Swiss Politics

Old house, new look

This content was published on Nov 24, 2008 In 2008, thousands of visitors lined up to see the newly renovated Swiss Parliament House in Bern. Built in 1902, the building was completely redone and outfitted with modern technology for SFr103 million ($85.5 million).

Young asylum seekers find temporary home

This content was published on Nov 24, 2008 The future for these underage immigrants whose asylum applications are being processed is uncertain. swissinfo visited the old “Kurhaus” Lilienberg to see how they are getting on. Despite the charming setting, Lilienberg is not a dream come true for its residents. It is however a good base from which they can take their first steps…

Swiss Politics

Mine ban treaty reaches a critical stage

This content was published on Nov 24, 2008 Jürg Streuli, who will be chairing the biannual meeting of signatories to the 1997 Ottawa Convention in Geneva from November 24, said states must honour their commitments to ensure the treaty does not lose momentum. The Ottawa Convention, now signed by 156 states, was described in 2007 as “success in progress”. Some 80 per cent…

Swiss Politics

Appeal for decision on Mobutu frozen assets

This content was published on Nov 23, 2008 Ten years ago Switzerland blocked assets deposited by the late ruler and his family worth around SFr8 million ($6.54 million) in response to a request from the country’s government. The assets are set to be released from December 15 and returned to Mobutu’s family unless their origin can be legally determined. A letter from Foreign…

Swiss Politics

Poll shows support split for cabinet nominees

This content was published on Nov 23, 2008 The party will pick a successor to outgoing Defence Minister Samuel Schmid on November 27 from among nominations made by party sections. Cabinet elections follow on December 10. According to a joint poll published Sunday by the Matin Dimanche and SonntagsBlick newspapers, Zurich parliamentarian Rita Fuhrer was the overall preferred candidate, backed by 15.9 per…

Swiss Politics

Poll shows support split for cabinet nominee

This content was published on Nov 23, 2008 In the joint poll published on Sunday by the Matin Dimanche and SonntagsBlick newspapers, 67.8 per cent of respondents said they did not want Blocher to be re-elected, while 25.9 per cent were in favour of his return. Blocher is among the candidates nominated to become a new People’s Party cabinet representative to replace outgoing…

Swiss Politics

A life devoted to helping drug addicts

This content was published on Nov 23, 2008 This four-pillar approach, which includes heroin substitution – a treatment he pioneered – was at first controversial. But Uchtenhagen tells swissinfo that the critics have been proved wrong. Voters will decide on November 30 whether this drugs policy should be part of Swiss law. In the 1980s pictures of Zurich’s open drugs scenes at “Needle…

Swiss Politics

Activists combine to fight labour accord

This content was published on Nov 22, 2008 The 24-member group of union activists and socialists was set up in the Swiss capital Bern on Saturday. It will campaign for people to vote against the treaty in a vote on February 8, 2009 by targeting union members and holding demonstrations. Members said the accord would weaken the unions and lead to exploitation among…

Swiss Politics

Greens nominate Recordon for cabinet

This content was published on Nov 21, 2008 Recordon, 53, was chosen unanimously by the Greens, who on Friday said they didn’t want to see Christoph Blocher “or one of his clones” fill the cabinet hole left by Samuel Schmid, who is stepping down. At last year’s cabinet elections parliament’s refusal to re-elect the controversial Blocher, from the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, caused…

Swiss Politics

Drivers’ poll

This content was published on Nov 21, 2008

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Old house, new look

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Young asylum seekers find temporary home

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Mine ban treaty reaches a critical stage

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Appeal for decision on Mobutu frozen assets

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Poll shows support split for cabinet nominees

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Poll shows support split for cabinet nominee

More

A life devoted to helping drug addicts

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Activists combine to fight labour accord

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Greens nominate Recordon for cabinet

More

Drivers’ poll

Popular Stories

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