.bern is providing support for the synodal process that the Catholic Church launched on 17 October 2021 at the request of Pope Francis.
02.02.2022 | Votations
Voter turnout 50 % | 1 x Yes, 2 x No, 1 x relative rejection.
If the vote had already been held on 23 January 2022, the initiative to ban tobacco advertising would have been accepted, while the initiative to ban animal testing, the law on stamp duties and the package of measures for the media would have been rejected. Voter turnout would have been an above-average 50 per cent.
14.01.2022 | Votations
No voters were more likely to inform themselves about the Covid 19 law via social media, while Yes voters were more likely to do so via traditional media. Moreover, since the introduction of women’s suffrage in 1971, the average voter turnout has never been higher than in 2021. This is confirmed by the results of the survey of 3,420 voters in the VOX analysis of November 2021. The study was conducted by gfs.bern and funded by the Federal Chancellery.
13.01.2022 | Survey
On behalf of the dioceses of Basel, Chur and St. Gallen, gfs.bern is providing support for the synodal process that the Catholic Church launched on 17 October 2021 at the request of Pope Francis. Contributions from the 800 dialogue groups reveal the common ground, as well as areas of tension and the need for action.
07.01.2022 | Votations
If the vote had already been held on 25 December 2021, the initiative to ban tobacco advertising would have been adopted, while relative majorities would have rejected the initiative to ban animal testing and the law on stamp duties. In the case of the federal law on a package of measures in favour of the media, the willingness to participate was divided. Voter turnout would have been a below-average 41 per cent.
15.12.2021 | Survey
What do young Swiss people think about Swiss economic policy? Together with the newly founded Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP) at the University of Lucerne, we took the pulse of 16 to 30-year-old Swiss citizens. A representative opinion poll of around 1,000 adolescents and young adults shows that interest is considerable and opinion nuanced.
28.11.2021 | Votations
According to the latest projections (as of 3 p.m.), we expect a 65 per cent turnout today (+/- 2 per cent margin of error). Since the vote on women’s suffrage, only three other referendums have brought more voters to the polls.
28.11.2021 | Data Science
The Data Science Team of gfs.bern already reported at 12.30 p.m. that 63 percent of Swiss voters are in favour of the Federal Council’s Covid law. On voting day today, the vocal minority were defeated by the shy but steadfast majority.
25.11.2021 | Barometer
The country’s greatest challenges in the eyes of Swiss voters are currently the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences, environmental protection and climate change, and old-age pensions. The proportion of people who rank either climate, coronavirus or old-age pensions among the five biggest problems is exactly the same, to within one percentage point.
17.11.2021 | Votations
Voter turnout 51 % | 2 x Yes and 1 x No.
If the vote had already been held on 7 November 2021, the care initiative and the amendment to the Covid 19 Act would have been adopted, while the justice initiative would have been rejected. The turnout would have been an above-average 51 percent.
14.11.2021 | Survey
Satisfaction with the political system, opportunities for co-determination, rules and results is high in Switzerland, much higher than in neighbouring countries. The adoption of aspects of Swiss democracy is supported for the most part by neighbouring countries.
12.11.2021 | Abstimmungen
A question of fairness – but with two different outcomes. ‘Marriage for all’ means equal rights for same-sex couples, is explicitly in keeping with the zeitgeist and enjoys broad majority support. However, the popular initiative to ‘Ease the tax burden on pay and to tax capital fairly’ fails to establish a ‘new’ level of fairness in capital taxation.
01.11.2021 | Survey
On behalf of the FMH, gfs.bern conducted a representative survey of the medical profession. Questions examined included: How has the workload changed during the pandemic? How do you rate occupational health and safety and quality of care?
28.10.2021 | Barometer
On behalf of the TCS, we surveyed Switzerland’s population on the subject of electromobility for the third time in 2021.
28.10.2021 | Evaluations
Transition Barometer August 2021: Educational decisions of young people and the situation on the apprenticeship market.
22.10.2021 | Votations
Voter turnout 41 % | 2 x Yes and 1 x stalemate.
If the vote had already been held on 9 October 2021, the amendment to the Covid 19 Act and the care initiative would have been adopted, while those willing to participate were split on the justice initiative. Voter turnout would have been slightly below average at 41 percent.
05.10.2021 | Monitor
The Hospital and Clinic Barometer 2021 examines the perceptions and attitudes of Swiss voters on the subject of hospitals/clinics. It preovides answers to questions such as: How do voters rate the work and the role of hospitals and clinics in managing the COVID-19 crisis? Are financial resources properly distributed?
30.09.2021 | Monitor
The measures that applied during the survey period in the fight against the pandemic got Swiss voters thinking: their interest in and awareness of the importance of nutrition and exercise is increasing. Consumers should continue to have the last word. Prevention of intervention. There should continue to be no attempts to influence dietary habits through taxes. Colour coding is becoming increasingly popular.
26.09.2021 | Data Science
Over 50% of those eligible to vote exercised their right to vote in the Marriage for All referendum, the front-runner was Rüdlingen with a turnout of 80.2%, and Billens-Hennens brought up the rear with 19.8%. How are these results to be understood? We have compared the voting behaviour on 26.09 (marriage for all) with the behaviour on 13.06 (CO2 law) and evaluated it for you.
26.09.2021 | Data Science
64 percent of Swiss voters are clearly in favour of marriage for all. The 99 per cent initiative, on the other hand, could only convince just over a third of voters. Today it was about the centre ground of society, which voted with the majority of parliament and the Federal Council – on the one hand the modern social mainstream in favour of marriage for all and on the other the business-friendly and pragmatic middle class against the 99 per cent initiative.
20.09.2021 | Survey
On behalf of swiss-food.ch, gfs.bern polled the views of 1,010 Swiss voters on extending the moratorium on gene technology. A clear majority supports an extension. The question of whether genome editing should be included in the moratorium cannot be unequivocally answered.
15.09.2021 | Votations
Voter turnout about 45 % | 1 x Yes, 1 x No.
If the vote had already been held on 5 September 2021, the amendment to the Swiss Civil Code (marriage for all) would have been accepted and the popular initiative “Relieve wages, tax capital fairly” would have been rejected. Both proposals were caught up in a “no” trend during the main campaign phase.
20.08.2021 | Votations
Voter turnout approx. 42 % | 1 x Yes, 1 x Stalemate.
If the vote had already been held on 7 August 2021, the amendment to the Swiss Civil Code (marriage for all) would have been accepted, while those willing to participate would have been divided on the popular initiative “Relieve the burden on wages, tax capital fairly”. It would have been accepted by a wafer-thin relative majority.
17.08.2021 | Survey
Digitisation enables people to network globally and across cultures. But it also facilitates attempts by a wide variety of actors to influence elections and referendums. Discussions about fake news, echo chambers and the polarisation of societies are currently heated. But are all these discussions equally relevant? And do we as a society have the necessary maturity to derive optimum benefit from the new instruments? The study by gfs.bern takes stock of the situation.
30.07.2021 | Votations
The combination of the five proposals on 13 June 2021 led to a unique dynamic in the referendum campaign: mobilisation of the “right”, of people who have less trust in the Federal Council and people in rural regions led not only to a clear No to the two agricultural initiatives (on drinking water and a ban on pesticides), but also to a No to the CO2 law. The role of young people in the rejection of the CO2 initiative must be put into perspective and viewed in a nuanced way. This is shown in the data from the VOX analysis of 13 June 2021, for which around 3,000 voters were surveyed.
24.06.2021 | Monitor
Since 2014, gfs.bern has been studying the following issues on behalf of pharmaSuisse: perception of the role of pharmacies; interests in pharmacy offers and services; and analysis of issues associated with pharmacies. For the representative study, 1,001 residents aged 18 or over were surveyed.
13.06.2021 | Data Science
Did Swiss voters reject the drinking water and pesticide initiatives because the weaknesses of the initiatives were too obvious? Or did they reject the initiatives out of fear of price increases?
13.06.2021 | Data Science
Opposition to the drinking water and pesticide initiatives was mobilised mainly in rural areas. This mobilisation is probably also responsible for rejection of the CO2 law.
10.06.2021 | Monitor
The healthcare system has withstood the test of the current pandemic – albeit not completely. For example, there is a demand for faster access to novel medicines. The one-sided focus on cost issues – which has dominated the discussion in recent years – is neither effective nor helpful. Instead, the pandemic shows that Switzerland must align its system with the needs of patients in order to save lives. Read the findings from the monitor study “Healthcare in Switzerland 2021” here.
04.06.2021 | Evaluations
Health workers are increasingly resorting to analogue methods of transmitting data in times of crisis. On the other hand, telemedicine is experiencing an upswing in practices. Acceptance of the storage of health data is increasing among the population. In the medium term, the pandemic may yet prove to be a catalyst for digitisation in the Swiss healthcare system.
02.06.2021 | Votations
Voter turnout approx. 52% | 1 x No, 3 x Yes.
If the vote had already been held on 22 May 2021, the drinking water and pesticide initiatives would have been rejected. The Covid Act, the CO2 Act and the Terrorism Act would have been adopted. The position of the authorities would thus have prevailed in all the referenda on 13 June 2021.
27.05.2021 | Evaluations
Main conclusions of the Transition Barometer April 2021:
– 51% of young people at the transition point already have a firm solution for the next stage of their education
– 63% of apprenticeship positions offered are already filled
18.05.2021 | Monitor
Swiss voters regard Switzerland’s position, even in times of crisis, as a financial hub as financially and economically sound. It is therefore not surprising that, during the coronavirus pandemic, banks are increasingly perceived as an important pillar of funding for SMEs and businesses.
18.05.2021 | Survey
The Swiss have a positive opinion of the banking industry, appreciate the flexible support of the economy by the banks within the framework of the COVID 19 credit programme, have a high level of trust in their own main bank and are largely satisfied with digitisation in the financial industry.
10.05.2021 | Data Science
Generally speaking, it is not easy to explain a policy proposal. The aim in each case must be to draft a description of the proposal using facts alone and not to influence the reader. gfs.bern has studied this question on behalf of Interpharma on the basis of the framework agreement.
09.05.2021 | Survey
Satisfaction with the bilateral agreements among Swiss voters has been high for years. This is also true in 2021. The bilateral agreements thus form a broadly accepted basis for relations with the European Union, which one does not want to fall behind. On behalf of Interpharma, gfs.bern studied the following question, among others: If an institutional agreement between Switzerland and the EU were to be put to the vote, would you definitely be in favour, rather in favour, rather against or definitely against?
09.05.2021 | Survey
On behalf of Interpharma, gfs.bern surveyed 2005 Swiss voters between 8.3. and 21.4. 2021 on issues relating to relations between Switzerland and the EU. The survey was conducted before the last round of negotiations with the EU.
07.05.2021 | Votations
Voter turnout approx. 52 % | Yes to all proposals
If the vote had already been held on 23 April 2021, all federal bills of 13 June 2021 would have been adopted. The authorities’ position would have prevailed on the Covid Act, the CO2 Act and the Terrorism Act. The Drinking Water Initiative and the Pesticide Initiative would have been adopted against the will of the Federal Council and Parliament.
Voter turnout would have been an above-average 52 percent.
23.04.2021 | Votations
Pragmatism and individual considerations of costs and benefits were more important than slogans in the three proposals on 7 March 2021: the rather surprisingly narrow victory on the free trade agreement with Indonesia was in contrast to two defeats for the Federal Council and Parliament. This is confirmed by the results of the survey of 3,070 voters in the VOX analysis March 2021. The study was conducted by gfs.bern and funded by the Federal Chancellery.
