Cluster: Democracy

Ticino wants to protect residents on labour market

This content was published on Sep 25, 2016 The initiative by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party won more than 59.4% of the vote on Sunday. Turnout was 44%. However, analysts say the proposal will be difficult to apply because it is not compatible with the Swiss constitution and could be in breach of international treaties, according to opponents of the proposal. The initiative…

Democracy

Secret service agents have licence to hack computers

This content was published on Sep 25, 2016 Voters have approved a law letting the Swiss intelligence service monitor private cyberspace activities to prevent terrorist attacks.

Democracy

Strict enforcement of initiative rejected

This content was published on Sep 22, 2016 The House of Representatives on Wednesday showed its preference for a “light” version of the people’s initiative approved in 2014 calling for the re-introduction of annual immigration quotas. This version is aimed at keeping peace with the EU by preserving economic treaties but alleviating some of the foreign pressure on the Swiss job market. Under…

Democracy

Campaigners launch ‘initiative for fair prices’

This content was published on Sep 20, 2016 “Multinational companies keep prices up in Switzerland arbitrarily to absorb the high purchasing power. Consumers, small- and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs) and state-run schools or hospitals pay the price,” said Prisca Birrer-Heimo at a news conference on Tuesday. The president of a leading consumer organisation criticised the fact that Swiss prices are often higher for identical…

Democracy

E-voting welcomed despite security concerns

This content was published on Sep 19, 2016 The survey, commissioned by the Centre for Democracy StudiesExternal link and published on Monday, found that more than two out of three respondents across age groups, gender and party political affiliation would like to see e-voting for all citizens. Trials with e-voting have been underway since 2003 in different cantons, notably involving registered members of…

Democracy

Should parliamentarians be drawn by lot?

This content was published on Sep 18, 2016 The group says everybody would be free to accept or reject the task. The designated person would get twelve months of training to learn the ropes before she or he takes up a four-year mandate. And just like a regular parliamentarian, the citizen would benefit from an annual salary of CHF130,000 ($133,400), plus expenses. In…

Democracy

They rejected that? Notable vote failures over the years

This content was published on Sep 16, 2016 A look at occasions in Swiss history when voters rejected an idea that, at first glance, seemed to benefit them.

Democracy

Why do some people vote against their best interests?

This content was published on Sep 16, 2016 An upcoming initiative on raising pension payments has raised questions about the role of personal and national interests in direct democracy.

Democracy

Parliament closes painful chapter on foster care

This content was published on Sep 15, 2016 “Today is a historical day. The victims have had to wait for decades for this moment,” said Guido Fluri, the main promoter of financial compensation for the victims of the harsh foster system. He and some of his fellow activists had tears in their eyes when they faced the cameras in the parliament lobby on…

Opinion

Democracy

Secret service reforms: ‘essential to combat modern threats’

This content was published on Sep 14, 2016 The proposed reforms to the Swiss secret service are urgently needed in order to give the agency effective tools to counter threats like terrorism.

Cluster: Democracy

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Cluster: Democracy

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Ticino wants to protect residents on labour market

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Secret service agents have licence to hack computers

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Strict enforcement of initiative rejected

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Campaigners launch ‘initiative for fair prices’

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E-voting welcomed despite security concerns

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Should parliamentarians be drawn by lot?

More

They rejected that? Notable vote failures over the years

More

Why do some people vote against their best interests?

More

Parliament closes painful chapter on foster care

More

Secret service reforms: ‘essential to combat modern threats’

Popular Stories

Most Discussed