Politics · Switzerland · 5 hrs ago
Thousands protest planned public-service cuts in Switzerland’s Vaud canton
Thousands of people protested planned public-service cuts in Lausanne, the capital of Switzerland’s Vaud canton.
Police and the Keystone-SDA news agency estimated the crowd at 6,000 to 8,000, while organizers said more than 15,000 attended.
Three public-service unions want the budget cuts withdrawn and have urged the government to use reserves and exceptional income to cover the forecast shortfall.
Vaud’s 2027 draft budget has a projected deficit of 356 million Swiss francs, and the government revised it after voters approved a tax initiative on September 27.
The revised plan adds 100 million francs in cuts while counting on 172 million francs in new exceptional income.
The cantonal parliament is due to begin debating the budget on December 1, with discussions expected to continue until the Christmas break.
Between 6,000 and 8,000 people protested in Lausanne against planned public-service cuts in the canton of Vaud, according to police and Keystone-SDA.
The demonstration took place on Thursday evening, a month before budget debates were due to begin in the Grand Council.
The three public-service unions called for the cuts in the 2027 cantonal budget to be withdrawn.
The revised draft keeps a projected deficit of 356 million francs and includes 100 million francs in additional cuts.
The draft is before the Grand Council’s finance committee, with debate in the full council scheduled to start on December 1.
- Who
- Between 6,000 and 8,000 people, according to police and Keystone-SDA, protested. Organizers said more than 15,000 attended.
- What
- They demonstrated against planned cuts to public services in Vaud and called for the proposed budget savings to be withdrawn.
- When
- Thursday evening, November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Lausanne, Switzerland. The march went through the city centre to Place du Château, the seat of the Vaud government.
- Why
- The three public-service unions oppose savings in the 2027 cantonal budget. They urged the government to use reserves and extraordinary revenue to cover the projected deficit.
Public-service unions and demonstrators
Vaud cantonal government
Budget savings
Public-service unions and demonstrators
The unions called for the planned savings to be withdrawn.
Vaud cantonal government
The government’s revised 2027 budget includes 100 million francs in additional cuts.
Addressing the deficit
Public-service unions and demonstrators
The unions urged the government to use reserves and extraordinary revenue to cover the projected deficit.
Vaud cantonal government
The revised draft keeps the deficit at 356 million francs and plans to use 172 million francs in new extraordinary revenue.
The first version of the 2027 budget was presented with a projected deficit of 356 million francs.
Voters approved a 12 percent tax initiative, after which the State Council adjusted the budget.
Thousands demonstrated in Lausanne against planned public-service cuts.
Debate on the budget in the full Grand Council is scheduled to begin.
- Attendance
- 6,000 to 8,000 people, according to police and Keystone-SDA; organizers said more than 15,000
- Location
- Lausanne, Vaud canton
- Projected deficit
- 356 million francs
- Additional planned cuts
- 100 million francs
- New extraordinary revenue in revised draft
- 172 million francs
- Planned start of full-council debate
- December 1
2 sources
What people are saying
Money for public services
Tax the rich