Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Parliament blocks access to apartheid-era archives

This content was published on Jun 20, 2003 The move comes just two months after the government limited access to federal archives on bilateral ties with the white regime in Pretoria between 1948 and 1994. The House rejected a proposal by a Green Party parliamentarian, demanding access for researchers to both public and private documents. “Hardly a month goes by without learning new…

Swiss Politics

Number of foreigners set to fall

This content was published on Jun 18, 2003 This week the Swiss Senate approved government proposals to grant automatic Swiss citizenship to third-generation foreigners. A study by Avenir Suisse, a think-tank for economic and social issues, says the proposals, if they become law, will reduce Switzerland’s foreign population by around one third over the next four decades. This is despite the fact that…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing targets maternity benefits

This content was published on Jun 14, 2003 However, the rightwing People’s Party is threatening to derail plans to grant mothers 14 weeks’ paid leave by putting the issue to a national vote. The Swiss Senate on Thursday followed the House of Representatives in approving the law, which would give mothers access to 80 per cent of their former salary. A maximum of…

Swiss Politics

Students learn rules of refugee game

This content was published on Jun 13, 2003 Workshops where pupils “experience” war, oppression and exile are being conducted in classrooms in the German-speaking part of the country. “It doesn’t help anyone, neither the Swiss nor the refugees, to neglect one section of society,” Kais Fguiri of the Federal Foreigners Commission told swissinfo Teachers launched the programme following last year’s nationwide vote on…

Swiss Politics

Born in Switzerland, but still far from citizens

This content was published on Jun 9, 2003 But many still don’t have Swiss nationality, which means no political rights despite being born and brought up in this country. The study, carried out by the Swiss National Science Foundation, looked at almost 400 second-generation Italians and Spaniards – aged between 18 and 35 – living in the cantons of Basel and Geneva. The…

Swiss Politics

Swiss migration plan has UN backing

This content was published on Jun 7, 2003 The “Bern Initiative” aims to come up with concrete guidelines for dealing with migration and has the approval of the United Nations. According to the UN, global migration has more than doubled since 1975 – 175 million people now reside in a country other than the one of their birth. Three quarters of these were…

Swiss Politics

The modern Swiss abroad

This content was published on Jun 6, 2003 A swissinfo poll also shows the Swiss abroad are less conservative and more open to the idea of reform. They are also likely to return to Switzerland more often than previous generations and feel at home in more than one country. The online survey commissioned by swissinfo and the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA)…

The Swiss abroad wield political muscle

This content was published on Jun 6, 2003 According to a swissinfo poll, they politically lean more to the Left than the Right or the Centre. An online survey commissioned by Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) and swissinfo reveals that the centre-left Social Democrats (SP/PS) would be the big winner among those living outside of the country. The party would scoop 31…

Swiss Politics

G-8 summit ends with pledge of unity

This content was published on Jun 3, 2003 But Swiss political observers are sceptical that the meeting made much progress in repairing the bitter divisions between the United States and Europe over the war. “Their show of unity was as genuine as you can get these days… and there was some real cooperation on certain issues,” said Jürg Martin Gabriel, a political analyst…

Swiss Politics

Tight budget for Swiss army

This content was published on Jun 3, 2003 The decision came as parliament debated a raft of other military issues, as part of the smallest armament programme in recent Swiss history. On Tuesday, the House also agreed that two Swiss soldiers should take part in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, and it extended a mandate for the army to help protect diplomatic missions. The…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Parliament blocks access to apartheid-era archives

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Number of foreigners set to fall

More

Rightwing targets maternity benefits

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Students learn rules of refugee game

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Born in Switzerland, but still far from citizens

More

Swiss migration plan has UN backing

More

The modern Swiss abroad

More

The Swiss abroad wield political muscle

More

G-8 summit ends with pledge of unity

More

Tight budget for Swiss army

Popular Stories

Most Discussed