Swiss Abroad

Union protests against “24-hour working”

This content was published on Aug 27, 2010 It comes just before the House of Representatives’ Economics Committee considers a proposal to abolish limits on the opening times of petrol stations. At a media conference in Bern on Friday, the union pointed in particular to what it called “a compulsion to work round the clock in the retail trade”. These hours were being…

Swiss Politics

Civilian service boom “shows army crisis”

This content was published on Aug 27, 2010 Hans-Ulrich Ernst was for many years general secretary of the defence ministry, and is now a knowledgeable critic of the army. He tells swissinfo.ch that reintroducing screening for those who do not want to join the army is pointless. At present, all able-bodied Swiss men between the ages of 20 and 36 must serve 260…

Swiss Politics

Swiss press calls for clear army strategy

This content was published on Aug 26, 2010 It follows a government decision delaying the partial replacement of the army’s ageing Tiger jets for financial reasons until 2015 at the latest. Buying 22 new planes would have cost up to SFr4.8 billion ($4.6 billion). The Berner Zeitung sums up its feelings under the headline “Sad army debacle”. It comments that by giving itself…

Swiss Politics

Replacement of Swiss fighter jets postponed

This content was published on Aug 25, 2010 The government confirmed it planned to replace 54 “obsolete” planes but has postponed the purchase until 2015 at the latest, at the recommendation of Defence Minister Ueli Maurer. Some jets in the Tiger fleet are over 30 years old. Buying 22 new planes would have cost up to SFr4.8 billion ($4.6 billion). In a statement,…

Swiss Politics

Private security companies prompt rethink

This content was published on Aug 25, 2010 The move follows news of the arrival in Basel of Aegis Defence Services, one of the world’s largest private security contractors. The government has commissioned a report on the issue to be ready by the end of the year. In 2008, the Swiss cabinet decided there was no need for legislation on the subject due…

Swiss Politics

Death penalty initiative is withdrawn

This content was published on Aug 25, 2010 On their website, the group said that the initiative, which caused intense debate in Switzerland over the past week, had been the only way for them to make the population aware of problems in the justice system. The surprising turn in the story comes a day after the Federal Chancellery said the initiative met formal…

Swiss Politics

Death penalty initiative withdrawn

This content was published on Aug 25, 2010 On their website, the group behind the move said that the initiative, which has caused intense debate in Switzerland, was the only way for them to make the population aware of problems in the justice system. The surprising turn in the story comes a day after the Federal Chancellery said the initiative met formal legal…

Swiss Politics

Initiative hopes to revive death penalty

This content was published on Aug 24, 2010 The Federal Chancellery said on Tuesday the initiative met formal legal requirements. Its supporters now have until February 24, 2012 to collect the 100,000 signatures needed to force a nationwide vote on the issue. Switzerland outlawed the civil death penalty in the 1940s, and observers are sceptical whether the initiative, brought by a group of…

Swiss Politics

Death row condemned

This content was published on Aug 24, 2010 Death row condemned American citizen Curtis McCarty describes his 19 years on death row before being found innocent.

Death penalty initiative launched in Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 24, 2010 They have to collect 100,000 signatures by February 24, 2012 to force a nationwide vote on the issue. Switzerland abolished capital punishment in 1942. The text calls for the Swiss Constitution to be modified to reintroduce the death penalty for those committing a murder or responsible for a death resulting from sexual abuse of children,…

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Swiss Abroad

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Union protests against “24-hour working”

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Civilian service boom “shows army crisis”

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Swiss press calls for clear army strategy

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Replacement of Swiss fighter jets postponed

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Private security companies prompt rethink

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Death penalty initiative is withdrawn

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Death penalty initiative withdrawn

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Initiative hopes to revive death penalty

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Death row condemned

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Death penalty initiative launched in Switzerland

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