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swissinfo.ch in Taiwan ‘Democracy is an unfinished work of art’

Andreas Gross looks at the political systems of Switzerland and Taiwan, which recently introduced direct democracy into its political process.

By 邱学慈 (Hedy Chiu)，Jie Guo Zehnder

Take a look Picture of the week

In this series, swissinfo.ch picture editors choose an image highlighting a news event of the past seven days.

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Politics Parliamentary elections 2019

Voters elect the members of the Swiss parliament for the next four-year term on October 20.

News Digest

This content was published on October 13, 2019 5:52 PM Oct 13, 2019 - 17:52 This content was published on October 13, 2019 5:52 PM

Swiss ‘pay a billion francs too much in health premiums’

This content was published on October 13, 2019 3:32 PM Oct 13, 2019 - 15:32 This content was published on October 13, 2019 3:32 PM

Young people and poorer people don’t vote, says report

This content was published on October 13, 2019 1:22 PM Oct 13, 2019 - 13:22 This content was published on October 13, 2019 1:22 PM

IS ‘terrorists’ escaping Kurdish jails, says paper

This content was published on October 13, 2019 11:42 AM Oct 13, 2019 - 11:42 This content was published on October 13, 2019 11:42 AM

Switzerland gets a new saint

This content was published on October 12, 2019 5:30 PM Oct 12, 2019 - 17:30 This content was published on October 12, 2019 5:30 PM

Thousands in Zurich protest Turkey's Syria offensive

Bloomberg business

• This content was published on October 13, 2019 8:01 PM Oct 13, 2019 - 20:01 This content was published on October 13, 2019 8:01 PM Trade Gives Emerging Markets Rest From Dealing With List of Woes
• This content was published on October 11, 2019 8:22 PM Oct 11, 2019 - 20:22 This content was published on October 11, 2019 8:22 PM Trade Thaw Sends Stocks Surging and Street Says Rally Isn’t Over
• This content was published on October 11, 2019 2:03 PM Oct 11, 2019 - 14:03 This content was published on October 11, 2019 2:03 PM European Stock Investors Finally Get a Friday to Smile About
• This content was published on October 10, 2019 8:01 PM Oct 10, 2019 - 20:01 This content was published on October 10, 2019 8:01 PM Stocks Climb as Investors Focus on Trade Talks: Markets Wrap

Reuters International

• This content was published on October 13, 2019 9:31 PM Oct 13, 2019 - 21:31 This content was published on October 13, 2019 9:31 PM U.S. to pull last troops from north Syria as Turkey presses offensive against Kurds
• This content was published on October 13, 2019 7:40 PM Oct 13, 2019 - 19:40 This content was published on October 13, 2019 7:40 PM Britain and EU say work remains to be done to reach Brexit deal
• This content was published on October 13, 2019 9:56 PM Oct 13, 2019 - 21:56 This content was published on October 13, 2019 9:56 PM Thousands of Saied supporters celebrate his projected presidential win
• This content was published on October 13, 2019 8:39 PM Oct 13, 2019 - 20:39 This content was published on October 13, 2019 8:39 PM Exclusive: U.S. could pull bulk of troops from Syria in matter of days - officials

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Follow-up material to accompany the main content

Here are additional stories besides the main content

Week in Numbers Nobel stargazers, Green gains and shared bank details

Here’s a round-up of some of the most interesting statistics to appear in the past week’s stories.

#swiss history pics Bally keeps in step with the times

A region in northern Switzerland lived and worked in harmony with the Bally shoe factory. The rest as they say is history.

By Helen James, text and photo curation

October 20 elections Opinion polls: taking the pulse or setting the tempo?

In recent decades, opinion polls have become a fixture of the electoral landscape in Switzerland, as elsewhere. How useful are they?

By Domhnall O'Sullivan

International Geneva Cashflow crisis looms over UN in Geneva

The United Nations is facing a cashflow crisis, as 63 states – including its largest contributor, the United States – have not paid their annual dues.

By Simon Bradley in Geneva

International Day of the Girl The princess does woodwork, superman looks after the baby

In Switzerland, gender inequality still has a big impact on girls and boys. The School of Equality helps pupils tackle sexist stereotypes.

By Jie Guo Zehnder

Centenary When a Swiss won a Nobel Prize for literature

The 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature went to Austrian writer Peter Handke. One hundred years ago it was Swiss poet Carl Spitteler who won the award.

By Olivier Pauchard

Pink tax in Switzerland Skirts and tampons taxed more than menswear and Viagra

These are just two Swiss examples of the pink tax. Read on for more on why women are paying more and what’s being done about it.

By Susan Misicka

Opinion Love it, don’t leave it: Why foreigners should engage with Swiss political issues

An American living and working in Switzerland argues that non-citizens should not be afraid to speak their mind on social and political issues.

By Alexandra Dufresne

Parliamentary elections Green gains could tip parliament slightly left

The Swiss parliament is set for a slight shift to the left at the expense of the political right, according to a final pre-election poll.

By Urs Geiser

Generation Global The Swiss nun who wants to end celibacy

When the young priest in her community left the church for love, Florentina Camartin began her crusade for celibacy reform.

Special reports

How the Swiss are moving back to the mountains

Two-thirds of Switzerland is mountainous, but many people leave Alpine regions since jobs are scarce. Could the digital revolution change that? Meet people who have found ways to live in the mountains thanks to modern infrastructure. 

Award winners What’s behind Switzerland’s star-studded Nobel success?

Why does Switzerland have one of the highest Nobel-per capita ratios in the world?

By Thomas Stephens

Swiss federalism Four decades on, Switzerland’s newest region is still growing up

Born in 1979, Switzerland’s youngest canton still owes much of its political and economic fate to the federal system that houses it.

By Domhnall O'Sullivan

Cosmology Swiss scientists win Nobel Prize in Physics

Swiss scientists Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics together with Canadian-American James Peebles.

This content was published on October 8, 2019 12:11 PM Oct 8, 2019 - 12:11

Swiss national museum Homesick for the mountains

Two hundred years ago, homesickness was thought to be a typically Swiss affliction, triggered by ‘Kuhreihen’, old herdsmen’s songs.

By Musée national suisse, Alexander Rechsteiner

Going 'home' What would Kosovo do without the diaspora?

What would happen to Kosovo if remittances from ethnic Albanians in Switzerland were to dry up? 

By Julie Hunt

Agenda 2030 Switzerland's top UN diplomat in New York

Switzerland's top ranking UN diplomat in New York Mirjana Spoljaric talks about why aid alone isn't enough to achieve sustainable development.

By Fredy Gsteiger, New York

Perspectives on Intern Life The lessons of living in Geneva as an intern

International Labour Organization (ILO) intern Diana Baron gives some key dos and don'ts for those starting out in Geneva.

By Diana Baron, ILO intern

parliamentary elections The disappearing ritual of voting at the ballot box

As more people vote by mail, physically going to the polls is becoming rare. swissinfo.ch looks back at the ritual of voting at the ballot box.  

By Thomas Kern