Swiss Abroad

Cousin of Assad denied visa to Switzerland

This content was published on Jan 1, 2012 Hafez Makhlouf wanted to meet a lawyer to challenge international sanctions imposed against him. The Swiss Federal Court rejected his request, saying the 40-year-old army colonel could use other means – like a telephone – to speak to his Swiss lawyer. The verdict, published on Thursday, was reported on Sunday by the NZZ am Sonntag…

Swiss Politics

“The financial sector will be a huge challenge”

This content was published on Jan 1, 2012 The 55-year-old centre-right politician and finance minister won re-election on December 14, despite an attack on her seat by the rightwing People’s Party. In an interview with swissinfo.ch to mark the start of her presidency, Widmer-Schlumpf talks about the major political challenges ahead and states her position on energy issues. swissinfo.ch: Did you give any…

Swiss Politics

Swiss culture shared with Hungarian youths

This content was published on Dec 31, 2011 The project is supported by monies from the Swiss enlargement contribution’s partnership fund. Once part of the Roman colony of Agria, Eger is a quaint, charming tourist town in northwest Hungary. It is also the capital of Egri Bikaver, a rich red wine that is often called “bull’s blood”. Meanwhile, the young people of Eger…

Swiss Politics

Libya accuses Bern of dragging feet on wounded

This content was published on Dec 30, 2011 The Libyan embassy official, Abdullah Besher, told Swiss public radio only ten patients were brought to Switzerland. He said most of the other 90 were transported to France, Germany, Denmark and Italy for medical treatment. Unlike Switzerland, these countries were quick to send planes and doctors to Libya and issued visas to the wounded on…

Swiss Politics

Presidential duties

This content was published on Dec 30, 2011 The office of federal president rotates every year among the seven cabinet ministers.

The Swiss have a vote for it

This content was published on Dec 29, 2011 The initiative is a core component of Switzerland’s political system. It is a way of enabling any citizen to propose new legislation, although in practice it is a tool used by political parties and interest groups. For an initiative to be put to the vote at federal level its supporters have 18 months to collect…

Short-lived Swiss arms embargo to Qatar lifted

This content was published on Dec 28, 2011 The delivery of laser targeting devices worth a total of SFr737,200 ($793,000) was suspended last summer after the Middle Eastern state violated an arms proliferation ban. Swiss-produced munitions were found in the hands of rebels in Libya. The Switzerland without an Army group said the decision by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) was ludicrous.…

Swiss Politics

Power struggle threatens Iraq’s fragile democracy

This content was published on Dec 28, 2011 Hasni Abidi, director of the Study and Research Centre for the Arab and Mediterranean World in Geneva, tells swissinfo.ch attacks on the capital Baghdad that claimed 79 lives are a clear sign of dissatisfaction with both the political process left in place by the Americans, and the government of Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. On…

Swiss Politics

Qatar munitions ban lifted

This content was published on Dec 28, 2011 The embargo has been in place since July when reports surfaced that Qatar had delivered munitions made by Switzerland’s Ruag technology company to Libyan rebels, even though re-exporting them to third parties was expressly forbidden in the terms of the purchase deal. A spokeswoman for the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) told Swiss public…

“Fighter” politician unfazed by his disability

This content was published on Dec 27, 2011 The member of the centre-right Christian Democratic Party from eastern Switzerland fights for his personal and political opinions with confidence and carefully nuanced words. Lohr talks about his agenda and his achievements like any other politician. But there is one difference that distinguishes the 49-year old from most of his fellow parliamentarians, and indeed most…

Swiss Abroad

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Swiss Abroad

More

Cousin of Assad denied visa to Switzerland

More

“The financial sector will be a huge challenge”

More

Swiss culture shared with Hungarian youths

More

Libya accuses Bern of dragging feet on wounded

More

Presidential duties

More

The Swiss have a vote for it

More

Short-lived Swiss arms embargo to Qatar lifted

More

Power struggle threatens Iraq’s fragile democracy

More

Qatar munitions ban lifted

More

“Fighter” politician unfazed by his disability

Popular Stories

Most Discussed