Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Zurich’s cycling mayor rides city to success

This content was published on Oct 26, 2008 Ledergerber tells swissinfo about the ups and downs of his job, the effect of the financial crisis on Zurich and his thoughts on winning second place in the World Mayor competition. The mayor, who has been in office since 2002, announced on Wednesday that he was stepping down to spend more time with his youngest…

Swiss Politics

Controversial housing opens for asylum seekers

This content was published on Oct 25, 2008 The eastern canton of Graubünden has adopted this solution and has set up three containers on a patch of waste ground in the industrial area of Waldau/Landquart, not far from the cantonal capital, Chur. The first eight occupants have already been in Switzerland for some time, and their request for asylum has been turned down.…

Swiss Politics

Fate of drug laws hazy but voters will decide

This content was published on Oct 24, 2008 A first opinion poll found that the prescription of heroin for addicts stands a good chance of passing on November 30. However, a proposal to decriminalise cannabis attracts neither a clear majority of supporters nor opponents six weeks before the ballot. “Both camps are equally strong and the debate focuses on whether hemp is a…

Swiss Politics

Leuenberger proposes plan to dim electricity price hikes

This content was published on Oct 24, 2008 The national power grid operator, Swissgrid, caused a public outcry when it announced in late September that electricity prices would double over the next five years. Leuenberger said the proposed measures would include a reform on how power grids depreciate and a reduction in reserve energy costs. Both are needed to stabilise power levels and…

Swiss Politics

Federal Court overturns swimming ruling

This content was published on Oct 24, 2008 In making the ruling, announced on Friday, the court overturned its own decision of 1993. The case was brought by the father of two primary schoolchildren in the northern canton of Schaffhausen, who wanted permission for his sons to opt out of swimming classes. His request had been turned down at every level before failing…

Swiss Politics

The right to vote

This content was published on Oct 24, 2008 Women finally gained the vote in Switzerland in 1971, after a long campaign. Before that male voters had always rejected the move. Old posters show how the subject was often an emotional one.

Switzerland rallies for nuclear disarmament

This content was published on Oct 23, 2008 In an interview with swissinfo in New York, Jürg Streuli, Switzerland’s representative before the UN, says he is committed to getting nuclear powers to take their fingers off the button. In 2007 Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden and Switzerland introduced a resolution before the UN General Assembly in New York to make nuclear-armed countries…

Swiss Politics

German anger meets Swiss wrath in tax row

This content was published on Oct 22, 2008 Following its neighbours’ joint call for Switzerland to be added to a tax haven blacklist, the foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned Germany’s ambassador to Bern to express its “surprise and discontent”. “One does not treat a partner country in such a way,” Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said. Calmy-Rey took exception to Peer Steinbrück’s “violent”…

Swiss Politics

Blacklist remarks spark diplomatic spat

This content was published on Oct 22, 2008 It follows a joint press conference by the German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück and French Budget Minister Eric Woerth on Tuesday, in which they said Switzerland deserved to be added to a list of non-transparent tax havens. Despite a low-key response by the finance ministry to the remarks, Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey has since been…

Swiss Politics

Turks convicted of denying Armenian genocide

This content was published on Oct 21, 2008 They were ordered to pay up to SFr6,500 ($5,630) each for violating Swiss anti-racism legislation, but part of the fine was suspended over three years according to a statement by the Winterthur court on Tuesday. The defence lawyer said he would appeal the verdict, although it is milder than the sentence demanded by the prosecutor.…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Zurich’s cycling mayor rides city to success

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Controversial housing opens for asylum seekers

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Fate of drug laws hazy but voters will decide

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Leuenberger proposes plan to dim electricity price hikes

More

Federal Court overturns swimming ruling

More

The right to vote

More

Switzerland rallies for nuclear disarmament

More

German anger meets Swiss wrath in tax row

More

Blacklist remarks spark diplomatic spat

More

Turks convicted of denying Armenian genocide

Popular Stories

Most Discussed