even Switzerland is now thinking about taxing the super rich as a debate on an inheritance tax intensifies Switzerland has long had a reputation as a tranquil safe haven for the world’s wealthy but in recent weeks numerous ultrarich residents have publicly threatened to leave they’ve been spooked by a proposal for a 50% tax on inherited wealth above 50 million Franks currently most of Switzerland has no inheritance tax for spouses and children business owners have been vocal about the proposal arguing that they would have to sell their firms to pay the tax the Youth Way of the Swiss Socialist Party has been a driving force in the debate hoping to use such revenues to combat climate change making use of Switzerland’s system of direct democracy they collected over 100,000 signatures that now means that the Swiss people will vote on whether the proposal will be enshrined in the country’s Constitution the current controversy shows how much is at stake for the country’s Super Rich The Swiss electorate has been known to Spring a surprise in the past it’s that worry which has driven many of the wealthy who usually keep a low profile to suddenly go public