Swiss Politics Archives - Page 1091 of 1338

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Swiss Politics

Asylum trauma

This content was published on Sep 22, 2006

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Swiss Politics

Swiss see progress in fight against landmines

This content was published on Sep 22, 2006 But Swiss diplomat Jürg Streuli warned that decreased funding for demining and victim support remained a real concern. Streuli was speaking on Friday at the close of the seventh annual meeting of signatories to the 1997 Ottawa Convention on banning landmines, which drew delegates from more than 100 countries. A key aim of the conference…

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Swiss Politics

Women’s magazine hands in gun ban petition

This content was published on Sep 19, 2006 The petition comes amid discussions in parliament over whether to scrap the country’s militia army tradition requiring guns and ammunition to be kept at home. Staff at Annabelle handed over the signatures to a parliamentary committee in Bern on Tuesday. The petition, “No weapons at home”, is calling for a ban on shotguns at home,…

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Swiss Politics

Communist Labour Party

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 The party was founded in 1944, after the banning of the original Communist Party four years earlier. A Marxist-Leninist party until 1982, it now fights for social justice, one of the key points of its programme. Though represented in the federal parliament since 1947, the party has never achieved a real breakthrough with the Swiss…

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Swiss Politics

Commune

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 The commune is the smallest political unit in Switzerland. There were 2,760 in 2005 but their number is shrinking because some are merging. Some communes have autonomy concerning taxes and planning, for example, but the scope of their autonomy varies depending on the canton in which they are located. Around one-fifth have their own parliament;…

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Swiss Politics

Collective responsibility

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 The principle of collective responsibility is enshrined in law. The seven members of the government are obliged to take decisions collectively and then undertake to support the cabinet’s policies, even if they do not personally agree with them. In recent years, due partly to a greater polarisation of Swiss politics, the principle of collective responsibility…

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Swiss Politics

Civil Defence

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 The range of tasks of civil defence includes protection, assistance and support of the civilian population. Its members’ tasks are to protect not only people but also cultural property. Civil defence members also reinforce management support and repair infrastructure, particularly after natural catastrophes. The obligation to serve mainly concerns those Swiss men who are declared…

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Swiss Politics

Canton

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 Switzerland is made up of 26 cantons, or states. They all have their own governments and parliaments. Although their powers were reduced after the creation of modern-day Switzerland in 1848, cantons still have a large degree of autonomy, notably in tax and education matters.

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Swiss Politics

Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 The group was founded in 1986, after the Swiss people had said “no” to joining the United Nations. Its objective – as the name indicates – is to ensure Switzerland’s continuing independence and neutrality. In particular, it opposes any move towards closer relations with the European Union and is against activism in foreign policy. The…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss People’s Party

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 The rightwing Swiss People’s Party was formed in 1971 from a fusion of farmers’ and artisans’ parties. Since the beginning of the 1990s it has gained in strength, becoming the foremost party in parliament. Policies include less state intervention, limited cooperation with the European Union and an anti-foreigner stance. In 2003 it gained a second…

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