Cluster: Democracy

Smokers’ lounges likely to stay, says poll

This content was published on Sep 13, 2012 An initiative by health organisations calling for unified legislation across Switzerland to protect against second-hand smoke at indoor work places appears to have lost backing among citizens. An opinion poll commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation says opponents are more than ten per cent ahead (see graphic on the bottom right of the page). “Even…

Democracy

Transparency initiative on its way out

This content was published on Sep 9, 2012 The bipartisan committee, primarily comprising young members of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party and the recently formed Pirate Party, decided to stop actively collecting signatures a few weeks ago. “If you look at it realistically, we have no chance,” Pascal Fouquet, spokesman of the initiative committee and president of the Pirate Party of canton Bern,…

Democracy

Remedy presented to cure doctor shortage

This content was published on Aug 25, 2012 The interior ministry and the directors of the cantonal health departments agreed to boost the number of graduating doctors by 300 annually within the next six years, according to a joint statement. Currently about 800 medical students pass their final exams every year at the five fully-fledged medical faculties in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and…

Democracy

Early support for wider smoking ban

This content was published on Aug 17, 2012 The poll, commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, shows nearly 60 per cent of respondents backing the Lung League’s initiative (see graphic). Voters decide on the issue on September 23. However Claude Longchamp, political scientist and head of the leading GfS Bern research and polling institute, expects increasing opposition against the initiative, particularly in certain…

Democracy

Initiative puts health before business interests

This content was published on Jul 30, 2012 The initiative by the Swiss Lung League and about 50 other health, consumer, trade union organisations and centre-left parties targets cantons that tolerate restaurants and bars which serve clients in separate smokers’ lounges. A broad political alliance of centrist and rightwing parties, the business community, notably the restaurant sector, as well as the government argue…

Democracy

Cantons asked to fine tune musical education

This content was published on Jul 21, 2012 This is the story of an initiative with a flat political prelude, a parliamentary intermezzo and an abrupt ending. It all began with an idea by music teacher and classical singer Ernst Waldemar Weber back in the 1980s. He strongly believed that the state had the noble duty to promote not only the physical fitness…

Democracy

Rail network modernises to stay on track

This content was published on Jul 19, 2012 Every day some 3,000 trains travel to and from Zurich’s main station – one of the busiest in the world – and almost a million commuters and tourists jump on a Swiss train. The federal authorities estimate that by 2030 passenger numbers will have risen by 45 per cent. As this upwards trend continues, with…

Democracy

Tax breaks for elderly meet resistance

This content was published on Jul 14, 2012 Supporters from the major centre-right and right wing parties argue the proposal is very much in line with a “typical Swiss virtue of living a debt-free life” as Hans Egloff, president of the Home Owners Association puts it. According to the campaigners the tax system currently penalises those home owners who have paid off their…

Democracy

Retailers use families to bypass work law

This content was published on Jun 18, 2012 It’s a hot sunny day in June and hardly anyone is doing a big shop. Most of the people in the Basel store on the corner of Güterstrasse and Tiersteinallee are picking up only small things: vegetables, muesli, bread or milk. “Monday-Saturday, 6am-10pm; Sunday 7am-10pm,” is displayed in large print in the window. The long…

Democracy

Store opening hours: a regular vote topic

This content was published on Jun 18, 2012 Not being able to buy groceries because the shops are closed on Sundays and during the week after 6.30pm in many places in Switzerland has surprised and irritated many visitors. But Eva Geel of the Unia trade union sees things differently. “Switzerland has not gone along with the mistaken developments in other countries,” she told…

Cluster: Democracy

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Cluster: Democracy

More

Smokers’ lounges likely to stay, says poll

More

Transparency initiative on its way out

More

Remedy presented to cure doctor shortage

More

Early support for wider smoking ban

More

Initiative puts health before business interests

More

Cantons asked to fine tune musical education

More

Rail network modernises to stay on track

More

Tax breaks for elderly meet resistance

More

Retailers use families to bypass work law

More

Store opening hours: a regular vote topic

Popular Stories

Most Discussed