Swiss Politics

EU issues warning over free movement

This content was published on Dec 13, 2008 In an interview on Saturday with the French-language newspapers, 24 Heures and Tribune de Genève, the EU ambassador, Michael Reiterer, reminded the Swiss of the “guillotine” clause in the accords. “There is no room for speculation or reason to play for time,” Reiterer said. However, the EU ambassador to Bern said he was confident the…

Swiss Politics

Bern to represent Russia in Georgia

This content was published on Dec 13, 2008 The decision is “proof of the trust the Russian government has placed in Switzerland,” Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said after talks in Moscow with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov said he was thankful for the good services of Switzerland, and that the agreement would contribute to the normalisation of the situation in the region.…

Swiss Politics

Schengen “benefits all Swiss citizens”

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008 The Schengen agreement is set to bring closer cooperation than ever before with the European Union on police and asylum matters. This “benefits freedom in Switzerland and the safety of all our citizens”, she said on board a boat in Basel on Friday, the day of accession. Widmer-Schlumpf joined around 100 dignitaries, including Michael Reiterer,…

Swiss Politics

Schengen poll

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008

Schengen Area takes Switzerland on board

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008 On Friday – the day of accession – Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf will meet Schengen experts from the EU in Basel, on Switzerland’s northern border. A larger celebration – at ministerial level – is planned at the end of March when Switzerland’s airports are integrated into the Schengen accords. In short, the Schengen accords deal…

Swiss Politics

Press put People’s Party “on probation”

This content was published on Dec 11, 2008 But the press warned Maurer that he must respect the cabinet’s principle of collegiality or suffer the same fate as party colleague, Christoph Blocher, who parliament refused to re-elect last year. The Zurich Tages-Anzeiger newspaper called Maurer’s election to the cabinet “a last chance” for the People’s Party. Having all the important parties represented in…

Swiss Politics

Tension gives way to tradition in parliament

This content was published on Dec 10, 2008 And no sooner was the vote over than a group of men in traditional costumes struck up a yodel in the parliament building – a traditional and harmonious end to a tense and discordant election. It was a performance in honour of next year’s Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz and came shortly after parliament had elected…

Swiss Politics

Maurer takes People’s Party back into the fold

This content was published on Dec 10, 2008 But Maurer says he is willing to collaborate with his colleagues in the seven-member, multiparty government, where consensus and providing a united front is key. Maurer was elected by parliament on Wednesday, in what marks a return to cabinet for the People’s Party after one year of self declared opposition. This was despite the fact…

Swiss Politics

Ueli Maurer

This content was published on Dec 10, 2008

Merz elected president

This content was published on Dec 10, 2008 In parliament on Wednesday, the 66-year-old received 185 out of 209 valid votes. He will succeed Radical Party colleague Pascal Couchepin. His Christian Democrat cabinet colleague, Doris Leuthard, was elected vice-president. The finance minister suffered a heart attack in September and underwent quintuple bypass surgery. He returned to work at the beginning of November. In…

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EU issues warning over free movement

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Bern to represent Russia in Georgia

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Schengen “benefits all Swiss citizens”

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Schengen poll

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Schengen Area takes Switzerland on board

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Press put People’s Party “on probation”

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Tension gives way to tradition in parliament

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Maurer takes People’s Party back into the fold

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Ueli Maurer

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Merz elected president

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