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Moves to bring back traditional general assemblies in eastern Switzerland

The eastern canton of Appenzell Outer Rhodes will vote this weekend on an initiative to reintroduce the general popular assembly, or ‘Landsgemeinde’, a traditional form of government abolished in this area 13 years ago. This type of assembly now exists only in neighbouring Appenzell Inner Rhodes and Glarus. In all other cantons democratic rights are exercised by secret ballot. (SF/swissinfo.ch)

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Minarets provoke heated global reaction

This content was published on Ever since the launch of the campaign in July 2008 to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland, online pundits have rushed to their keyboards to attack minarets – or minaret attackers – on swissinfo.ch’s nine language sites. Our Arab site continues to receive a particularly high amount of feedback, especially since it includes comments…

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Defending popular rights – by limiting them?

This content was published on Much of the feedback swissinfo.ch received on the vote has focused on this aspect of the Swiss political system, which means that ordinary people have the right to shape laws. But the history of direct democracy over the past 150 years is one of slow evolution and adaptation, and the result of the minaret vote…

Read more: Defending popular rights – by limiting them?

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR