The Swiss, facing an aging population and rising living costs, voted today for a 13th pension in what some consider a "historic step", but citizens rejected raising the retirement age in another vote today.
The 13th pension proposal received 58,2 percent of the country's votes, according to provisional voting results, which show the proposal won a majority of votes in more than half of Switzerland's 26 cantons, a requirement for adoption.
On the other hand, the proposal to gradually raise the retirement age from 65 to 66 does not seem to have passed. According to earlier polls, since the results of the vote have not yet been announced, only 35 percent are in favor of moving the age limit, while 63 percent are against it.
According to the polls, the majority of voters were in favor of the first initiative, which is a union proposal called "Bolje život u penzije" that provides for the payment of a 13th pension, as is the case for many employees in Switzerland who receive a 13th salary.
Monthly Swiss social security pensions are limited to 2.450 Swiss francs (2.570 euros) for a single person and 3.675 francs for a married couple.
Switzerland ranks among the most expensive countries in the world. In the city, the rent for a three-room apartment is at least 3.000 francs (3.150 euros), and coffee costs more than five francs.
This initiative has a precedent in Europe. Neighboring Liechtenstein, another expensive country that uses the Swiss franc, introduced a similar system a few years ago.
"In Switzerland, as everywhere, there is a crisis of purchasing power. The standard of living of pensioners is declining," said the president of the Federation of Swiss Trade Unions, Pierre-Yves Maiard.
Left-wing parties support the initiative, but it is strongly opposed by right-wing and centrist parties. Both the government and the parliament oppose this.
The government said the proposed increase would cost more than four billion Swiss francs a year. It was warned that this would require an increase in taxes and could threaten the financial stability of the social security system.
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