Nuclear power, 13th AHV payment and transit toll: guide to the 2026 spring session

On March 2, the Swiss government began its 2026 spring parliamentary session. The Swiss National Council (lower house) and the Council of States (upper house) will discuss some important topics over the next month. The session will run until March 20. Here are some of the key topics being discussed:

Will nuclear power return to Switzerland?

The Federal Council recently announced that it wants to reverse the ban on building new nuclear power plants in Switzerland and amend the Nuclear Energy Act. “This will keep nuclear energy open as an option for the long-term security of Switzerland's energy supply,” according to a government press release.

The proposal will be discussed in the Council of States during the upcoming spring session. The relevant government energy committee is recommending that the council adopt the proposal, reports SRF.

The government’s plan is a counter-proposal to the popular initiative “Electricity for all at any time (Stop blackouts)” or “Jederzeit Strom für alle (Blackout stoppen)” in German. The proposal gained over 129.000 signatures in 2024 after it was launched by a cross-party committee. It calls on the government to enshrine the guarantee of a reliable electricity supply in the Swiss constitution.

Swiss government discuss 13th AHV pension payments funding

The 13th AHV pension payment, approved by voters in Switzerland in 2024, is set to be paid to eligible recipients in December 2026. Yet one thing remains to be clarified by the government: how the additional payment will be funded.

The Council of States has previously supported a proposal that would see an increase in VAT (value-added tax) and employee payroll deductions. In contrast, the Federal Council and National Council would prefer to solely fund the payments via higher VAT. The government are now due to discuss a potential compromise and, hopefully, come to an agreement.

Debates on adding Swiss neutrality to the constitution

A particularly relevant topic will also be addressed at the spring session. The “Preservation of Swiss neutrality (Neutrality Initiative)” or “Wahrung der schweizerischen Neutralität (Neutralitätsinitiative)” wants to see the Swiss constitution amended to ensure the country’s “neutrality is permanent and armed”.

The Council of States passed a counter-proposal in 2025 which excludes text on “the adoption of sanctions not decided by the UN”. SRF continues that the counter-proposal “is likely to face an uphill battle in the National Council this session”. 

Government to vote on transit toll

The National Council will vote on a proposal to introduce a toll for drivers transiting through Switzerland, for example from Germany to Italy. Proposed by SVP senator Marco Chiesa, the additional toll “is intended to relieve congestion on major transit routes, particularly the north-south A2 motorway”, reports Watson. 

The Council of States has already approved the plan and a majority of the National Council is in favour too.

A sign on the road at the Swiss border (Image credit: Tobias Arhelger / Shutterstock.com)

What other issues are being debated in Switzerland?

These are not the only topics up for debate by the Swiss government in March. Support for victims of the January 2026 Crans-Montana fire, changes to the law around demonstrations in Switzerland, a ban on foie gras, minimum wages and much more are all on the cards. We’ll keep you updated with the latest on the IamExpat website.