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Swiss Politics

Festivities for newly elected

This content was published on Dec 14, 2007 Also on Thursday, next year’s Swiss president, Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin, travelled to his home town of Martigny to celebrate with the local population and dignitaries. Speakers highlighted the importance of cooperation between different political parties under the Swiss consensus-based system. It’s the second time since 2003 that Couchepin will take over the rotating –…

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Cabinet “can get by” without Blocher

This content was published on Dec 14, 2007 But while they welcome the return of collegiality, there is a concern that the government is at the beginning of a period of political uncertainty. On Thursday, Widmer-Schlumpf, viewed as a more moderate choice than Blocher, was sworn in as a member of the country’s seven-person cabinet. Her party immediately announced it was pulling out…

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Swiss Politics

Election shock upsets consensus politics

This content was published on Dec 13, 2007 Experts say Switzerland will face a period of uncertainty in the next few years, but it is not clear whether the rightwing People’s Party decision to go into opposition marks the end of a long-standing political practice. By accepting election to the cabinet Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf on Thursday put paid to an informal power-sharing agreement. Some…

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Swiss Politics

Cabinet election 2007

This content was published on Dec 13, 2007 Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf has been sworn in as a member of Switzerland’s seven-person cabinet, replacing controversial People’s Party colleague Christoph Blocher. To general surprise, Blocher was not re-elected by parliament on Wednesday.

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Swiss Politics

Third woman enters the cabinet

This content was published on Dec 13, 2007 The rightwing People’s Party announced it was pulling out of the four-party government in protest at the exclusion of Blocher, who failed to win re-election on Wednesday. “You have accorded me a great task with great responsibilities and I can only accept if I can count on your support,” Widmer-Schlumpf told parliament as she accepted…

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Swiss Politics

New cabinet minister has politics in her blood

This content was published on Dec 13, 2007 The 51-year-old’s father, Leon Schlumpf, was a cabinet minister for the rightwing People’s Party between 1979 and 1987 and served as Swiss president, a largely ceremonial post, in 1984. “Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is a very valuable candidate, one of the country’s most competent politicians,” said Swiss People’s Party President Ueli Maurer in 2003, when his party…

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Swiss Politics

Widmer-Schlumpf accepts cabinet post

This content was published on Dec 13, 2007 The party immediately made good a pledge to pull out of the four-party government in protest at the exclusion of Blocher. Widmer-Schlumpf announced her decision before a joint session of parliament on Thursday, and immediately took the oath of office. “You have accorded me a great task with great responsibilities and I can only accept…

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Swiss Politics

Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf accepts seat in Swiss cabinet

This content was published on Dec 13, 2007

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Swiss Politics

Cabinet elections cause political shake-up

This content was published on Dec 12, 2007 The big question is now whether the wildcard candidate from Blocher’s own party who was elected to cabinet instead will take on the job. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf will announce her decision on Thursday. Widmer-Schlumpf, a member of a cantonal government, but not a member of the federal parliament, asked for time to ponder her next move.…

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Swiss Politics

Has the pendulum swung against Blocher?

This content was published on Dec 12, 2007 His election on December 10, 2003 was perhaps as dramatic as parliament’s decision on Wednesday to oust him. The Zurich politician – a member of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party – came into the cabinet when the centre-right Radicals in parliament backed his candidature. Blocher’s victory came at the expense of his predecessor at the…

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