Swiss Abroad

Basic income initiative set for defeat

This content was published on May 25, 2016 The survey, published on Wednesday, found 71% of respondents saying they would reject the initiative, while 26% said they would approve it. The figures are virtually unchanged from a first opinion poll in April commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, swissinfo.ch’s parent company. “Opinions were made up from the beginning. There was hardly any change…

Swiss Politics

Swiss aid official upbeat after humanitarian summit

This content was published on May 25, 2016 The two-day World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, which ended on Tuesday, drew the participation of 65 heads of state. However, several participants were disappointed with the attendance. Only German Chancellor Angela Merkel from the G7 group of wealthy nations attended the summit. “The absence of these [G7] leaders from this meeting does not provide an…

Swiss Politics

All pupils must shake teachers’ hands in Basel

This content was published on May 25, 2016 The case of two teenage Muslim brothers at a school in Therwil who refused to shake the hand of their teacher before and after class – a common practice in Swiss schools – generated headlines around the world at the beginning of April. The education body said on Wednesday that a legal enquiry had confirmed…

Swiss Politics

Are most asylum seekers economic migrants?

This content was published on May 25, 2016 In an interview with swissinfo.ch, Albert Rösti, a member of parliament and the newly minted president of the People’s Party, argued that proposals to accelerate asylum procedures and offer free legal advice would only encourage undeserving applicants to come to Switzerland. Instead, Rösti said, “we should be looking for solutions for rejecting or repatriating the…

Swiss Politics

Loopholes persist amid lethal drug export bans

This content was published on May 24, 2016 Morals trumped profits when Pfizer announced on May 13 that it would strictly monitor its drug shipments to make sure none are used for capital punishment in the United States. “Pfizer makes products to protect and improve the lives of its patients,” the company said in a statement. “To conform with those values, Pfizer is…

Opinion

Swiss Politics

More than textbooks: the political education of an American in Switzerland

This content was published on May 24, 2016 Living abroad is a fantastic political education in and of itself, says an American student in Geneva in a personal essay about the US elections.

Swiss Politics

Brexit: Views from a British Alpine foothold

This content was published on May 24, 2016 In this continental UK bastion, perched on a sunny cliff above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, most people I polled say they’re backing the “Remain” camp. That includes retirees. By contrast, pundits claim Britain’s older generation largely favours Brexit. So, it seems plausible that those who spend significant time across the channel think differently. Briton Alan Norris,…

Swiss Politics

Does Switzerland really have the best public services in the world?

This content was published on May 23, 2016 Swiss Transport Minister Doris Leuthard claims that no other country in the world has public services as good as the ones in Switzerland.

Swiss Politics

Swiss foreign minister says the country should do more

This content was published on May 23, 2016 In an interview aired by Swiss public television, SRF, on Monday, Burkhalter described the meeting as an opportunity to demonstrate the principles of pluralism in politics and religious tolerance, and to highlight Switzerland’s values. Burkhalter, who was scheduled to speak at the summit on Monday, declared that humanitarian aid cannot be effective without peace. “The…

Swiss Politics

Contrast growing between Swiss political parties

This content was published on May 23, 2016 The polarisation in Swiss politics has increased further, according to a scientific analysis of the 2015 parliamentary elections.

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