According to the SFSO, 1.34 million people in Switzerland are at risk of poverty, representing 15.6% of the population. This is a huge figure, and one that is rising year on year.

Almost one-fifth of the Swiss population can't even cope with an unexpected expense of 2,500 francs, such as a dentist's bill. Caritas is sounding the alarm.

Several points seem worth raising:

Everything is going up (health premiums, basic necessities, energy, petrol, public transport, rents, etc.) except salaries, AHV pensions and social benefits, which are not even indexed to the cost of living, and which the right-wing and business circles do not want indexed.

Switzerland doesn't even have a minimum wage, which is an absolute disgrace for a country that is one of the richest in the world. After all, there are almost 300,000 working poor in Switzerland. Clearly, we need to introduce a minimum wage of 4,500 francs in Switzerland, as called for by the USS.

Right-wing and centre-right parliamentarians, who are in the majority in this country and in the thrall of the business world, are out of touch with the reality experienced by a large majority of people. They take budget-cutting measures or political measures that work against low-income earners and the most precarious people. At the same time, they are offering tax breaks to big business and the rich.

The right and center want to increase the army budget: no problem, we'll get billions out of it. But if they want to increase AHV pensions, salaries, social assistance, student grants, etc., then there's nobody left.

I'm disgusted by a certain political elite that only defends the interests of the wealthiest, big business or multinationals, and abandons the majority of the population who are suffering from inflation and economic crises, and who have to tighten their belts drastically.

I am aware that it is not socially acceptable to answer "no" to this question. However, the question is about precarity, not poverty. Precarity is the absence of one or more securities, particularly job security, which allows individuals and families to fulfil their professional, family and social obligations, and to enjoy their fundamental rights.

Switzerland has a dense and diverse social solidarity network (both institutional and voluntary) that allows those in need to find help. This network may not be sufficient to combat poverty, and it requires commitment from those who seek assistance, but it does exist. It is better than what many other countries do.