It was like some surreal winter’s tale: during the night from 21 to 22 November, Switzerland suddenly found itself covered in deep snow. Many places practically came to a standstill. Lucerne had 42 centimetres of snow, outstripping the 1919 record with room to spare. In Berne, the traffic chaos prompted some quick-thinking travellers to snowboard down from the main station to the Monbijou area. The snowboarding conditions were ideal: new snow, and a piste in good condition. The early snowfall – and the enormous quantities of it – revived memories of winters long past. However, the journey down a snowy memory lane proved brief, as the snow melted almost as suddenly as it arrived. The early winter days ultimately reverted to type, at least for the lower lying parts of the country: countless shades of grey rain and wet green. The stark contrast brought home that winter is changing. The picturesque postcard image of winter in Switzerland is being increasingly consigned to the past – or a scene embellished with artificial snow. The change is being felt most acutely in the ski resorts. Many of the lowerlying ski lifts have had to be decommissioned in recent years. The winters have simply become too warm. The idea of skiing as a national sport that anyone can enjoy practically on their doorstep has become somewhat passé, as our Focus article shows (page 4). Winters may be getting warmer, but for some people life is set to get harder. The Swiss parliament passed radical spending cuts in December (page 9). Their consequences are far-reaching, particularly for the most vulnerable: Switzerland has made massive cuts to its development aid. The outlook isn’t exactly rosy for the Swiss Abroad either, at least not if they have any specific expectations of their home country. Parliament is also cutting benefits for the Fifth Switzerland. A survey we conducted in the Federal Palace shows that political sentiment towards the Fifth Switzerland is cooling. You can find out more on page 28. You are also most welcome to share your own opinions. MARC LETTAU, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 4 Focus Switzerland’s ski resorts hit by a lack of snow 9 News Cost-cutting measures divide opinion in parliament 10 Profile Practising an old craft – the weaver from Basel 12 Politics Voters reject motorway expansion plan 16 Society Local journalism is in crisis, but a small newspaper is fighting back News from your region 19 Switzerland in figures Money, money, money 20 Report Basel – the Swiss city with the highest proportion of one-person households 23 Literature Johann Jakob Bachofen made a case for female emancipation – in 1861 28 Fifth Switzerland A harsher political climate for the Swiss Abroad 30 Notes from the Federal Palace The Federal Audit Office’s work also relates to the Swiss Abroad 33 SwissCommunity news Not long to go before the 2025 Council of the Swiss Abroad elections The day the snow returned Cover photo: Winter fun in the Swiss Alps (Weisshorn, 2,653 metres above sea level). Photo: Keystone “Swiss Review”, the information magazine for the Fifth Switzerland, is published by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad. Photo: Keystone Swiss Review / January 2025 / No.1 3 Editorial Contents
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