Swiss Politics

Swiss one step closer to recognising Kosovo

This content was published on Feb 22, 2008 The foreign affairs committee of the House of Representatives on Friday followed the lead of the Senate committee in recommending that cabinet recognise the independence of the former Serb province. But the House of Representatives committee, which voted 15 to ten in favour of recognition, advised that the government find a way to do this…

Swiss Politics

Boosting voting rights for Swiss abroad

This content was published on Feb 22, 2008 The committee was split on the issue of whether non-resident Swiss should be granted a separate constituency and two seats in the Senate. With the casting vote of its speaker, it decided against, according to an official statement. The House of Representatives – and possibly the Senate – will vote on the proposal by Geneva-based…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet opposes arms exports ban

This content was published on Feb 22, 2008 A Swiss economics ministry statement said, however, that the cabinet was prepared to take a closer look at the current export criteria for arms, to ensure no controversial deals could be carried out in the future. Critics have raised questions in the past over exports to both Chad and Pakistan. The initiative was launched by…

Swiss Politics

Experts divided over Swiss soldiers in Kosovo

This content was published on Feb 20, 2008 For some experts and politicians there are political and diplomatic reasons why Swisscoy should not remain in the former Serbian province, which proclaimed itself independent on Sunday. Swisscoy, part of the multinational Kosovo force (Kfor), has been present in Kosovo since 1999. The unit’s 220 members are mostly stationed in Suva Reka and their main…

Swiss Politics

Helbling named as second vice-chancellor

This content was published on Feb 20, 2008 Lawyer Thomas Helbling will take over as second vice-chancellor on June 1. The post has been vacant since January 1, when a new chancellor, Corina Casanova took office. The two houses of parliament elected Casanova on December 12. Helbling’s duties will include assisting Casanova and vice-chancellor Oswald Sigg in preparing cabinet meetings and in their…

Swiss Politics

Musharraf made to pay for “war on terror”

This content was published on Feb 20, 2008 The ruling party that backs the president suffered a heavy defeat in Monday’s elections, with the two main opposition parties securing a majority of seats in parliament. Despite the poor result, Musharraf has refused to resign. Pakistan experienced something of a democratic revolution on polling day. Musharraf, who had a firm grip on power in…

Swiss Politics

Green Party

This content was published on Feb 20, 2008 In 1991 it won 6.1 per cent of the vote and 14 seats in the House of Representatives. However, the party could not hold onto the seats as support by voters subsequently dropped. The party was back on a winning streak in the past two parliamentary elections. In the 2007 polls the Greens took 9.6…

Bern BE

This content was published on Feb 19, 2008 Cantonal government: Cantonal parliament: Political representation in the national parliament House of Representatives: Swiss People’s Party (8 seats):Adrian Amstutz, Ursula Haller, Rudolf Joder, Fritz Abraham Oehrli, Simon Schenk, Walter Schmied, Hansruedi Wandfluh, Hermann Weyeneth Social Democratic Party (8 seats):Evi Allemann, André Daguet, Paul Günter, Margret Kiener Nellen, Hans Stöckli, Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold, Peter Vollmer, Ursula Wyss…

“It’s like discovering another planet”

This content was published on Feb 18, 2008 Besim Haziri, who has lived in Geneva for 14 years, tells swissinfo why he feels like a different person after the birth of the world’s newest nation. Dressed in his white chef’s outfit, Haziri sits down at a table next to me in between preparing lunch at the Université Populaire Albanaise, an educational centre founded…

Swiss Politics

Sports specialists say shape up for Euro 2008

This content was published on Feb 18, 2008 A sports week in May is to put the focus on exercise for people to be ready for the following month’s Euro 2008 football championship being co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria. At a news conference in Bern on Monday, the defence ministry – which is also responsible for sport – said 64 per cent of…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss one step closer to recognising Kosovo

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Boosting voting rights for Swiss abroad

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Cabinet opposes arms exports ban

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Experts divided over Swiss soldiers in Kosovo

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Helbling named as second vice-chancellor

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Musharraf made to pay for “war on terror”

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Green Party

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Bern BE

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“It’s like discovering another planet”

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Sports specialists say shape up for Euro 2008

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