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Swiss Politics

Swiss help Colombia hostage operation

This content was published on Dec 28, 2007 A Swiss foreign ministry spokesman said that Switzerland had been invited to take part by the Venezuelan authorities, which are playing a large part in the mission. “Switzerland is acting with discretion [with the aim of] obtaining the release of the hostages and all of those who continue to be deprived of their freedom,” Lars…

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Blocher praises his achievements in cabinet

This content was published on Dec 28, 2007 Blocher was making his farewell statements on Friday after being spectacularly ousted earlier this month from the post, which he had held for four years. The controversial billionaire industrialist and rightwing Swiss People’s Party’s figurehead is leaving the justice ministry at the end of the year after parliament refused to re-elect him. He has been…

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Swiss Politics

No cases of BSE in 2007

This content was published on Dec 28, 2007 The federal office says strict counteractive measures have helped eradicate the disease. These will stay in force for the time being. BSE (bovine spongiform encephalitis) was first discovered in the country in 1990. In total, 463 cases of the disease have been recorded since then, but cases have been decreasing since 2001. The federal office…

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Bern and Brussels end transitional year

This content was published on Dec 26, 2007 But tensions could rise in the new year if Swiss voters are called to the polls to decide whether to extend a free movement of people accord to the latest EU members, Romania and Bulgaria. 2007 was a “transition” year, according to René Schwok, political science professor at the European Institute of Geneva University. “The…

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Swiss are optimistic about 2008

This content was published on Dec 23, 2007 A poll published in a Sunday newspaper found that 37 per cent of those questioned were optimistic about the future. In addition, 33 per cent thought that the economy would pick up as well. The Isopublic survey of more than 1,000 people across the country, highlighted by the SonntagsBlick, was part of a wider worldwide…

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Cabinet decides against anti-racism law change

This content was published on Dec 22, 2007 Blocher caused an outcry in October 2006 when he announced during a trip to Turkey that he wanted to change the law, saying it gave him “stomach ache”. The cabinet said in a statement that it had taken note of suggestions drawn up by Blocher’s ministry, but did not see the need to amend the…

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House speaker lauds Swiss multi-party system

This content was published on Dec 21, 2007 The first session of parliament since October’s national elections was dominated by the vote against re-electing controversial Justice Minister Christoph Blocher and the election to the cabinet of Swiss People’s Party colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf instead. Bugnon said on Friday that every political party in Switzerland had its own manifesto and behind every grouping were thousands…

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Swiss Politics

EU expands border-free zone, Swiss join later

This content was published on Dec 21, 2007 Switzerland is due to join the Schengen Area in November 2008, but the move is likely to be delayed as ratification of the treaty with several European Union member nations is still pending. The entry of nine former mostly eastern European states is seen by many as a final lifting of the old Iron Curtain…

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Widmer-Schlumpf fêted in home canton

This content was published on Dec 20, 2007 Widmer-Schlumpf, who will take over the justice ministry from her ousted colleague Christoph Blocher in January, was welcomed into the cabinet by Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey. “Rarely has a cabinet election been so exciting and controversial,” said Calmy-Rey in Felsberg, where the new minister lives. Calmy-Rey said Widmer-Schlumpf, a member of the rightwing Swiss People’s…

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Swiss Politics

Partial tax amnesty passes parliament

This content was published on Dec 20, 2007 Also on Wednesday, the House of Representatives rejected a proposal to scrap a flat-rate tax for rich foreigners.

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