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Swiss Politics

Sense of duty leads to serving Swiss abroad

This content was published on Dec 31, 2006 In an interview with swissinfo, he says he has no intention of stepping down as vice-president of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) and gives a preview of his future plans. Next year the centre-right Liberal, who has decided not to stand for re-election, will complete his 24th and final year as a member…

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Voters take law into own hands in 2006

This content was published on Dec 26, 2006 Ten were launched in 2006 – the largest number for eight years, however well short of the record set in 1998 when 19 were tabled. Experts were surprised by the large number of people’s initiatives set in motion this year, after the launch of only two in 2005. There was much talk at the time…

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Leuenberger appeals for collegiality

This content was published on Dec 24, 2006 Leuenberger, who holds the largely ceremonial post of Swiss president until the end of the year, said he believes in unity and collegiality – but also in compromise. “For example, the modernisation of the pension scheme will probably succeed only with a broad political compromise,” he told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper in an interview. “That could…

Happy family: (left to right) Leuenberger, Calmy-Rey, Couchepin, Blocher

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Ministers prefer to spend holidays at home

This content was published on Dec 23, 2006 Moritz Leuenberger, who holds the largely ceremonial position of Swiss president until the end of the year, will “keep watch”, although all ministers will be in close contact with their offices. Having wrapped up the final cabinet session of the year on Thursday, the Swiss government is winding down and preparing for the festive period.…

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Swiss Politics

Global index puts spotlight on human rights

This content was published on Dec 21, 2006 Funded by the Swiss government, the SFr450,000 ($370,000) Universal Human Rights Index shows which countries are making progress and which are continuing to flout international conventions. The database, which took three years to develop, is designed to ease access to documents issued by the seven United Nations human rights treaty bodies and reports commissioned by…

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Parliament ambivalent on environmental issues

This content was published on Dec 20, 2006 Discussions about the budget and elections also marked debate in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Senate followed the House in agreeing the introduction in stages of a controversial tax on carbon dioxide emissions but only if greenhouse gases from fossil fuels are not reduced by other means to 1990 levels within three…

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Dispute breaks out over tsunami reconstruction

This content was published on Dec 18, 2006 In an article in Zurich’s Tages-Anzeiger newspaper on Monday, Max Seelhofer, the former SRC head of delegation in Sri Lanka, accused the organisation of poorly utilising millions of francs of donor money and of bad planning. “The Swiss Red Cross has made management errors,” said Seelhofer, who was in charge of post-tsunami reconstruction work in…

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Swiss Politics

Euro 2008 goals on target

This content was published on Dec 18, 2006 At a news conference in Bern on Monday, the Swiss organisers presented a “positive” first report on the planning of Euro 2008, along with a first glimpse of a national marketing campaign. “Football fever will spread throughout Switzerland,” Matthias Remund, director of the Federal Sport Office, told journalists. Between one million and 3.2 million visitors…

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Facing up to the lessons of Swiss history

This content was published on Dec 16, 2006 The committee, which was set up by the Swiss government and parliament in December 1996 after harsh criticism of the country as a war profiteer, sparked heated debate and scientific research. During its five years of work, the Independent Commission of Experts Switzerland – Second World War published 25 volumes, some of which were critical…

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Army shopping list gets go-ahead

This content was published on Dec 13, 2006 Attempts from the left to cut costs and by the rightwing People’s Party to delay spending until military reforms were outlined were rejected by the House of Representatives. A strong majority of the House followed the Senate’s lead on Wednesday in approving the programme – the biggest in nine years. Most speakers said the purchases…

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