Cluster: Democracy

Quotas create dilemma for rightwing employers

This content was published on Aug 19, 2014 “No system is free. There is always a price to pay,” warns Urs Meister of the think tank Avenir Suisse. However, entrepreneurs from the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, which pushed through quotas at the ballot box, seem unfazed. Members of the People’s Party who run their own business and are, or have been, parliamentarians are…

Opinion

Democracy

An independent country? Scotland and direct democracy

This content was published on Aug 19, 2014 Whatever the result, the Scottish example shows it is possible for a nation to debate fundamental questions of national identity in an intelligent, informed and inclusive way.

Democracy

Vaud pays high price for local democracy

This content was published on Aug 15, 2014 The French-speaking regional newspaper 24heures External link published an article on Friday highlighting a growing trend in canton Vaud for local grassroots opposition via popular referendums to urban planning. The cities and towns of Lausanne, Aigle, Chavannes-près-Renens, Bussigny, Bassins, Yvorne and Le Vaud have all experienced a spate of citizen-initiated referendums in recent months. “It’s a…

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…

Cluster: Democracy

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Cluster: Democracy

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Quotas create dilemma for rightwing employers

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An independent country? Scotland and direct democracy

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Vaud pays high price for local 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

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Direct democracy expands in Germany

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International vs national law: a manufactured controversy?

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Youth wings carry politicians to greater heights

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Swiss MP urges Europe-wide citizens’ initiatives

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