Swiss Abroad

Swiss army to protect World Economic Forum

This content was published on Dec 15, 2003 The vote paves the way for a maximum of 6,500 troops to be deployed. The House of Representatives on Monday voted 92 in favour and 68 against; the Senate voted 31 for and eight against. Parliament had to be consulted because the use of more than 2,000 troops was being considered. Security at last year’s…

Swiss Politics

Finance for Merz, while Blocher gets justice

This content was published on Dec 14, 2003 Rightwinger Blocher takes charge of justice and police affairs – which includes asylum policy – while Merz is the new finance minister. Both Blocher and Merz had wanted the finance portfolio, said the Swiss president, Pascal Couchepin. But both men accepted the posts they were offered during a meeting of the newly elected cabinet on…

Swiss Politics

Bern welcomes Saddam’s capture

This content was published on Dec 14, 2003 Saddam was captured near his hometown of Tikrit by United States’ forces during a night-time raid on Saturday. A ministry spokesman said the arrest would pave the way for returning sovereignty to the Iraqi people and would fuel a rapid transition to Iraq becoming a democracy. The ministry added that Saddam had subjected his country…

Swiss Politics

Mission accomplished for Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 13, 2003 The Swiss secretary of state to the summit, Marc Furrer, told swissinfo that he was satisfied with the outcome of the first phase of the global gathering. The original aim of the WSIS was to bridge the digital divide, but negotiations quickly became entangled in thorny issues such as internet governance, human rights and the…

Swiss Politics

Protesters call for more women in government

This content was published on Dec 13, 2003 The rally was supported by 30 major Swiss women’s organisations, the Social Democratic Party, the Green Party and the trade unions. On Wednesday, parliament elected two conservative politicians, Christoph Blocher and Hans-Rudolf Merz, to the seven-member cabinet, which now includes only one woman. Blocher unseated the justice minister, Ruth Metzler, while Merz defeated a female…

Swiss Politics

Blocher election complicates EU relations

This content was published on Dec 11, 2003 The arrival of the rightwing populist in office could threaten a set of bilateral agreements in force since June 2002. Blocher is a hardline eurosceptic who, throughout his long political career, has campaigned against closer ties with Brussels. In 1992 he helped fight a proposal to take Switzerland into the European Economic Area. The campaign…

Swiss Politics

Blocher win threatens to split the government

This content was published on Dec 11, 2003 swissinfo asked political analyst Oscar Mazzoleni what effect the hardliner’s presence would have on an already divided cabinet. Blocher unseated the Christian Democrat, Ruth Metzler, in Wednesday’s cabinet election, altering the balance of power among the four main political parties for the first time in more than 40 years. The People’s Party had demanded a…

Swiss Politics

Press speaks of a conservative revolution

This content was published on Dec 11, 2003 Political motivations dominated the election, some papers pointed out, at the expense of the usual preoccupation with regional and gender representation. Blocher’s election came as little surprise, but some papers feared consensus politics was under threat. “The will of the people has been realised in one important respect – the People’s Party as the strongest…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland braced for Blocher shockwave

This content was published on Dec 10, 2003 The rightwing Swiss People’s Party was rewarded for its success in October’s parliamentary election with a second cabinet seat. Blocher, the outspoken leader of the party’s Zurich branch, replaces the Christian Democrat minister, Ruth Metzler. Blocher is known for his opposition to the EU and his hardline attitude on asylum. His presence in the cabinet,…

Swiss Politics

Blocher victory overturns old order

This content was published on Dec 10, 2003 Blocher replaces the Christian Democrat justice minister, Ruth Metzler, shifting the balance of power for the first time in 44 years. Hans-Rudolf Merz of the centre-right Radicals was elected to replace Kaspar Villiger, who is retiring as finance minister. Blocher’s success changes an informal power-sharing arrangement among the four main political parties – known as…

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Swiss army to protect World Economic Forum

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Finance for Merz, while Blocher gets justice

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Bern welcomes Saddam’s capture

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Mission accomplished for Switzerland

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Protesters call for more women in government

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Blocher election complicates EU relations

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Blocher win threatens to split the government

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Press speaks of a conservative revolution

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Switzerland braced for Blocher shockwave

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Blocher victory overturns old order

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