Cluster: Democracy

Two national languages urged for Swiss primary school

This content was published on Feb 20, 2015 As English makes inroads, efforts are underway to preserve Switzerland's national languages as a linchpin of its culture.

Democracy

Coordinated foreign language teaching at stake

This content was published on Feb 17, 2015 On March 8, citizens in the canton of Nidwalden will decide on a rightwing proposal to simplify the curriculum at the primary school level, limiting the number of foreign languages to only one, besides the native German. It is widely assumed that the change would be at the expense of French, one of Switzerland’s four…

Democracy

From pogroms to political initiatives

This content was published on Feb 8, 2015

Democracy

ʻDirect democracy is sometimes like an internet forumʼ

This content was published on Feb 8, 2015 The Swiss approach voting with a refreshing “studious enthusiasm”, jokes Swiss cartoonist Patrick Chappatte. However, over the past 15 years direct democracy has become a weapon used by manipulators and populists, he warns.

Democracy

Energy tax set for clear defeat at ballot box

This content was published on Jan 30, 2015 Seven weeks ahead of the ballot, only 29% of respondents said they would approve the initiative by the centre Liberal Green Party. “A no is certain and the proposal has plainly and simply failed,” says political scientist Claude Longchamp, head of the leading GfS Bern research and polling institute. With 55% of respondents rejecting the proposal,…

Democracy

Former Swiss president Ogi slams radical right

This content was published on Jan 30, 2015 Fifteen years after leaving government, Adolf Ogi is still a strong believer in consensus democracy. Yet this kind of thinking leaves the still popular 72-year-old pretty much isolated in his own political fold, the conservative rightwing Swiss People’s Party.

Democracy

Has Switzerland’s 26-canton model had its day?

This content was published on Jan 28, 2015 From time to time there is talk in Switzerland about creating larger cantons. Yet such ideas never seem to gain traction.

Democracy

A tax revolution to fund the energy shift?

This content was published on Jan 25, 2015 Climate change, atmospheric pollution, dangers to health and the environment – fossil fuels (petroleum, gas, and coal) are the source of serious problems for the world, many of which will burden future generations. In Switzerland, debate on a new approach to energy policy has been going on for 30 years, but even today fossil fuels…

Democracy

Tax break seeks to ease pressure on families

This content was published on Jan 19, 2015 The centrist Christian Democratic Party has traditionally put family policy high on its agenda. Unfazed by unsuccessful attempts in parliament over the past two decades to boost the financial standing of families, it collected the necessary signatures to force a nationwide vote. While the initiative was pending in parliament, voters rejected two separate constitutional amendments…

Democracy

Democracy is the ‘best of all bad forms of government’

This content was published on Jan 16, 2015 Can Swiss direct democracy handle the complexity of some of society's current problems? swissinfo.ch talks to political scientists Claude Longchamp and Martina Imfeld about the state of direct democracy in Switzerland.

Cluster: Democracy

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Cluster: Democracy

More

Two national languages urged for Swiss primary school

More

Coordinated foreign language teaching at stake

More

From pogroms to political initiatives

More

ʻDirect democracy is sometimes like an internet forumʼ

More

Energy tax set for clear defeat at ballot box

More

Former Swiss president Ogi slams radical right

More

Has Switzerland’s 26-canton model had its day?

More

A tax revolution to fund the energy shift?

More

Tax break seeks to ease pressure on families

More

Democracy is the ‘best of all bad forms of government’

Popular Stories

Most Discussed