Swiss Abroad

Clinton in Geneva champions global gay rights

This content was published on Dec 7, 2011 The issue is “one of the remaining human rights challenges of our time”, Clinton said in a forceful address at the European headquarters of the United Nations. “Gay rights are human rights,” she told an assembly of diplomats and invited guests in a presentation made in recognition of Human Rights Day, which is celebrated on…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet election horse-trading in full swing

This content was published on Dec 7, 2011 Four major parties – the centre-left Social Democrats, the centre-right Christian Democrats, the Greens and Widmer-Schlumpf’s centre-right Conservative Democrats – declared their support for her continued presence in the cabinet. Together they represent a majority in the parliament. The collective move to support Widmer-Schlumpf presents a difficult situation for the rightwing Swiss People’s Party as…

Swiss Politics

Clinton says Syrians need reassurance

This content was published on Dec 6, 2011 Clinton met six members of the opposition Syrian National Council in Geneva on Tuesday. She said it was imperative for minorities to understand that a new regime would be an improvement for them. “A democratic transition includes more than removing the Assad regime. It means setting Syria on the path of the rule of law…

Swiss Politics

Minimum wage comes under the spotlight

This content was published on Dec 6, 2011 In January the Trade Union Federation launched a people’s initiative calling for a minimum wage of SFr4,000 ($4,350) per month – triple the European average – and is expected to hand in signatures to force a nationwide vote early next year. On November 27, 54 per cent of Neuchâtel voters agreed to the principle of…

Swiss Politics

Thai floods to cost Swiss Re $600 million

This content was published on Dec 6, 2011 Intense rainfall caused hundreds of deaths and flooded approximately 1,500 industrial facilities, according to Swiss Re, affecting the global manufacturing industry supply chain. The total insured market loss is expected to be in the range of $8 billion to $11 billion, Swiss Re said, adding that due to high water levels in some places the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss parliamentary session opens

This content was published on Dec 5, 2011 The speaker of the House, a position which rotates annually, is regarded as being the “first citizen” of Switzerland. Green parliamentarian Maya Graf was elected deputy speaker, which means she should become speaker next year. She will be the first Green to hold the office. The Senate elected Hans Altherr of the centre-right Radical Party…

Swiss Politics

Former Swiss MP summoned by Greeks

This content was published on Dec 5, 2011 The commission wants to question Zisyadis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek nationality, about criticisms of Greek slowness in reaching a tax deal with Switzerland which he made on Greek television last month. “Greek members of parliament, on the left as well as on the right, had too many interests at stake” for the negotiations…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet prepares for new round of musical chairs

This content was published on Dec 5, 2011 Until a few years ago, the outcome was easy to predict: all ministers would be re-elected and any that were stepping down could be expected to be replaced with a candidate handpicked by their party since approval by parliament was largely a formality. Between 1959 and 2003, the four largest parties divided the seven cabinet…

Swiss Politics

Christian Democrats win 13th Senate seat

This content was published on Dec 4, 2011 Bischof’s win gives the Christian Democrats their 13th seat in the Senate, more than any other party in the Senate. Bischof won the seat with 51.24 per cent of the vote, ahead of the Radical Party’s Kurt Fluri with 37.74 per cent and independent Peter Brudermann with 11 per cent of the vote. The result…

Swiss Politics

Unesco faces cost of Palestine vote

This content was published on Dec 3, 2011 On October 31 the United States suspended its financial contribution to Unesco after Palestine was admitted as a full member. “The situation is difficult, no one can deny it,” Eric Falt vice-director general for external relations and public information at Unesco told swissinfo.ch. The impact is brutal and immediate: the agency is $35 million (SFr32.2…

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Swiss Abroad

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Clinton in Geneva champions global gay rights

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Cabinet election horse-trading in full swing

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Clinton says Syrians need reassurance

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Minimum wage comes under the spotlight

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Thai floods to cost Swiss Re $600 million

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Swiss parliamentary session opens

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Former Swiss MP summoned by Greeks

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Cabinet prepares for new round of musical chairs

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Christian Democrats win 13th Senate seat

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Unesco faces cost of Palestine vote

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