Switzerland national referendum – level 2
04-12-2025 07:00
Switzerland recently held a national vote and clearly said no to two important proposals.
The first proposal aimed to make national service (military or civilian) compulsory for women, but it got very little support. Supporters argued it would improve security and gender equality, but opponents worried about the high costs and the extra problems for women who are already doing unpaid care work.
The second proposal was for a new tax on inheritances and gifts over 50 million francs to pay for climate protection. People rejected this idea, too. Some warned that the tax would make Switzerland less attractive for rich people and large companies, leading to money moving out of the country.
Difficult words: aim (to have a purpose or goal), compulsory (required by a rule, law, or authority), inheritance (the property, money, or title received from someone who died).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
What was the intended purpose of the proposed tax on inheritances and gifts over 50 million francs, and what economic impact did critics warn it would have on Switzerland?
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