Thousands march in Lausanne against public-service cuts

Several thousand people protested in Lausanne on Thursday evening against planned cuts to public services in the canton of Vaud, SRF reported. Police and news agency Keystone-SDA estimated the crowd at between 6,000 and 8,000, while organisers put attendance above 15,000.

The demonstrators marched through central Lausanne to Place du Château, where the Vaud government is based. They chanted slogans including “Money for public services” and “Tax the rich”. Signs criticised austerity measures and urged the State Council to “stop the damage”.

Three public-service unions are calling primarily for the proposed savings in the canton’s 2027 budget to be withdrawn. They have urged the government to use reserves and extraordinary revenue to offset the projected deficit. The planned savings affect all government departments.

An initial draft budget presented in September showed a deficit of CHF 356 million, with CHF 65 million in savings measures and CHF 440 million from the release of reserves. The State Council then revised the budget to account for the 12 per cent tax initiative approved by voters on September 27. The deficit remains unchanged, but the revised draft includes an additional CHF 100 million in cuts and CHF 172 million in new extraordinary revenue.

The draft is before the Grand Council’s finance committee. Debate in the full cantonal parliament is scheduled to begin on December 1 and is expected to continue until the Christmas break.