Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Switzerland and Austria stress friendly relations despite protests

This content was published on Mar 8, 2000 The Austrian foreign minister, Benita Ferrero-Waldner (pictured), has completed her first official visit to Switzerland. Her presence was greeted with protests outside the Swiss parliament, despite the traditional good relations between the two countries. Demonstrators protesting in Berne at Ferrero-Waldner’s visit said they wanted to show that there was a ground swell of feeling against…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland puts brakes on EU doctors

This content was published on Mar 8, 2000 The Swiss House of Representatives has put the brakes on a further opening up of Switzerland to medical practitioners from the European Union. To combat a surfeit of doctors, the House adopted a temporary licensing system in which local authorities would have to prove that only an EU doctor could be found to fill a…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland and Austria stress friendly relations despite protests

This content was published on Mar 8, 2000 Protests have marked a visit to Switzerland by Austria’s foreign minister, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Demostrations were held in the capital, Berne, and security was stepped up at Austrian diplomatic missions. Ferrero-Waldner met Switzerland’s foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, (picutre) at a government villa outside Berne for official talks on bilateral relations and discussions on the new Austrian…

Swiss Politics

Swiss naturalisation practices in the spotlight

This content was published on Mar 8, 2000 The manner in which Swiss nationality is granted to foreigners has come under attack, in the wake of a controversial practice introduced in the industrial town of Emmenbrücke. Swiss residents of the town will vote on individual applicants, after consulting details of their lifestyle and background in a special brochure (see picture). Switzerland has the…

Swiss Politics

Sunday’s vote: boosting the number of women in public office

This content was published on Mar 7, 2000 Switzerland, like most countries, has far fewer women than men in public office. On Sunday, the Swiss will be voting on proposals to boost their numbers by introducing quotas for women in government, parliament and the federal administration. If accepted, the proposals would make Switzerland the first country in Europe where the proportion of women…

Swiss Politics

Cantons call for rethink on lynx

This content was published on Mar 7, 2000 A group of 16 cantons is calling on the environment minister, Moritz Leuenberger, to amend the government’s policy on the reintroduction of the lynx into the wild. They welcome the move to extend the big cat’s territory to eastern parts of Switzerland, but also want to have more say in how to control the local…

Swiss Politics

Swiss people to have final say on joining United Nations

This content was published on Mar 6, 2000 The Swiss people are to vote on joining the United Nations. Supporters of a people’s initiative have collected well over the necessary 100,000 signatures to force a nationwide vote. UN membership was rejected in a previous vote in 1986. The head of the initiative committee, Remo Gysin, said the aim of the vote was to…

Swiss Politics

Parliament begins Spring session

This content was published on Mar 5, 2000 The Spring session of the Swiss parliament is underway and one of the main items on the agenda is compensation for the wood industry following Hurricane Lothar. Emergency legislation was drafted after Lothar devastated Switzerland’s forests at the end of December. The strong winds felled some 15 million trees, which is equivalent to two year’s…

Swiss Politics

Sunday’s vote: speeding up direct democracy

This content was published on Mar 5, 2000 The authorities are taking too long to put people’s initiatives to a nationwide vote, according to the supporters of a measure to speed up the process, which will be put to a referendum on March 12. The Swiss people will have to decide whether they want issues put to a popular vote within a maximum…

Swiss Politics

Blocher strengthens influence on party power-base

This content was published on Mar 4, 2000 The right-wing populist Christoph Blocher has boosted his influence in the Swiss People’s Party. A special congress at Altdorf, in canton Uri, appointed members of Blocher’s faction to the party’s key steering commitee. The congress began by appointing party president, Ueli Maurer, to another four-year term. This was followed by elections for the 82-member central…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

More

Switzerland and Austria stress friendly relations despite protests

More

Switzerland puts brakes on EU doctors

More

Switzerland and Austria stress friendly relations despite protests

More

Swiss naturalisation practices in the spotlight

More

Sunday’s vote: boosting the number of women in public office

More

Cantons call for rethink on lynx

More

Swiss people to have final say on joining United Nations

More

Parliament begins Spring session

More

Sunday’s vote: speeding up direct democracy

More

Blocher strengthens influence on party power-base

Popular Stories

Most Discussed