1975 in Switzerland

Events during the year 1975 in Switzerland.

Incumbents

2 January – Major fire at the Fischer casting company in Alpnach-Dorf. Damage amounts to 15 million francs
17-19 January – In the context of the International "Year of the Woman", there were demonstrations and the Fourth Congress of Swiss Women held in Bern
26 January – Fire at the "Au Grand Passage" store in Geneva. The establishment is completely destroyed from the second to the sixth floor. Damage estimated near one hundred million francs

5 February – Guido Nobel is appointed director of the PTT replacing Fritz Bourquin, who resigned
13 February – Opening of Glattzentrum, the first large shopping center in Switzerland located on the outskirts of Zurich in Wallisellen, housing several brands like Migros, Globus, and Jelmoli
14 February – Protest in Sion against the closure of Bally workshops in Valais
22 February – For the fourth time in its history, CP Berne becomes Swiss ice hockey champion
26 February – Moritz Suter, former pilot of Swissair, founds Business Flyers Basel, which will later become Crossair

2 March – Federal votes. The article of the constitution on conjunctural policy is not approved by the cantons, although the people approved it with yes against no
6 March – The National Council debates the legalization of abortion
16 March – In the context of the Jura question plebiscites, the districts of Courtelary, Moutier, and La Neuveville vote to remain in the Canton of Bern
27 March – Last projection of the Ciné-Journal Suisse in cinemas

1 April – 500 anti-nuclear activists invade the site planned for the construction of the nuclear power plant in Kaiseraugst
5 April – Avalanches block roads and railways in the Alps
6 April – An avalanche carries away a chalet in Val Blenio. Its five occupants are killed instantly
12 April – At the maternity ward in Bern, Ruth Winterberger from Brienz gives birth to quintuplets
20 April
*Cantonal elections in Basel-Landschaft. Clemens Stöckli, Theo Meier, Paul Manz, Paul Jenni, and Paul Nyffeler are elected to the Council of States in the first round of voting
*Cantonal elections in Ticino. Benito Bernasconi, Ugo Sadis, Argante Righetti, Flavio Cotti, and Fabio Vassalli are elected to the Council of States in the first round of voting
27 April
*Cantonal elections in Zurich. Jakob Stucki, Peter Wiederkehr, Hans Künzi, Alois Günthard, Albert Mossdorf, Alfred Gilgen AdI, and Arthur Bachmann are elected to the Council of States in the first round of voting

3 May – Inauguration of the new Theater Basel
22 May – General Motors announces the closure of its assembly line in Bienne by the end of August. 450 people will lose their jobs
25 May – Inauguration of the SBB line at Heitersberg, between Lenzburg and Zurich. The new route reduces travel time by 10 minutes between Olten and Zurich
29 May – Discontinuation of ferry transport for railcars on Lake Constance
31 May – Premiere of the revival of La Servante d’Evolène by René Morax at the Théâtre du Jorat in Mézières, directed by Paul Pasquier

8 June
*1975 Swiss referendums. The people approve, with yes against no, the federal decree on currency safeguarding
*Federal votes. The people approve, with yes against no, the federal decree concerning national road financing
*Federal votes. The people reject, with no against yes, the federal law amending the general tariff of customs
*Federal votes. The people approve, with yes against no, the federal decree concerning tax revenue increase
*Federal votes. The people approve, with yes against no, the federal decree curbing decisions on expenditures
14 June – FC Zurich secures, for the seventh time in its history, the title of Swiss football champions
20 June – Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck wins the Tour de Suisse cycling race
25–28 June – The 1975 World Archery Championships take place in Interlaken

1 August – In Helsinki, ratification of the final act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe by thirty-five countries, including Switzerland
30 August – Torrential rains in the region of Langenthal cause significant damage due to flooding of the Langete

14 September – As part of the Jura referendums, the German-speaking district of Laufen votes to remain in the Canton of Bern
16 September – Heavy rain in Ticino. Landslides lead to the closure of the Val Blenio road and the Lukmanier Pass becomes impassable

11 October – Inauguration of the new Montreux Casino
17 October – Swiss chemist of Croatian origin Vladimir Prelog receives the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
22 October – Ratification of the Bonn agreement, laying the foundation for cross-border cooperation in the Basel region, involving Germany, France, and Switzerland
26 October – Federal elections for the National Council. The Socialists emerge victorious with a gain of 9 seats. Securing 25% of the votes, they become the largest party in the National Council. The Liberal Party holds 47 seats, the Christian Democrats 46, and the Swiss People's Party 21. With 11 seats, the Alliance of Independents remains the strongest non-governmental party

6 November – Inauguration of the new road at the Simplon Pass
14 November – Opening of a section on the A9 motorway, between Villeneuve and Aigle
20 November – Opening of an section on the A5 motorway, between Saint-Blaise and Le Landeron
24 November – The Swiss Society for the Watch Industry announces the dismissal of 170 people in Bienne and Cornol

7 December
*1975 Swiss referendums. The people approve, with yes votes against no votes, the federal decree amending the constitution regarding freedom of establishment and regulation of assistance
*Federal referendums. The people approve, with yes votes against no votes, the revision of the constitution in the field of water economy
*Federal referendums. The people approve, with yes votes against no votes, the federal law on the import and export of processed agricultural products

10 January – Dorette Berthoud, novelist and literary critic
12 February – Carl Lutz, diplomat
18 February – Sasha Morgenthaler, artist and creator of the Sasha doll
20 February – Jacques Béranger, former director of the Lausanne Municipal Theater
28 February – Robert Lips, painter and cartoonist
16 March – Francis-Marius Messerli, founder of the Swiss Olympic Association
1 April – Alfred Roulin, director of the Cantonal and University Library of Lausanne
15 April – Charles Journet, cardinal
3 May – Samuel Gonard, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross
30 May – Michel Simon, comedian
17 December – Ferdinand Gonseth, mathematician and philosopher
22 November – Jakob Bührer, writer