The Swiss population approved on Sunday in a referendum an extra monthly payment for retirees, with a 58.2 percent yes vote, under the initiative titled Living Better in Retirement. The proposal to delay gradually the retirement age was rejected by 74.7 percent of voters. [Source: RTS]
The plan includes the creation of a thirteenth monthly payment to the pension system for old age and survivors, aimed at easing the rising cost of living in this central European country. The measure received 58.3 percent turnout, surpassing what many polls expected, signaling broad public backing for enhanced pension support. [Source: National Electoral Authority]
This result carries historical significance, marking the first time a left-led initiative to expand the Swiss public pension system has been approved by referendum. [Source: Swiss Parliament records]
A new section follows, indicating that from 2026 the reform would begin to provide the monthly pension payment in addition to a special bonus, lifting annual benefits to about 31,850 Swiss francs for single individuals and up to about 47,775 francs for married households, funded by an annual budget around 4 billion francs. In euros, those figures translate to roughly 33,200 and 49,900, respectively. [Source: Financial Summary of the Initiative]
The initiative had faced explicit opposition from right and center parties as well as major business groups. The government and parliament also opposed the measure publicly. [Source: Policy Statements]
A separate reform proposal on retirement age faced a strong defeat. The 74.7 percent majority voted against raising the retirement age from 65 to 66 in the coming decade and linking future increases to life expectancy to ensure pension system funding. [Source: Referendum Texts]
Support for the alternative proposal, titled For a Secure and Sustainable Old-Age Pension System, came from right-wing groups that hold sway in parliament, but it did not win broad public backing. [Source: Election Analysis]
Opposition from the left and center argued the plan was antisocial, technocratic, and anti-democratic, highlighting that many workers over 55 already struggle to find employment. [Source: Public Commentary]
A party official described the day as a setback for young voters, labeling it a difficult scenario for the future of the pension system due to the tandem outcome of the votes. [Source: Youth Bloc Statement]