Archive – Democracy

People power, a Swiss tradition but new to Europe

This content was published on Sep 11, 2013 The study, carried out by two legal experts from the Centre for Democracy at the University of Zurich and the University of Innsbruck in neighbouring Austria, found a great deal of differences, but also some similarities. The two types of initiatives are “distant relatives rather than siblings”, as researcher Lorenz Langer says. The European Citizens’…

Vote outcomes remain uncertain, except for army

This content was published on Sep 11, 2013 Political scientist Claude Longchamp says one of the main findings of the survey by his GfS Bern research and polling institute is a comparatively low-key campaign ahead of the September 22 ballots. Commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, the poll was published on Wednesday. “There is hardly any public debate or it has had no…

Aircraft purchase clears hurdle in parliament

This content was published on Sep 11, 2013 On Wednesday, parliamentarians cleared the necessary proposals: an armaments programme to buy the 22 Gripen planes, a bill providing the financial base for the CHF3.1 billion ($3.3 billion) purchase and the release of the so-called brake on spending – required for any amount above CHF20 million. The proposal will now return to the Senate, which…

Early poll finds clear majority in army vote

This content was published on Aug 16, 2013 Ahead of the nationwide ballot on September 22, a clear majority of people – 57 per cent – said they would reject an initiative by the Switzerland without an Army group. About one in three respondents came out in favour of the pacifists. (For details see graphic) Political scientist Claude Longchamp of the leading GfS…

Direct democracy enters new phase of digital era

This content was published on Aug 15, 2013 After more than ten years’ experience of online voting in more than 100 ballots, the cabinet seems confident e-voting is the answer to the expectations of a young electorate. In a report published in June, the government declared that the introduction of e-voting was the logical consequence of developments in society and in the communications…

Vote shows fear of epidemics and central power

This content was published on Jul 29, 2013 When a comfortable majority in both chambers of parliament approved the reform last year, a mixed group of opponents, led by a holistic therapist Daniel Trappitsch, was waiting to mount a new challenge. He and his conservative allies easily collected the necessary signatures to force a nationwide vote. Handing the cardboard boxes with the list…

The politics of disaster response

This content was published on Jul 23, 2013 In the hot noonday sun the Epeisses rescue training centre near Geneva is like a ghost town. Everywhere there are hulking piles of rubble and concrete. Buildings rest at impossible angles, their floors compressed so that they resemble the layers of a sandwich. They wait to swallow the latest group of soldiers who have come…

Battle for Swiss army set for third ballot

This content was published on Jul 23, 2013 Jakob Büchler, who heads a broad-based political committee which is against the initiative, is convinced of the true intentions of the pacifist Group for a Switzerland Without an Army. “Their initiative is an attack on the successful Swiss model, an attack against our army. The group not only want to abolish conscription, they want to eliminate…

Unions challenge parliament over 24-hour shops

This content was published on Jul 22, 2013 Under the current law shops can in principle be open from 6am to 11pm during weekdays with many local restrictions. Among the many exceptions are 24-hour petrol stations with an adjacent café and retail shop which serve customers seven days a week from 5am to 1am. There are more than 1,330 such service stations across…

Military fears links with business unravelling

This content was published on Jul 10, 2013 Besieged by an increasing number of overseas firms complaining that their staff are being taken away from work for military duty, the army has launched a charm offensive in an attempt to convince foreign executives of the benefits of the militia system. Equally at home amid the mud and explosions of battlefield exercises and multinational…

Archive – Democracy

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Archive – Democracy

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People power, a Swiss tradition but new to Europe

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Vote outcomes remain uncertain, except for army

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Aircraft purchase clears hurdle in parliament

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Early poll finds clear majority in army vote

More

Direct democracy enters new phase of digital era

More

Vote shows fear of epidemics and central power

More

The politics of disaster response

More

Battle for Swiss army set for third ballot

More

Unions challenge parliament over 24-hour shops

More

Military fears links with business unravelling

Popular Stories

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