Swiss Abroad

Christian Democrats and Radical Party make their positions clear

This content was published on Jan 22, 2000 Two centre-right government parties have made their positions clear in the run-up to referenda scheduled to take place March 12. At a Radical Party assembly in Basel, delegates voted unanimously against an initiative for greater direct democracy launched by Denner, a supermarket chain. It also voted for a pro-choice stance on abortion, with just 2…

Swiss Politics

Ogi and Blocher at odds over foreign role of army

This content was published on Jan 21, 2000 Despite the smiles, the president, Adolf Ogi, and the populist de facto leader of his People’s Party, Christoph Blocher, have clashed at an annual meeting of the Zurich branch of the party in the town of Albisgüetli, not least over whether Swiss soldiers should be deployed abroad. Blocher said the People’s Party was the only…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland leads Europe as haven for asylum seekers

This content was published on Jan 21, 2000 Switzerland last year accepted more asylum seekers than any other country in Europe, relative to the size of its population. A survey by the United Nations refugee agency shows that in actual numbers, only Germany and Britain took in more people in 1999. According to a survey published by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees,…

Swiss Politics

Deportation of West Africans to Ivory Coast called into question

This content was published on Jan 20, 2000 Swiss non-governmental organisations have voiced concern about the government’s policy of deporting West African asylum-seekers to the Ivory Coast, if their applications for sanctuary are turned down in Switzerland. Last year, 90 West Africans were deported to Abidjan, even though many did not come from the Ivory Coast. Jürg Schertenleib, a spokesman for the Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Record number of asylum seekers in 1999

This content was published on Jan 14, 2000 The number of people seeking refuge in Switzerland has risen to a record level. The federal office for refugees said 46,068 people had applied for asylum in 1999, a rise of 11.5 per cent over 1998. Two-thirds of these came from the former Yugoslavia, in particular, Kosovo. The other main sources of asylum-seekers were Iraq…

Swiss Politics

Head of Foreigners Commission resigns

This content was published on Jan 12, 2000 The head of the Federal Commission on Foreigners, Fulvio Caccia, has resigned after his department was swallowed up by the Federal Foreigners Office. He stepped down on the day the government pledged five million francs for next year to help integration efforts. Caccia said he had telephoned the justice and police minister, Ruth Metzler, to…

Swiss Politics

Head of Swiss Post resigns

This content was published on Jan 11, 2000 The Swiss Post has announced that its head, Reto Braun, is to resign. A communiqué said that Braun was leaving at his own request at the beginning of next month. It added that Braun wanted to pursue a new career challenge. Braun is to become head of the Internet company, Fantastic Corporation, based in Zug…

Peoples Party makes proposal for cabinet reform

This content was published on Jan 11, 2000 The right-wing Swiss People’s Party has been giving more details of a controversial proposal for the cabinet to be directly elected by the people rather than by parliament as at present. The issue has sharply divided politicians. The proposals could lead to a change in the line-up of the seven-member cabinet, said People’s Party member…

Swiss Politics

Better integration of foreign population on cabinet agenda

This content was published on Jan 11, 2000 One issue on the cabinet’s agenda when it holds its first meeting of the New Year directly affects one in every five people in Switzerland – its foreign population. Last October, parliament passed a law empowering the government to fund projects aimed at better integrating foreigners. But many Social Democrats and Christian Democrats accuse the…

Swiss Politics

Graubünden asks for army backup at meeting of World Economic Forum

This content was published on Jan 10, 2000 Canton Graubünden has asked for the army’s help in protecting President Clinton and other world leaders who’ll be descending on Davos at the end of this month for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. After the violent protests that disrupted last year’s World Trade Organisation summit in Seattle, the head of the cantonal…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Christian Democrats and Radical Party make their positions clear

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Ogi and Blocher at odds over foreign role of army

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Switzerland leads Europe as haven for asylum seekers

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Deportation of West Africans to Ivory Coast called into question

More

Record number of asylum seekers in 1999

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Head of Foreigners Commission resigns

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Head of Swiss Post resigns

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Peoples Party makes proposal for cabinet reform

More

Better integration of foreign population on cabinet agenda

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Graubünden asks for army backup at meeting of World Economic Forum

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