Switzerland

A new report suggests the scandals at RUAG were worse than previously admitted, with the state-owned defense contractor allegedly prioritizing profits and tank-part deals over oversight. The findings have revived a circular debate on corruption: some see an isolated failure of management, while others see a comfortable national habit of downplaying problems until they become impossible to ignore.

Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider has expressed belief that voters will eventually embrace a VAT increase to fund the 13th pension payment, noting that it was always clear the extra money would have a price. She remains optimistic despite poor polling, an attitude not shared by colleague Karin Keller-Sutter, who has begun warning against a separate initiative to abolish the marriage tax penalty.

The week is otherwise marked by various forms of looking back. This month marks 40 years since the fire at Schweizerhalle poisoned the Rhine, a disaster that remains officially unexplained despite four decades of questions. In the present, the official statistics office has updated its cantonal GDP figures, revealing that Vaud and Geneva are finally narrowing the economic gap with Zurich.