Cluster: Democracy

E-voting wins ground despite risks and setbacks

This content was published on Aug 14, 2014 Swiss expats registered in 14 of the country’s 26 cantons will be able to participate in the 2015 elections to the House of Representatives. In 12 cantons they can also help choose the members of the Senate. “139 of the 200 seat in house will be affected,” says Thomas Kalau, a senior official in the…

Democracy

Swiss law precedence is ‘danger for democracy’

This content was published on Aug 13, 2014 According to the German-language dailies Tages-Anzeiger and Der BundExternal link, the idea of a possible constitutional amendment in the field of “national law versus international law” put forward by the People’s Party represents a “danger for democracy”. In an editorial, they said such a move would have “incalculable consequences” such as forcing Switzerland to leave…

Opinion

Democracy

How to (mis)understand Swiss direct democracy

This content was published on Aug 13, 2014 The world tends to misinterprets the promises and perils of Switzerland’s direct democracy – but this may soon change, says journalist Bruno Kaufmann.

Democracy

Direct democracy expands in Germany

This content was published on Aug 12, 2014 Direct democracy is not a Swiss invention, but this system has been widely used and developed in the alpine republic since the 19th century. So much so that Switzerland is seen as one of the most advanced democracies and held up as an example in many places. A quick opinion poll by swissinfo.ch among passersby…

Democracy

International vs national law: a manufactured controversy?

This content was published on Jul 28, 2014 The rightwing Swiss People’s Party is calling for a people’s initiative, saying that “democratically legitimised Swiss law” should take precedent over international law, despite the constitution stating the opposite. But human rights experts say the conflict is artificial.

Democracy

Youth wings carry politicians to greater heights

This content was published on Jul 11, 2014 Lukas Reimann and Cédric Wermuth could have simply made an annual contribution to their political party. But they wanted much more – to participate and to be able to make their views known right away. “Something was missing,” said 32-year-old Reimann. The rightwing Swiss People’s Party parliamentarian started attending party meetings at the age of 15, surrounded…

Swiss Social Democrat parliamentarian Andreas Gross at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in April 2013.

Democracy

Swiss MP urges Europe-wide citizens’ initiatives

This content was published on Jul 8, 2014 The centre-left parliamentarian, who is a major supporter but also a critic of the European Union, told the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaperExternal link on July 8 that the “body representing 500 million people must not only be strengthened but above all become more democratic”. In the long NZZ article he took a swipe at EU…

Opinion

Democracy

Switzerland could improve its direct democracy

This content was published on Jun 27, 2014 Since the minaret ban in 2009, a consistent battle cry of red, white, and black has accompanied every major conservative initiative. The formula – outsiders, coated in black, imposing on Swiss prosperity – seems to work: conservative parties continue to dominate the quarterly votes. The Swiss take pride in their direct democracy, and the merits…

Democracy

UKIP leader calls for more direct democracy

This content was published on Jun 23, 2014 leader of the UK Independence Party, says British voters should be given more direct democracy and the final say on government policy similar to the Swiss model. The UKIP leader told the Institute for Government think-tankExternal link on June 23 that the party would have a campaign for direct democracy in its future manifesto. Following the…

Democracy

Minimum salary rejection confirms status quo

This content was published on May 19, 2014 On Sunday, three out of four Swiss voters rejected plans for a nationwide minimum wage, which at CHF22 ($25) an hour would have been the highest in the world. Swiss citizens had already rejected an initiative in 2013, proposed by the youth section of the centre-left Social Democrats, which stipulated that the salary of a…

Cluster: Democracy

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Cluster: Democracy

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E-voting wins ground despite risks and setbacks

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Swiss law precedence is ‘danger for democracy’

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How to (mis)understand Swiss direct democracy

More

Direct democracy expands in Germany

More

International vs national law: a manufactured controversy?

More

Youth wings carry politicians to greater heights

More

Swiss MP urges Europe-wide citizens’ initiatives

More

Switzerland could improve its direct democracy

More

UKIP leader calls for more direct democracy

More

Minimum salary rejection confirms status quo

Popular Stories

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