2023 in Switzerland explained

The following events occurred in Switzerland in the year 2023.

Incumbents

• President of the Swiss Confederation: Alain Berset
• 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.^[1]
• 19 March: Acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS: UBS Group AG, supported by the Swiss government, reaches a deal to merge with Credit Suisse as the latter faces imminent insolvency.^[2]
• 31 March: More than a dozen people are injured in separate incidents after two trains derail during a storm.^[3]
• 12 June: The Swiss Federal Administration reports a distributed denial of service attack on some of its websites.^[4]
• 16 June: The village of Brienz/Brinzauls in Grisons, 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.^[5]
• 17 June: Seven people are injured after a hot air balloon catches fire in Zug.^[6]
• 11 August: The Gotthard Base Tunnel is closed for at least six days after a freight train derails in the tunnel.^[7]
• 22 October: 2023 Swiss federal election: Voters in Switzerland elect the members of the country's Federal Assembly.^[8]
• 29 October: The National Council of Switzerland votes 151–29 to approve a ban on full-face coverings, such as burqas worn by Muslim women. Violators of the ban could face a fine of up to 1,000 Swiss francs.^[9]
• 11 December: Two people are killed and another person is wounded in a shooting in Sion. Swiss police says the suspect is in custody.^[10]

Arts and entertainment

• 76th Locarno Film Festival August 2 – 12^[11]

Sports

• 11–16 July – 2023 World Orienteering Championships in Graubunden^[12]
• 1–12 August – 2023 IFSC Climbing World Championships^[13]
• 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

• 2022–23 Swiss Women's Super League

• 2022–23 Swiss Cup

Deaths

• 4 January – Anton Schnider, 86, footballer (BSC Young Boys, FC Grenchen, national team)^[14]
• 7 January – Walter Intemann, 78, Swiss-born Austrian businessman and politician^[15]
• 9 January – K. Alex Müller, 95, physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (1987)^[16]
• 16 January – Mousse Boulanger, 96, writer and journalist^[17]
• 26 January – Edgar Schein, 94, Swiss-born American business theorist and psychologist^[18]
• 28 January – Max Huwyler, 91, Swiss writer^[19]
• 30 January – Donald M. Hess, 86, winemaker and art collector^[20]
• 2 February – Peter Facklam, 92, politician, member of the Executive Council of Basel-Stadt (1980–1992)^[21]
• 15 February – Gilbert Rist, 84, educator^[22]
• 23 February – François Couchepin, 88, lawyer and politician, chancellor (1991–1999)^[23]
• 7 March – André Haefliger, 93, mathematician (Haefliger structure)^[24]
• 8 March – Roland Hürzeler, 77, Olympic gymnast (1968)^[25]
• 23 March – Peter Marti, 70, footballer (Zürich, Basel, national team)^[26]
• 24 March – Marcel Blanc, 88, politician, Vaud state councillor (1978–1991)^[27]
• 28 March – Theodor Otto Diener, 102, Swiss-American plant pathologist, discoverer of viroids
• 7 April – Elisabeth Kopp, 86, politician, member of the Swiss Federal Council and minister of justice and police (1984–1989)^[28]
• 9 April – Roberto Frigerio, 84, footballer (Basel, Bellinzona, national team)^[29]
• 13 April – Eberhard W. Kornfeld, 99, auctioneer, author, and art dealer^[30]
• 25 April – Hanna Johansen, 83, German-born Swiss writer (7×7 Tales of a Sevensleeper)^[31]
• 26 April – Maja Hug, 95, Olympic figure skater.^[32]
• 2 May – Heidy Forster, 92, Swiss-German actress (Hinter den sieben Gleisen, The Roaring Fifties, The Foster Boy)^[33]
• 7 May – Peter Zeindler, 89, journalist, writer, and playwright^[34]
• 22 May – Michael E. Dreher, 79, politician, MP (1987–1999)^[35]
• 24 May – Tina Turner, 83, American-born singer ("River Deep – Mountain High", "What's Love Got to Do with It") and actress (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome), 8-time Grammy winner.^[36]
• 31 May – Kurt Widmer, 82, baritone and voice teacher (City of Basel Music Academy)^[37]
• 6 June – Peter Henrici, 95, Roman Catholic prelate and philosopher, auxiliary bishop of Chur (1993–2007)
• 10 June – Hans Mössmer, 91, Olympic ice hockey player.^[38]
• 11 June – Jean Wicki, 89, bobsledder, Olympic champion (1972)^[39]
• 13 June – Philippe Borer, 68, violinist^[40]
• 16 June – Gino Mäder, 26, Olympic road cyclist (2020)^[41]
• 27 June – Peter Bieri, 79, writer and philosopher^[42]
• 10 July – Christine Hug, 41–42, lieutenant colonel
• 14 July – Albert Eschenmoser, 97, organic chemist (Eschenmoser's salt, Eschenmoser fragmentation, Eschenmoser sulfide contraction)^[43]
• 19 July – Silvana Lattmann, 104, Italian-Swiss poet and author^[44]
• 20 July – Arnaud Bédat, 58, journalist (L'Illustré) and author^[45]
• 1 August – Alfred Roch, 98, Olympic cross-country skier.^[46]
• 2 August – Laurence Deonna, 86, journalist^[47]
• 4 August – Andreas Däscher, 96, four-time Olympic ski jumper^[48]
• 9 August – Dionys Baeriswyl, 79, theoretical physicist^[49]
• 15 August – Ursula Cantieni, 75, Swiss-German actress (Die Fallers – Die SWR Schwarzwaldserie)^[50]
• 19 August – Hans Rudolf Gysin, 82, politician, member of the National Council (1987–2011)^[51]
• 22 August –
  • Martin Laciga, 48, Olympic beach volleyball player (2000, 2004)^[52]
  • Nicolas Gessner, 92, theatre and film director and screen writer.^[53]
• 12 September – Kurt Raaflaub, 82, academic and historian^[54]
• 9 October – Simone Chapuis-Bischof, 92, women's rights activist^[55]
• 10 October – Willy Pfund, 84, politician, member of the National Council (1983–1987).
• 11 October – Rainer Gut, 91, bank manager, chairman of Credit Suisse (1983–2000).^[56]
• 5 November – Susi Eppenberger, 92, politician, MP (1979–1991).^[57]
• 7 November – Werner Carobbio, 86, politician, member of the National Council (1975–1999).^[58]
• 15 November – Anna Felder, 85, writer^[59]
• 21 November – Georges Perroud, 82, footballer (Sion, Servette, national team).^[60]
• 22 November – François Musy, 68, Swiss-born French sound engineer (, Marguerite, Lost Illusions).^[61]
• 1 December – Heinz Gstrein, 81, Austrian-Swiss Oriental Orthodox theologian, foreign correspondent, and lecturer (University of Vienna).^[62]
• 3 December – Léonard Gianadda, 88, journalist (TSR), engineer, and philanthropist^[63]
• 8 December –
  • Michel Dovaz, 95, wine critic (Guide Hachette des Vins) and food writer^[64]
  • Jean-Pierre Moulin, 101, journalist (Le Matin), writer and author^[65]
• 9 December – Walter Leiser, 92, rower, Olympic silver medalist (1952)^[66]
• 10 December – Mark Villiger, 73, judge, justice of the European Court of Human Rights (2006–2015).^[67]
• 20 December – Gaston Häni, 72, Swiss clown^[68]
• 26 December – Lesley McNaught-Mändli, 59, British-born Swiss show jumper, Olympic silver medallist (2000).^[69]
• 28 December – Dick Marty, 78, politician, member of the Council of States (1995–2011).^[70]

Notes and References

1. News: 2023-02-05 . Weekend avalanches kill 10 in Austria and Switzerland . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-02-05.
2. News: 2023-03-19 . UK banking system 'safe' after Credit Suisse rescue . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-04-05.
3. Web site: 2023-03-31 . Several injured as 2 Swiss regional trains derail in storm . 2023-04-07 . AP NEWS . en.
4. Web site: Federal administration under cyberattack . 2023-06-13 . www.businesstimes.com.sg. 12 June 2023 .
5. News: 2023-06-16 . Massive Swiss rockfall stops short of evacuated village of Brienz . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-06-19.
6. Web site: 2023-06-17 . 7 injured when hot air balloon catches fire during takeoff in Switzerland . 2023-06-19 . AP NEWS . en.
7. Web site: 2023-08-11 . Week geen treinverkeer Gotthardtunnel door ontspoorde vrachttrein . 2023-08-11 . nos.nl . nl.
8. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Exit poll shows Swiss right-wing party bouncing back in parliamentary election as Greens lose ground . 2023-10-22 . AP News . en.
9. Web site: 2023-09-20 . Swiss parliament approves ban on full-face coverings like burqas, and sets fine for violators . 2023-10-30 . AP News . en.
10. Web site: 2023-12-11 . Suspect arrested after 2 people were killed in a shooting in the southern Swiss town of Sion . 2023-12-11 . AP News . en.
11. Web site: 2022-09-14 . Locarno Film Festival to Introduce Gender-Neutral Acting Awards . 2022-10-13 . en-US.
12. Web site: Event information: World Orienteering Championships 2023 . eventor.orienteering.org . 13 July 2023.
13. Web site: Redaktion . 2020-11-15 . The sport climbing world championship 2023 will take place in Switzerland . 2022-10-13 . LACRUX Klettermagazin . en.
14. Web site: Nachruf Anton Schnider FC Basel - Die offizielle Website . 2023-09-02 . www.fcb.ch . de-DE.
15. Web site: Todesanzeigen von Walter Intemann Todesanzeigen Vorarlberger Nachrichten . 2023-09-02 . todesanzeigen.vn.at . de-DE.
16. Web site: 2023-01-17 . Physik-Nobelpreisträger Karl Alex Müller stirbt mit 95 Jahren . 2023-09-02 . SWI swissinfo.ch . de.
17. News: 2023-01-17 . Mousse Boulanger, le grand saut - Le Temps . fr . 2023-09-02 . 1423-3967.
18. Web site: 2023-09-01 . 5 enduring management ideas from MIT Sloan's Edgar Schein MIT Sloan . 2023-09-02 . mitsloan.mit.edu . en.
19. Web site: Wieser . Valeria . Max Huwyler: «Wenn die Gegenwart von heute auf morgen keine mehr ist» . 2023-09-02 . zentralplus . 30 January 2023 . de-CH.
20. Web site: Keystone-SDA . Donald Hess: Todesanzeige informiert über Tod . 2023-09-02 . Nau . de.
21. Web site: Eymann* . Christoph . 2023-02-09 . Basel: Zum Tod von Alt-Regierungsrat Peter Facklam . 2023-09-02 . bz Basel . de.
22. Web site: Gilbert Rist Hommages . 2023-09-02 . hommages.ch.
23. News: 2023-02-24 . François Couchepin, ancien chancelier de la Confédération, est décédé - Le Temps . fr . 2023-09-02 . 1423-3967.
24. Web site: 2023-03-09 . In memoriam André Haefliger - Section de mathématiques - UNIGE . 2023-09-02 . www.unige.ch . fr.
25. Web site: Olympedia – Roland Hürzeler . 2023-09-02 . www.olympedia.org.
26. Web site: Schmid . Andreas W. . 2023-03-25 . Der ehemalige FCB Meisterspieler Peter Marti ist verstorben . 2023-09-02 . bz Basel . de.
27. Web site: 2023-03-25 . L'ancien conseiller d'Etat vaudois UDC Marcel Blanc est décédé à 88 ans . 2023-09-02 . rts.ch . fr.
28. Web site: Keystone-SDA/jc . 2023-04-14 . Elisabeth Kopp, Switzerland's first female cabinet minister, dies at 86 . 2023-09-02 . SWI swissinfo.ch . en.
29. Web site: Nachruf Roberto Frigerio FC Basel - Die offizielle Website . 2023-09-02 . www.fcb.ch . de-DE.
30. Web site: 2023-04-14 . Berühmte Kunstpersönlichkeit – Berner Kunsthändler Eberhard W. Kornfeld verstorben . 2023-09-02 . Der Bund . de.
31. Web site: Schriftstellerin Hanna Johansen mit 83 Jahren gestorben . 2023-09-02 . blue News . de.
32. Web site: Olympedia – Maya Hug . 2023-12-31 . www.olympedia.org.
33. Web site: El-Bira . Janis . 2023-09-02 . Schauspielerin Heidy Forster verstorben . 2023-09-02 . www.nachtkritik.de . de-de.
34. Web site: Traueranzeigen von Peter Zeindler www.sich-erinnern.ch . 2023-09-02 . www.sich-erinnern.ch . de-DE.
35. Web site: 2023-05-25 . Zum Tod von Michael E. Dreher – Autofan, politischer Flammenwerfer, charmanter Gesprächspartner . 2023-09-02 . Tages-Anzeiger . de.
36. News: Tina Turner: Music legend dies at 83. BBC News. BBC. 24 May 2023.
37. Web site: Traueranzeigen von Kurt Widmer www.sich-erinnern.ch . 2023-09-02 . www.sich-erinnern.ch . de-DE.
38. Web site: Olympedia – Hans Mössmer . 2023-12-31 . www.olympedia.org.
39. Web site: Press . 2023-06-16 . Olympic Champion Jean Wicki passed away . 2023-09-02 . www.ibsf.org . en-gb.
40. Web site: Philippe BORER - Avis de décès du 13 juin 2023 - ArcInfo . 2023-09-02 . Philippe BORER - Avis de décès du 13 juin 2023 - ArcInfo . fr.
41. News: Mader, 26, dies after Tour de Suisse crash . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-09-02.
42. Web site: Keystone-ATS . tvsvizzera it/fra con . 2023-07-04 . È morto lo scrittore Peter Bieri, alias Pascal Mercier . 2023-09-02 . TVSvizzera . it.
43. Web site: 2023-07-16 . Albert Eschenmoser deceased . 2023-09-02 . chab.ethz.ch . en.
44. Web site: Traueranzeigen von Silvana Lattmann Abruzzese trauer.nzz.ch . 2023-09-02 . trauer.nzz.ch . de-DE.
45. News: 2023-07-20 . Jura: le journaliste et reporter Arnaud Bédat est décédé à 58 ans . fr . Le Matin . 2023-09-02 . 1018-3736.
46. Web site: Olympedia – Alfred Roch . 2023-12-31 . www.olympedia.org.
47. News: 2023-08-02 . Laurence Deonna, la force de la colère - Le Temps . fr . 2023-09-02 . 1423-3967.
48. Web site: 2023-08-10 . Skispringpionier Andreas Däscher verstorben – Seine Technik revolutionierte das Skispringen . 2023-09-02 . Tages-Anzeiger . de.
49. Web site: Workshop on Criticality, Dynamics, and Nonequilibrium Behavior in Quantum Systems . 2023-12-31 . www.cdnbqs.uevora.pt.
50. Web site: Aktuell . S. W. R. . 2023-08-16 . Publikumsliebling Ursula Cantieni in Baden-Baden gestorben . 2023-09-02 . swr.online . de.
51. Web site: Hans Rudolf Gysin, der "sechste Regierungsrat", ist gestorben . 2023-09-02 . www.onlinereports.ch . de.
52. Web site: 2023-08-25 . Martin Laciga è morto a 48 anni . 2023-09-02 . RSI Radiotelevisione . it.
53. Web site: admin . 2023-08-30 . Hommage à Nicolas Gessner . 2023-12-31 . L'ARP . fr-FR.
54. Web site: The Providence Journal Obituaries in Providence, RI The Providence Journal . 2023-12-31 . providencejournal.com . en.
55. Web site: 2023-10-14 . Pionnière de la défense des droits des femmes, Simone Chapuis-Bischof n'est plus . 2023-12-31 . rts.ch . fr.
56. Web site: Ex-CS-Präsident Rainer E. Gut ist gestorben . 2023-12-31 . blue News . de.
57. Web site: St.Galler Alt-Nationalrätin Susi Eppenberger-Egger ist verstorben . 2023-12-31 . watson.ch . de.
58. Web site: Keystone-SDA . Alt-Nationalrat Werner Carobbio gestorben . 2023-12-31 . Nau . de.
59. Web site: 2023-11-16 . Meisterin der Verdichtung - Die preisgekrönte Schriftstellerin Anna Felder ist gestorben . 2023-12-31 . Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) . de.
60. News: 2023-11-23 . Football: Le football suisse pleure Georges Perroud . fr . Le Matin . 2023-12-31 . 1018-3736.
61. News: 2023-11-24 . François Musy, disparition d'un «écouteur» - Le Temps . fr . 2023-12-31 . 1423-3967.
62. Web site: 2023-12-03 . Orthodoxie-Experte Heinz Gstrein gestorben . 2023-12-31 . domradio.de . de.
63. Web site: Le géant de Martigny Léonard Gianadda s'est éteint à 88 ans . 2023-12-31 . Le géant de Martigny Léonard Gianadda s’est éteint à 88 ans . fr.
64. Web site: 2023-12-09 . Le dernier message de Michel Dovaz . 2023-12-31 . La Revue du vin de France . fr.
65. News: 2023-12-08 . Les deux visages de Jean-Pierre Moulin - Le Temps . fr . 2023-12-31 . 1423-3967.
66. Web site: Walter Hansruedi Leiser . 2023-12-31 . Hommages . de.
67. Web site: Traueranzeigen von Mark Eugen Villiger trauer.nzz.ch . 2023-12-31 . trauer.nzz.ch . de-DE.
68. Web site: Zirkuslegende ist tot: Clown Gaston ist 72-jährig gerstorben . 2023-12-31 . watson.ch . de.
69. Web site: Keystone-SDA . Schweizer Olympia-Medaillengewinnerin Lesley McNaught (†59) ist tot . 2023-12-31 . Nau . de.
70. Web site: 2023-12-28 . L'ultima battaglia del già senatore Dick Marty . 2023-12-31 . laRegione . it.