Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Party political row heats up

This content was published on Mar 17, 2000 A public row between two of the parties represented in government has escalated. The right-wing People’s Party has refused to apologise for controversial comments about the Social Democrats by of one of its leading members. In a letter published on Friday, the People’s Party said Christoph Blocher, who described the Social Democrats as closer to…

Government launches campaign for EU accords

This content was published on Mar 17, 2000 The government has launched a campaign to win support for Switzerland’s bilateral accords with the European Union, ahead of a referendum in May. In an unprecedented move, four cabinet ministers kicked off the campaign by extolling the benefits of closer integration with Europe. The foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, made it clear that every effort would…

Swiss Politics

Government launches campaign for bilateral accords with Europe

This content was published on Mar 17, 2000 The Swiss government has launched a campaign to win support for Switzerland’s bilateral accords with the European Union, ahead of a referendum in May. Four cabinet ministers kicked off the campaign by extolling the benefits of closer integration with Europe. The government is taking a hard-sell approach to the bilateral accords with the European Union.…

Swiss Politics

Construction unions reach compromise deal with employers

This content was published on Mar 16, 2000 A long-standing pay dispute in the Swiss construction industry appears to be over. The economics minister, Pascal Couchepin (pictured centre), said employers and unions had agreed on a compromise, averting possible strike action. The employers agreed to a pay increase of SFr100 a month starting on 1 July, while the unions accepted the introduction of…

Swiss Politics

Supporters rally round Solidarity Foundation

This content was published on Mar 15, 2000 Supporters of a planned SFr7 billion national charity have been mobilising to defend the idea, after a key political party surprisingly withdrew its blessing. The withdrawal of the Christian Democrats has dealt a decisive blow to the Solidarity Foundation. In an attempt to shore up the project, the finance minister, Kaspar Villiger, said there was…

Swiss Politics

Political row sparks worries over future of consensus politics

This content was published on Mar 15, 2000 Growing acrimony between the left and right in Switzerland is causing concerns that the era of political consensus is coming to an end. In the latest row, the left-leaning Social Democrats have vowed to boycott all cross-party discussions over comments made by a leading right-wing parliamentarian. The Social Democrat parliamentary group unanimously voted to boycott…

Swiss Politics

Christian Democrats say Solidarity Foundation is dead

This content was published on Mar 15, 2000 The Christian Democrats have unexpectedly withdrawn their support for the controversial Solidarity Foundation, a planned national charity aimed at helping the needy both at home and abroad. The move has surprised the other backers of the seven billion franc fund, the Social Democrats, the Radical Party and the Finance ministry. The Christian Democrats’ president, Adalbert…

Swiss Politics

Authorities urged to take softer line towards Kosovo refugees

This content was published on Mar 14, 2000 A Swiss refugee organisation has called on the government to ease its policy towards refugees from Kosovo. The authorities have given the refugees until June to leave Switzerland, or face forcible repatriation. Denouncing the government’s attitude as unproductive, Switzerland’s Refugee Council said the repatriation programme was unrealistic, and urged that the deadline be delayed. The…

Swiss Politics

Brussels says yes to aluminium merger, with strings attached

This content was published on Mar 14, 2000 The European Commission has given the go-ahead to a planned merger between the Swiss aluminium company, Algroup, and the Canadian firm, Alcan. However, it has laid down conditions. The Commission said it approved the proposal on condition the companies sold off certain sectors so that they did not dominate those particular markets. Brussels was looking…

Swiss Politics

Swiss left threatens cross-party boycott over right’s comments

This content was published on Mar 14, 2000 The Social Democrat parliamentary group has unanimously voted to boycott all cross-party discussions with the government, until the People’s Party distances itself from comments made by one of its leading figures, Christoph Blocher. All 34 Social Democrats in parliament voted to give the right-wing party until Friday to decide on its position. The People’s Party…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Party political row heats up

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Government launches campaign for EU accords

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Government launches campaign for bilateral accords with Europe

More

Construction unions reach compromise deal with employers

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Supporters rally round Solidarity Foundation

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Political row sparks worries over future of consensus politics

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Christian Democrats say Solidarity Foundation is dead

More

Authorities urged to take softer line towards Kosovo refugees

More

Brussels says yes to aluminium merger, with strings attached

More

Swiss left threatens cross-party boycott over right’s comments

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