June 4, 2025|
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|6 months agoSwiss President Faces Language Restriction Debate
Parliament votes to require Swiss president to use national languages instead of English in international communications, sparking debate about linguistic identity versus diplomatic practicality.
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- Swiss Parliament voted to require the president to use national languages instead of English in international communications
- Switzerland has four national languages: French, German, Italian and Romansh
- The motion passed with 93 votes to 81, with 15 abstentions
By The Numbers
93-81
Parliamentary vote result
15
Number of abstentions
They Said
"I will no longer have the right to speak in English with leaders of other countries and organisations"
"Switzerland may find itself having to take an interpreter to the table when all the other participants speak English"