Cluster: Democracy

Five thoughts on democracy from Ai Weiwei

This content was published on Apr 28, 2016 On the lack of democracy in China: “China is a society where every decision is made by officials. It is not a democratic society. There is no discussion at any level. That’s my impression. How profit is made, what is sacrificed to achieve that, where money is invested for the future, in education, or in society…

Democracy

‘Voting rights in Switzerland can’t be free’

This content was published on Apr 27, 2016 “Swiss living abroad are also foreigners in their countries of residency. They often have a firm view of what’s happening in Switzerland, and at the same time they take part in political life in their adopted countries,” Walter Leimgruber, President of the Federal Migration Commission, pointed out at a recent event. Leimgruber’s conclusion is that…

Democracy

How a German state grapples with direct democracy

This content was published on Apr 27, 2016 “We want to turn Baden-Württemberg into a model of democratic participation.” This ambitious pledge by the Green Party was made in a coalition agreement with the Social Democrats in 2011. Germany’s third-largest state shares its southern border with Switzerland and its western border with France. It was shaken by a political earthquake four years ago.…

Democracy

Public services in voter spotlight

This content was published on Apr 26, 2016 Four Swiss consumer magazines launched the people’s initiative, “In support of public sector services”External link, citing complaints by their readers. But so far, the initiative has won few supporters. The initiative calls for three changes. “Firstly, that the government not set profit-making goals for basic services; secondly, that the profits from public companies are not used…

Democracy

Are motorists the cash cows of Switzerland?

This content was published on Apr 26, 2016 The proposal calls for the revenue from the mineral oil tax to be exclusively used for financing road construction. Up until now, around CHF1.5 billion ($1.57 billion) of this revenue has gone towards the overall state budget. Car owners pay around CHF7.2 billion in taxes and duties into the treasury each year. Automobile associations even…

Democracy

Political right tries to block asylum reform

This content was published on Apr 26, 2016 The right to asylum in Switzerland will shortly be the topic of another referendum. This time rightwingers are fighting an amendment of the legislation which aims to speed up the procedure for evaluating applications and to reduce costs.

Democracy

Minister meets Tunisian Nobel Prize winners

This content was published on Apr 22, 2016 Sommaruga met Abdessattar ben Moussa, president of The Tunisian Human Rights League, and Fadhel Mahfoudh, president of The Tunisian Order of Lawyers, in Bern on Friday. The minister praised the decisive contribution of the Quartet to the democratic transition in Tunisia, stressing the central role of civil society, her department said in a statement. The award…

Democracy

EU discuss next steps for direct democracy

This content was published on Apr 20, 2016 How far has European direct democracy come since the European Union launched the European Citizens’ InitiativeExternal link (ECI) as a political instrument for change? Wednesday sees a forum on the issue. The European Citizens’ Initiative became operative in April 2012, and allows people from European Union countries to launch initiatives. More than 50 such initiatives…

Democracy

How the Swiss compromise works – locally

This content was published on Apr 20, 2016 In 2012 Basel University Psychiatric Hospital External linkannounced that it wanted to centralise the Child and Youth Psychiatric Clinic services – then spread over seven sites in the city – into a new location on its grounds. The new clinic would be next to the Adults’ Services. But this was news to Peter Schwob and…

Democracy

A basic income for all – the issue before Swiss voters

This content was published on Apr 18, 2016 The initiative, “for an unconditional basic income”External link, is rooted in debate about a two-speed society where the pay gap continues to grow. Unlike other similar initiatives, it focuses on the digital revolution and the resulting loss of traditional jobs. Supporters say giving everyone from the cradle to the grave an unconditional basic income to…

Cluster: Democracy

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