Stadler boss Peter Spuhler recently lost out to the German company Siemens when it came to SBB orders.Image: keystone
Switzerland wants to deport 20 legally convicted Afghans and air traffic control Skyguide wants to save 24 million francs next year: this and more can be found in the Sunday newspapers.
December 28, 2025, 06:55December 28, 2025, 12:35 p.m
Switzerland wants to deport criminal Afghans – and is also considering deportations to Syria
According to “SonntagsBlick”, Switzerland wants to deport around 20 legally convicted Afghans. According to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), a criminal Afghan was returned to Kabul in mid-December, it wrote at the newspaper’s request. The repatriation of Syrians is also being discussed; the SEM is in contact with the Syrian authorities about this. So far, Switzerland has not been able to carry out any forced returns to Syria – in contrast to Austria and, more recently, Germany. However, individual federal parliamentarians are now pushing the pace. “If Germany can repatriate people to Syria, Switzerland can too. “I expect the authorities to finally move from talking to taking action,” Lucerne FDP Councilor of State Damian Müller was quoted as saying by “SonntagsBlick”.
Parmelin does not want to negotiate with Trump at the WEF
According to his own statements in the “SonntagsZeitung” and “Le Matin Dimanche”, Economics Minister Guy Parmelin is expected to speak to US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum (WEF). “But there will be no negotiations between the USA and Switzerland in Davos,” said the Federal Council in an interview with the newspapers. “However, we can convey to him that we are ready for the next step, namely to conclude a binding agreement on tariffs,” Parmelin continued. Before his year as Federal President, he is primarily concerned with the geopolitical and economic situation. “Our neighbors’ economies are sluggish, and not just because of the additional US tariffs. This affects us whether we like it or not,” he said. With regard to the pharmaceutical location, Parmelin said that he and Federal Councilor Elizabeth Baume-Schneider had set up a working group that would begin its work shortly.
Baerbock wants to keep the UN headquarters in Geneva
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock sees no threat to international Geneva from austerity measures. “Geneva is a hub of multilateral diplomacy and is not in danger as a location,” she told “SonntagsBlick”. In her opinion, places like Geneva, Bonn and Nairobi could even benefit from the austerity measures. “New York is a very expensive place – that’s why we’re thinking about which locations we could relocate. “Switzerland is not exactly cheap, but it is still very attractive,” Baerbock is quoted as saying. It is understandable that countries like Austria and Italy are applying for UN positions, but “fair play” must apply. Baerbock described the cuts in development cooperation as fatal. “Every cut in development cooperation is a shot in the foot. More crises and conflicts increase migration pressure,” she said.
Skyguide wants to make big savings
According to “SonntagsBlick”, air traffic control Skyguide wants to save 24 million francs next year. This emerges from an email from CEO Peter Merz to the workforce. Various measures are therefore planned. “This includes, among other things, cutting travel expenses by half and eliminating external conference locations. “We expect savings of around 2.5 to 3 million francs with this first package of measures,” Skyguide spokesman Vladimir Barrosa is quoted as saying. CEO Merz also wants to cancel a company outing to Lisbon, where the Airspace trade fair will take place next year. In recent years, between 80 and 100 Skyguide employees have taken part. According to the recently decided measures, by 2026 there would only be a few key people, according to the Skyguide spokesman. He did not want to rule out layoffs in order to achieve the savings goal.
Swiss organize neo-Nazi concert in Milan
According to “SonntagsBlick”, the leadership of the violent neo-Nazi Hammerskins brotherhood met on November 15th near Milan (I). Covert recordings from the Exif research group, which were available to the newspaper, would provide a rare insight into the isolated network and prove the key role of the Swiss branch. Neo-Nazi cadres from all over Europe came to the so-called European Officers Meeting, including at least a dozen from Switzerland. On the same weekend, hundreds of neo-Nazis attended a hate concert organized by the group. According to the report, the Swiss scene played a central role in both the strategy meeting and the concert. They were significantly involved in the organization. The banner of the Swiss branch hung on the stage. Three Swiss men took on security tasks and two women from Switzerland looked after a sales stand.
ABB and Stadler are raising doubts about Siemens trains for Switzerland
After the 2.1 billion contract for new Zurich S-Bahn trains was awarded to Siemens, ABB and Stadler Rail warned of the risks of a new silicon carbide drive technology, according to “SonntagsZeitung”. This is considered to be more energy efficient and quieter, but has hardly been tested in busy European S-Bahn operations. “New drive technologies have always led to problems,” said former ABB Traction boss Edgar Keller to the newspaper. He considers the use in the dense Zurich S-Bahn network to be risky. ABB continues to rely on further developed IGBT technology, which can now compete with silicon carbide drives. A Stadler spokesman emphasized that the Stadler offer is based on double-decker trains that have been tried and tested since 2012. The SBB rejected the allegations, but could not comment on the content due to the ongoing complaint process.
Parmelin has over 600 bouquet photos on her phone
According to “Le Matin Dimanche” and “SonntagsZeitung”, Federal President Guy Parmelin has almost 600 photos of bouquets of flowers from the Federal Council chamber on his cell phone. Parmelin says he has been photographing the bouquets for nine years. He started it because he found them “so beautiful” and to “honor the work” of the florists. The Minister of Economic Affairs does not yet know what he will do with the pictures. “Perhaps a photo book” is conceivable. (sda/con)