Swiss Abroad

Swiss rule out negotiations with EU in tax row

This content was published on May 16, 2007 However, the cabinet said Switzerland – which is not a member of the EU – was willing to have a dialogue with Brussels on fiscal policy, but gave no date for talks. Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz and Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said on Wednesday that Switzerland would not surrender its sovereignty on tax matters. The…

Swiss Politics

copy of: Swiss People’s Party

This content was published on May 16, 2007 Until the 1990s, the People’s Party was the smallest of the parties represented in cabinet, with only 11 per cent of the vote. During the 1990s the party increased its share of the vote to become the most popular party, attracting 22.5 per cent at the 1999 elections. In 2003 its percentage of the vote…

Swiss Politics

copy of: copy of: Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union

This content was published on May 16, 2007 Die EDU konnte sich vor allem im Kanton Bern etablieren, wo sie 1991 ihren ersten Sitz im Nationalrat gewannen. Die Partei ist heute in verschiedenen Kantonen aktiv, sie konnte ihre Stärke jedoch kaum ausbauen und kam 2003 auf 1.3 Wählerprozente.

Swiss Politics

Aargau AG

This content was published on May 16, 2007 Cantonal Government: Cantonal Parliament: Members of the House of Representatives House of Representatives: Swiss People’s Party (6 seats):Lieni Flüglistaller, Ulrich Giezendanner, Walter Glur, Hans Ulrich Mathys, Ulrich Siegrist, Luzi Stamm Social Democratic Party (3 seats):Pascale Bruderer, Urs Hofmann, Doris Stump Christian Democratic Party (2 seats):Ruth Humbel-Näf, Markus Zemp Radical party (2 seats):Christine Egerszegi-Obrist, Philipp Müller…

Walking the tightrope of Swiss diplomacy

This content was published on May 16, 2007 In fact, they are all objects featured in an exhibition charting almost 400 years of Swiss diplomacy – its successes and failures – at the Swiss National Museum in Zurich. The exhibition’s title, On a Delicate Mission – Tales of Swiss Diplomacy, sums up the role of Swiss diplomats over the years perfectly, says curator…

Swiss Politics

Swiss counter criticism over illegal assets

This content was published on May 16, 2007 Speaking in Geneva on Tuesday, ambassador Paul Seger said the government had returned $1.6 billion (SFr1.9 billion) of stolen funds in recent years and was now a model when it came to fighting embezzlement. Switzerland’s reputation as a deposit box for dirty money got a further airing in author Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code and…

Swiss Politics

Nazi Holocaust archives finally opened

This content was published on May 15, 2007 Under an agreement reached on Tuesday, Holocaust institutions will be able to access in a few months’ time copies of data locked away in a quiet German town for more than 50 years. The documents will give historians an intimate inside view of the Nazi machinery of oppression and death, and will let survivors and…

Swiss Politics

Swiss politicians back call for UN parliament

This content was published on May 10, 2007 At a media conference in the Swiss capital, Bern, on Thursday, supporters said this was a good way for the UN to become more democratic and closer to the people it represents. A total of 400 parliamentarians from 70 countries are backing the campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). Forty-eight Swiss parliamentarians from…

Swiss Politics

Efta continues to extend its influence

This content was published on May 9, 2007 New negotiations are extremely far advanced with Canada and India, the organisation announced on Wednesday at the presentation of its 2006 annual report in Geneva. “We have agreements with 50 different countries, including 25 from the European Union, which makes Efta the most extensive free trade zone in the world,” declared Efta Secretary-General Kåre Bryn.…

Swiss Politics

The people decide

This content was published on May 9, 2007 The Swiss call this element of their political system “direct democracy”. It allows the people to shape legislation and constitutional changes directly through initiatives and referendums. It differs from representative democracy, in which the people delegate this power to elected representatives. Because the Swiss political system has recourse to both direct democracy and parliaments, it…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss rule out negotiations with EU in tax row

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copy of: Swiss People’s Party

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copy of: copy of: Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union

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Aargau AG

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Walking the tightrope of Swiss diplomacy

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Swiss counter criticism over illegal assets

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Nazi Holocaust archives finally opened

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Swiss politicians back call for UN parliament

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Efta continues to extend its influence

More

The people decide

Popular Stories

Most Discussed