Why many Swiss choose to emigrate in old age

Having worked all their lives, paid into the system and forsaken holidays, some Swiss are shocked to find they cannot afford life in Switzerland after retiring. More and more pensioners are choosing to leave their homeland – not in search of adventure but out of sheer necessity. “After working hard for so many years, pensioners are being pushed to the edge of society. When it comes to its own people, I no longer see Switzerland as a social country.” This is how one person who emigrated to Spain responded to Swissinfo’s question: “Did you emigrate after retiring because you couldn’t make ends meet at home?” Swissinfo first launched this debate last year during the referendum on pension reform, but in recent weeks it has flared up again. Another question – whether our readers have emigrated for financial reasons – also continues to spark lively discussions on our website. Many can sympathise as they experience a gradual separation from a country into whose retirement system they ...