The following events occurred in

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

in the year 2023.

Incumbents

President of the Swiss Confederation The president of the Swiss Confederation, also known as the president of the confederation, federal president or colloquially as the president of Switzerland, is as ''primus inter pares'' among the other members of the Federal Council (Switze ...

Alain Berset Alain Berset (; born 9 April 1972) is a Swiss politician who served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2012 to 2023. A member of the Social Democratic Party (SP/PS), he headed the Federal Department of Home Affairs from when he too ...

* President of the National Council: Irène Kälin * President of the Swiss Council of States: Thomas Hefti

Events

* 5 February: Avalanches kill eight tourists in the Alps. * 19 March: Acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS:

UBS UBS Group AG (stylized simply as UBS) is a multinational investment bank and financial services firm founded and based in Switzerland, with headquarters in both Zurich and Basel. It holds a strong foothold in all major financial centres as the ...

Group AG, supported by the

Swiss government The Federal Council is the federal cabinet of the Swiss Confederation Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west ...

, reaches a deal to merge with

Credit Suisse Credit Suisse Group AG (, ) was a global Investment banking, investment bank and financial services firm founded and based in Switzerland. According to UBS, eventually Credit Suisse was to be fully integrated into UBS. While the integration ...

as the latter faces imminent

insolvency In accounting, insolvency is the state of being unable to pay the debts, by a person or company ( debtor), at maturity; those in a state of insolvency are said to be ''insolvent''. There are two forms: cash-flow insolvency and balance-sheet i ...

. * 31 March: More than a dozen people are injured in separate incidents after two trains

derail A derail or derailer is a device used to prevent fouling (blocking or compromising) of a rail track (or collision with anything present on the track, such as a person, or a train) by unauthorized movements of trains or unattended rolling stock ...

during a storm. * 12 June: The Swiss Federal Administration reports a

distributed denial of service attack In computing, a denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) is a cyberattack in which the perpetrator seeks to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users by temporarily or indefinitely disrupting services of a host conne ...

on some of its websites. * 16 June: The village of Brienz/Brinzauls in

Grisons The Grisons (; ) or Graubünden (),Names include: * ; *Romansh language, Romansh: ** ** ** ** ** **; * ; * ; * . See also list of European regions with alternative names#G, other names. more formally the Canton of the Grisons or the Canton ...

, is narrowly missed by an overnight 2 million m³ (71 million cu ft) rockslide. The village of 128 residents had been evacuated in May after scientists predicted the imminent rockslide. * 17 June: Seven people are injured after a hot air balloon catches fire in

Zug Zug (Standard German: , Alemannic German: ; ; ; ; )Named in the 16th century. is the largest List of cities in Switzerland, town and capital of the Swiss canton of Zug. Zug is renowned as a hub for some of the wealthiest individuals in the wor ...

. * 11 August: The

Gotthard Base Tunnel The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT; , , ) is a railway tunnel through the Alps in Switzerland. It opened in June 2016 and full service began the following December. With a route length of , it is the world's longest railway and deepest traffic tunn ...

is closed for at least six days after a

freight train A freight train, also called a goods train or cargo train, is a railway train that is used to carry cargo, as opposed to passengers. Freight trains are made up of one or more locomotives which provide propulsion, along with one or more railroad ...

derails in the tunnel. * 22 October:

2023 Swiss federal election Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 22 October 2023 to elect all members of the National Council (Switzerland), National Council and Council of States (Switzerland), Council of States. The elections were followed by 2023 Swiss Federal ...

: Voters in

elect the members of the country's Federal Assembly. * 29 October: The National Council of

votes 151–29 to approve a ban on full-face coverings, such as burqas worn by

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

women. Violators of the ban could face a fine of up to 1,000

Swiss francs The Swiss franc, or simply the franc, is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is also legal tender in the Italian exclave of Campione d'Italia which is surrounded by Swiss territory. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) i ...

. * 11 December: Two people are killed and another person is wounded in a shooting in Sion. Swiss police says the suspect is in custody.

Arts and entertainment

* 76th Locarno Film Festival August 2 – 12

Sports

* 11–16 July – 2023 World Orienteering Championships in Graubunden * 1–12 August – 2023 IFSC Climbing World Championships * UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group I * 2022–23 in Swiss football :* 2022–23 Swiss Promotion League :* 2022–23 Swiss Challenge League :*

2022–23 Swiss Super League The 2022–23 Swiss Super League (referred to as the Credit Suisse Super League for sponsoring reasons) was the 126th season of top-tier competitive football in Switzerland and the 20th under its current name and format. With this season, the ...

:* 2022–23 Swiss Women's Super League :* 2022–23 Swiss Cup

Deaths

* 4 January – Anton Schnider, 86, footballer (

BSC Young Boys Berner Sport Club Young Boys (YB by short abbreviation, ) is a Swiss professional sports club based in Bern, Switzerland. Its first team has won 17 Swiss league championships and eight Swiss Cups. YB is one of the most successful Swiss footbal ...

FC Grenchen FC Grenchen is a Swiss football club, based in Grenchen. They currently play in the 2. Liga, and play their matches at the Brühl Stadium. History FC Grenchen was founded in 1906. In 1937 they gained promotion to the top league of Swiss fo ...

national team A national sports team (commonly known as a national team or a national side) is a team that represents a nation, rather than a particular club or region, in an international sport. The term is most commonly associated with team sports, for exa ...

) * 7 January – Walter Intemann, 78, Swiss-born Austrian businessman and politician * 9 January – K. Alex Müller, 95, physicist,

Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes ( ; ; ) are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of Alfred N ...

laureate (1987) * 16 January – Mousse Boulanger, 96, writer and journalist * 26 January –

Edgar Schein Edgar Henry Schein (March 5, 1928 – January 26, 2023) was a Swiss-born American business theorist and psychologist who was professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He was a foundational researcher in the discipline of organizational beh ...

, 94, Swiss-born American business theorist and psychologist * 28 January – Max Huwyler, 91, Swiss writer * 30 January – Donald M. Hess, 86, winemaker and art collector * 2 February – Peter Facklam, 92, politician, member of the Executive Council of Basel-Stadt (1980–1992) * 15 February –

Gilbert Rist Gilbert Rist (16 July 1938 – 15 February 2023) was a Swiss educator who was honorary professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. He was best known for his study, ''The History of Development: From West ...

, 84, educator * 23 February – François Couchepin, 88, lawyer and politician,

chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

(1991–1999) * 7 March –

André Haefliger André Haefliger (; 22 May 19297 March 2023) was a Swiss mathematician who worked primarily on topology. Education and career Haefliger went to school in Nyon and then attended his final years at Collège Calvin, Collège de Genève in Genev ...

, 93, mathematician ( Haefliger structure) * 8 March – Roland Hürzeler, 77, Olympic gymnast (

1968 Events January–February * January 1968, January – The I'm Backing Britain, I'm Backing Britain campaign starts spontaneously. * January 5 – Prague Spring: Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Cze ...

) * 23 March –

Peter Marti Peter Marti (12 July 1952 – 23 March 2023) was a Swiss footballer who played as a forward during the 1970s and 1980s. Career Early years Born in Langenthal, in addition to playing his youth soccer with the local amateur football club, Marti ...

, 70, footballer (

Zürich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...

) * 24 March – Marcel Blanc, 88, politician, Vaud state councillor (1978–1991) * 28 March – Theodor Otto Diener, 102, Swiss-American plant pathologist, discoverer of

viroids Viroids are small single-stranded, circular RNAs that are infectious pathogens. Unlike viruses, they have no protein coating. All known viroids are inhabitants of angiosperms (flowering plants), and most cause diseases, whose respective econo ...

* 7 April – Elisabeth Kopp, 86, politician,

member of the Swiss Federal Council The seven members of the Federal Council (Switzerland), Swiss Federal Council (; ; ; ) constitute the federal government of Switzerland and collectively serve as the country's head of state. Each of the seven Federal Councillors heads a departm ...

and minister of justice and police (1984–1989) * 9 April – Roberto Frigerio, 84, footballer (

Bellinzona Bellinzona ( , ; ; is a municipality, a List of towns in Switzerland, historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its Three Castles of Bellinzona, three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sa ...

) * 13 April – Eberhard W. Kornfeld, 99, auctioneer, author, and art dealer * 25 April – Hanna Johansen, 83, German-born Swiss writer ('' 7×7 Tales of a Sevensleeper'') * 26 April – Maja Hug, 95, Olympic figure skater. * 2 May – Heidy Forster, 92, Swiss-German actress ('' Hinter den sieben Gleisen'', '' The Roaring Fifties'', '' The Foster Boy'') * 7 May –

Peter Zeindler Peter Zeindler (18 February 1934 – 7 May 2023) was a Swiss journalist, crime fiction writer, and playwright. He was born and died in Zürich.Katja Schönherr, Felix Münger''Peter Zeindler mit 89 Jahren gestorben.''In: srf.ch, 25 May 2023, r ...

, 89, journalist, writer, and playwright * 22 May – Michael E. Dreher, 79, politician, MP (1987–1999) * 24 May –

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

, 83, American-born singer ("

River Deep – Mountain High "River Deep – Mountain High" is a song by Ike & Tina Turner released on Philles Records as the title track to their 1966 studio album. Produced by Phil Spector and written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. ''Rolling Stone'' ranked ...

", " What's Love Got to Do with It") and actress (''

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome ''Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'' (also known as ''Mad Max 3'') is a 1985 Australian post-apocalyptic dystopian action film directed by George Miller and George Ogilvie and written by Terry Hayes and Miller. It is the third installment in the ''M ...

''), 8-time

Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

winner. * 31 May –

Kurt Widmer Kurt Widmer (28 December 1940 – 31 May 2023) was a Swiss baritone and voice teacher, who appeared and recorded internationally. He focused on concert singing, especially of oratorios from the Romantic music, Romantic period. His recordings cov ...

, 82, baritone and voice teacher ( City of Basel Music Academy) * 6 June – Peter Henrici, 95, Roman Catholic prelate and philosopher, auxiliary bishop of

Chur '' Chur (locally) or ; ; ; ; ; ; or ; , and . is the capital and largest List of towns in Switzerland, town of the Switzerland, Swiss Cantons of Switzerland, canton of the Grisons and lies in the Alpine Rhine, Grisonian Rhine Valley, where ...

(1993–2007) * 10 June – Hans Mössmer, 91, Olympic ice hockey player. * 11 June – Jean Wicki, 89, bobsledder, Olympic champion (

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...

) * 13 June – Philippe Borer, 68, violinist * 16 June – Gino Mäder, 26, Olympic road cyclist (

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

) * 27 June – Peter Bieri, 79, writer and philosopher * 10 July – Christine Hug, 41–42, lieutenant colonel * 14 July – Albert Eschenmoser, 97, organic chemist ( Eschenmoser's salt, Eschenmoser fragmentation, Eschenmoser sulfide contraction) * 19 July – Silvana Lattmann, 104, Italian-Swiss poet and author * 20 July –

Arnaud Bédat Arnaud Bédat (8 March 1965 – 20 July 2023) was a Swiss journalist and author. He worked for . His works often focused on high profile cases, including the Swissair Flight 111 and the Order of the Solar Temple. Other books of his covered Pope ...

, 58, journalist (''

L'Illustré ''L'Illustré'' () is a weekly consumer magazine published in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is one of the earliest magazines published in the country and has been in circulation since 1921. History and profile ''L'Illustré'' was first published ...

'') and author * 1 August – Alfred Roch, 98, Olympic cross-country skier. * 2 August – Laurence Deonna, 86, journalist * 4 August – Andreas Däscher, 96, four-time Olympic ski jumper * 9 August – Dionys Baeriswyl, 79, theoretical physicist * 15 August – Ursula Cantieni, 75, Swiss-German actress ('' Die Fallers – Die SWR Schwarzwaldserie'') * 19 August – Hans Rudolf Gysin, 82, politician, member of the National Council (1987–2011) * 22 August – ** Martin Laciga, 48, Olympic beach volleyball player (

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

) ** Nicolas Gessner, 92, theatre and film director and screen writer. *12 September – Kurt Raaflaub, 82, academic and historian *9 October – Simone Chapuis-Bischof, 92, women's rights activist *10 October – Willy Pfund, 84, politician, member of the National Council (1983–1987). *11 October – Rainer Gut, 91, bank manager, chairman of

(1983–2000). *5 November – Susi Eppenberger, 92, politician, National Council (Switzerland), MP (1979–1991). *7 November – Werner Carobbio, 86, politician, member of the National Council (1975–1999). *15 November – Anna Felder, 85, writer *21 November – Georges Perroud, 82, footballer (FC Sion, Sion, Servette FC, Servette,

). *22 November – François Musy, 68, Swiss-born French sound engineer (''First Name: Carmen'', ''Marguerite (2015 film), Marguerite'', ''Lost Illusions (2021 film), Lost Illusions''). *1 December – Heinz Gstrein, 81, Austrian-Swiss Oriental Orthodox theologian, foreign correspondent, and lecturer (University of Vienna). *3 December – Léonard Gianadda, 88, journalist (Télévision Suisse Romande, TSR), engineer, and philanthropist *8 December – **Michel Dovaz, 95, wine critic (''Guide Hachette des Vins'') and food writer **Jean-Pierre Moulin, 101, journalist (''Le Matin (Switzerland), Le Matin''), writer and author *9 December – Walter Leiser, 92, rower, Olympic silver medalist (Rowing at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Men's coxed four, 1952) *10 December – Mark Villiger, 73, judge, justice of the European Court of Human Rights (2006–2015). *20 December – Gaston Häni, 72, Swiss clown *26 December – Lesley McNaught-Mändli, 59, British-born Swiss show jumper, Olympic silver medallist (Equestrian at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Team jumping, 2000). *28 December – Dick Marty, 78, politician, member of the Council of States (Switzerland), Council of States (1995–2011).

References

{{Year in Europe, 2023 2023 in Switzerland, 2020s in Switzerland Years of the 21st century in Switzerland 2023 in Europe, Switzerland 2023 by country, Switzerland