Instead of being praised as Switzerland’s “ambassadors abroad”, the Swiss Abroad are receiving an increasing amount of flak. There was a big response from readers to the “Swiss Review” article on how attitudes to the “Fifth Switzerland” have cooled.
Spongers? Are you kidding? I earned my state pension in Switzerland like everyone else! To keep my Swiss savings in Switzerland, I have to pay much higher banking fees as an expat. How would I be fleecing the state? Because I still love my home country – the country I was born in? Because I always say how good Switzerland is to anyone who asks? If you want spongers, how about looking closer to home?
Swiss Abroad = spongers? I moved abroad at retirement age, because it is impossible to make ends meet in Switzerland on less than 2,000 francs a month. I cover all my living costs in my new country of residence, without relying on healthcare premium reductions, supplementary benefits, income support or any other state benefits. If I stayed in Switzerland, I could apply for all of that. I am saving the state a lot of money!
It makes me shudder how quickly attitudes change – and that politicians, of all people, are unaware of the positive contribution that expats make. The Swiss Abroad are a source of free advertising for our country. They are Switzerland’s peaceful ambassadors in an afflicted, dangerous world.
Many other comments are available to read below the online version of this article (“Sentiment turns against the Swiss Abroad”) in “Swiss Review” 1/2025: www.revue.link/spongers
I emigrated 27 years ago because I lost my job and was unable to find work. I was 51 at the time. Instead of moaning, I chose the difficult route and worked abroad. And I continued to make OASI contributions, which was easier said than done. I think I am entitled to my pension.
By differentiating between Swiss who live abroad and Swiss who live in Switzerland, you are, in effect, questioning people’s right to be Swiss. Once you do that, it’s a slippery slope.
Politicians without wisdom or honour blame marginalised groups and minorities for everything. Now it is our turn to be in the firing line. Many Swiss Abroad only leave the country once they turn 65. Their meagre pensions are not enough to make ends meet in Switzerland. My suggestion: how about all the older expats return to Switzerland to claim state benefits and take up valuable housing space? Do you think the politicians would be happy then? Or here’s a thought: how about they remember the Swiss Abroad Act?
The narrow-mindedness of some Swiss politicians is becoming increasingly disappointing. They fail to see that one of Switzerland’s greatest riches is its characteristic way of BEING Swiss. Its Swiss essence! And what better representative to fly the flag for this than Swiss people abroad? All over the world, being Swiss is a source of pride, it’s like a registered trademark, and respected companies and institutions are formed based around it and are considered to be very good, if not excellent.
I would be unable to live solely off my 1,450-franc state pension in Switzerland. It would cost the state a lot for me to live in Switzerland and claim supplementary benefits. I just about manage to get by in Greece, and I am a burden to no one.
People who live abroad for a time tend to be more receptive to other cultures. It is, therefore, no surprise that expats lean more towards the liberal, social democrat, and green camps in elections and referendums. The conservatives don’t like this, and I think this is one of the main reasons why they consider us a nuisance.
Is it really surprising that a group, which I believe to be very limited, sees Swiss living abroad as bad Swiss, or half-Swiss? I don’t think so, because being classed as a foreigner is making life increasingly difficult. In the country where I live, they are starting to legislate while singling out foreign nationals, so it doesn’t surprise me at all to see people wanting to do the same in Switzerland for Swiss nationals who have taken another path.
All Swiss Abroad have withholding tax deducted from their state pensions. Not just a few but everyone. Or perhaps someone knows how to get away with not paying it. Greetings from an expat who emigrated after retiring, because he would have had to have claimed supplementary benefits in Switzerland otherwise. And no, I don’t sun myself on the beach all year round.
And what about us Swiss working abroad, doing our job and giving Switzerland a good reputation? Is this not something worth valuing for our dear compatriots and politicians who seem to be so concerned about the image of Switzerland on the international stage?
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