Cluster: Democracy Archives - Page 122 of 176

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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.

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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…

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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.

Opinion

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Democracy

Secret service reforms: ‘a problematic shifting of responsibility’

This content was published on Sep 14, 2016 The new intelligence law (see infobox) leads to a problematic fusion of competences of criminal prosecutors and the security services and puts at risk proven principles of our constitutional state. In a constitutional state, the authority for investigation and surveillance lies with the civil investigating authorities and not with the secret service. As a result,…

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Democracy

Poll shows waning support for green economy initiative

This content was published on Sep 14, 2016 “There is a clear trend towards a No majority,” says political scientist Martina Mousson of the GfS Bern polling and research institute, which carried out the poll. The initiative lost 10% of its backing among respondents compared with a previous survey four weeks ago. At the same time, opponents of the initiative put forward by…

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Democracy

Geneva mounts e-voting charm offensive

This content was published on Sep 13, 2016 Currently, only six of Switzerland’s 26 cantons offer remote online voting to a limited number of their citizens. The long-term trials with e-voting suffered a severe setback last year after the Swiss government stopped the use of an American system on security grounds. Since then, there has been a head-to-head contest between two technologies licensed…

Opinion

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Democracy

Voting until you get the result you want

This content was published on Sep 10, 2016 Referendums, or plebiscites, are generally used in different parts of the world as an instrument of power, not democracy. In authoritarian regimes they are used as signs of strength to flatter leaders and to show off the ability to mobilize citizens, thus sending a clear signal both internally and abroad. In semi-democratic regimes they are…

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Democracy

No e-vote counting at open-air assembly

This content was published on Sep 7, 2016 Based on an expert study, the government decided that the current system of approximate estimations of the number of raised hands for votes at the annual assembly on the town square should be continued. “It does not make sense to interfere with a proven procedure as there is no need for a change,” the government…

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Democracy

Tapped for public office, but unwilling to serve

This content was published on Sep 5, 2016 Switzerland’s tradition of non-professional, “militia” politics at the local, cantonal and national levels. It is a system that largely depends on the voluntary participation of its citizens. When that doesn’t happen, communities can force citizens to serve on a local council. Municipalities with between 5,000 to 10,000 residents are particularly hard hit by the declining…

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They rejected that? Notable vote failures over the years

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Why do some people vote against their best interests?

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Parliament closes painful chapter on foster care

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Secret service reforms: ‘essential to combat modern threats’

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Secret service reforms: ‘a problematic shifting of responsibility’

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Poll shows waning support for green economy initiative

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Geneva mounts e-voting charm offensive

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Voting until you get the result you want

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No e-vote counting at open-air assembly

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Tapped for public office, but unwilling to serve

Popular Stories

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