Swiss Abroad

Lawmakers put onus on building contractors

This content was published on Dec 5, 2012 The House of Representatives passed the law on Wednesday by 104 votes to 82. The Senate and the cabinet had already approved the change, which is meant to maintain fair competition across Switzerland’s borders under its free labour accord with the EU and prevent so-called “wage dumping”. The debate over new employment controls for the…

Swiss Politics

Maurer to become Swiss president

This content was published on Dec 5, 2012 The 62-year-old received 148 out of 202 votes in the parliamentary presidential election on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter will be his deputy. Maurer, who takes over from Conservative Democrat Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, was backed by all parliamentary groups except the Green Party. Opposition from the centre-left Social Democratic Party did not transpire. The party had…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland initials pact on US tax evasion law

This content was published on Dec 4, 2012 The pact, which was agreed upon in Washington and must still be officially signed, approved by parliament and allowed to proceed by the Swiss people, aims to simplify the implementation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca), according to a statement by the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF). The text of the…

Swiss Politics

Parliament nixes court oversight for legislation

This content was published on Dec 4, 2012 Since 1874, the Swiss constitution does not allow the Federal Court to block the application of national legislation, based on the premise that voters have approved laws passed by parliament, either at the ballot box via a referendum or tacitly. The supreme court can however check the constitutionality of cantonal legislations and rule if federal…

Swiss Politics

Should the role of president carry more weight?

This content was published on Dec 3, 2012 Merkel, Monti, Mursi and Obama are all well-known players on the world stage. In times of crisis, they work together and even talk to each other on the phone, but because of the Swiss president’s one-year term limit, Switzerland is often left out of the conversation. The head governmental position has little meaning, as the…

Swiss Politics

President makes the government’s voice audible

This content was published on Dec 3, 2012 On December 5, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate will gather to elect the president for next year. Based on cabinet seniority, it will be Defence Minister Ueli Maurer’s turn at the helm. The president leads government meetings and represents the country abroad on state visits. While still pursuing his ministerial activities,…

Swiss Politics

What would we do without each other?

This content was published on Dec 2, 2012

Swiss Politics

Switzerland poised to keep EU at arm’s length

This content was published on Dec 2, 2012 Swiss voters came out in droves on December 6, 1992. In a country where voters are called to the polls four times per year, and participation rates are rarely more than half, turnout was historically high at 78.7 per cent. By putting the ratification of the EEA agreement to the people, the cabinet was seeking…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland and EU “at breaking point”

This content was published on Dec 2, 2012 Although Switzerland remains an important trading partner for the EU, Brussels is no longer prepared to have arrangements with Switzerland made to measure, according to Russotto. Switzerland cannot risk jeopardising its position in the internal market, he says. “It is time to widen the debate.” swissinfo: Where were you on December 6 1992 when Switzerland…

Swiss Politics

Swiss say vote “will revive” two-state solution

This content was published on Nov 30, 2012 “We believe that granting Palestine [non-member] observer status at the United Nations will revive the concept of a two-state solution,” Seger noted after the vote. He added however that the Swiss backing did not mean Bern was now ready to recognise Palestine as a state on a bilateral level. That would depend on the outcome of…

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Lawmakers put onus on building contractors

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Maurer to become Swiss president

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Switzerland initials pact on US tax evasion law

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Parliament nixes court oversight for legislation

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Should the role of president carry more weight?

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President makes the government’s voice audible

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What would we do without each other?

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Switzerland poised to keep EU at arm’s length

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Switzerland and EU “at breaking point”

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Swiss say vote “will revive” two-state solution

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