Swiss Abroad

New cabinet minister says he will not be neutral

This content was published on Dec 14, 2008 In an interview with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, Maurer – a member of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party – said he would “take a close look” at any issues concerning Swiss neutrality. He also said he would try to initiate a debate within the cabinet about demographic change in Switzerland and the consequences for the country’s…

Swiss Politics

Trade union favours free movement treaty

This content was published on Dec 14, 2008 However, Unia delegates at a weekend meeting in Bern said that they expected the government to improve measures to prevent wage dumping. The extension of the free movement treaty will go to a nationwide vote on February 8. The Swiss Trade Union Federation is expected to announce its position on the vote on Monday. The…

Swiss Politics

“Switzerland could learn from Germany”

This content was published on Dec 14, 2008 In an interview with swissinfo following this week’s cabinet election, de Weck talks about the place of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party and the political future of its figurehead Christoph Blocher. Blocher was one of two official candidates put forward by the party, along with Ueli Maurer, to take over the cabinet seat of Defence…

Swiss Politics

EU issues warning over free movement

This content was published on Dec 13, 2008 In an interview on Saturday with the French-language newspapers, 24 Heures and Tribune de Genève, the EU ambassador, Michael Reiterer, reminded the Swiss of the “guillotine” clause in the accords. “There is no room for speculation or reason to play for time,” Reiterer said. However, the EU ambassador to Bern said he was confident the…

Swiss Politics

Bern to represent Russia in Georgia

This content was published on Dec 13, 2008 The decision is “proof of the trust the Russian government has placed in Switzerland,” Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said after talks in Moscow with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov said he was thankful for the good services of Switzerland, and that the agreement would contribute to the normalisation of the situation in the region.…

Swiss Politics

Schengen “benefits all Swiss citizens”

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008 The Schengen agreement is set to bring closer cooperation than ever before with the European Union on police and asylum matters. This “benefits freedom in Switzerland and the safety of all our citizens”, she said on board a boat in Basel on Friday, the day of accession. Widmer-Schlumpf joined around 100 dignitaries, including Michael Reiterer,…

Swiss Politics

Schengen poll

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008

Schengen Area takes Switzerland on board

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008 On Friday – the day of accession – Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf will meet Schengen experts from the EU in Basel, on Switzerland’s northern border. A larger celebration – at ministerial level – is planned at the end of March when Switzerland’s airports are integrated into the Schengen accords. In short, the Schengen accords deal…

Swiss Politics

Press put People’s Party “on probation”

This content was published on Dec 11, 2008 But the press warned Maurer that he must respect the cabinet’s principle of collegiality or suffer the same fate as party colleague, Christoph Blocher, who parliament refused to re-elect last year. The Zurich Tages-Anzeiger newspaper called Maurer’s election to the cabinet “a last chance” for the People’s Party. Having all the important parties represented in…

Swiss Politics

Tension gives way to tradition in parliament

This content was published on Dec 10, 2008 And no sooner was the vote over than a group of men in traditional costumes struck up a yodel in the parliament building – a traditional and harmonious end to a tense and discordant election. It was a performance in honour of next year’s Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz and came shortly after parliament had elected…

Swiss Abroad

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Swiss Abroad

More

New cabinet minister says he will not be neutral

More

Trade union favours free movement treaty

More

“Switzerland could learn from Germany”

More

EU issues warning over free movement

More

Bern to represent Russia in Georgia

More

Schengen “benefits all Swiss citizens”

More

Schengen poll

More

Schengen Area takes Switzerland on board

More

Press put People’s Party “on probation”

More

Tension gives way to tradition in parliament

Popular Stories

Most Discussed