The latest mid-August poll by the Tamedia Group and 20 minuten has revealed which issues are the most pressing for Swiss citizens. One year before the federal elections are due to be held, the survey found that the cost of healthcare in Switzerland is the most urgent problem that needs to be addressed.

Tamedia survey reveals most concerning issues for Swiss people

In all, 26.298 people participated in the mid-August poll, sourced from all Swiss cities and cantons. The survey, done by one of the largest media organisations in the country, is seen by politicians as a good litmus test for what the country cares about, especially as parties prepare for the federal elections next year.

According to the poll, two-thirds of people in Switzerland said that the cost of basic and supplemental health insurance is an urgent issue that needs to be solved. A report by Comparis recently revealed that basic health insurance costs are set to increase by up to 9 percent when premiums are renewed this year, adding to the 250 francs a month families are expected to lose through inflation.

Healthcare costs, pensions and global warming the most pressing issues in Switzerland

The next most pressing issues were found to be pensions and global warming, with the EU, immigration and education rounding out the top six. The issues of lowest concern were found to be unemployment, religious fanaticism and COVID - which has fallen out of favour as a top issue with 75 percent of respondents now approving of the government’s COVID policy.

While not ranking as one of the most pressing issues in the country, two-thirds of respondents predicted that energy shortages will become a reality this winter, with more than 40 percent saying they had already started stockpiling essential goods such as wood and fuel. To help solve the problem, 85 percent of people said they would either support the maintenance of current nuclear power plants or allow the government to build new ones to prevent energy shortages.