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Successor to the Swiss European Movement founded in 1934, which advocated the creation of a federation of European states, the organisation was established in 1998 when a number of pro-European groups merged. Its principal objective is to see Switzerland join the European Union as soon as possible. A people’s initiative launched by the group requesting…
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When there are votes on changes to the constitution, issues put to the vote are accepted when the majority of voters and cantons approve them (double majority). The result of the vote in each canton determines the canton’s vote. Cantons Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel City, Basel Country, Appenzell Outer Rhodes and Appenzell Inner Rhodes each has…
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The magic formula shares the seven cabinet seats among the four main political parties according to their electoral support. The magic formula is in use but it has no legal status. When it was used for the first time in 1959, it gave two seats to the centre-left Social Democratic Party, two to the centre-right…
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Exclusive to the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, the League was founded in 1991 by businessman Giuliano Bignasca. It has gathered support by denouncing the vested interests and patronage system of the traditional parties. Left-leaning on some social issues, extremely rightwing on issues of international policy and immigration, the League was highly successful in the early…
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The first section of the Green Party in Switzerland was established in 1971 in canton Neuchâtel to oppose plans for a new motorway. They won their first parliamentary seat in 1979, when the present mayor of Lausanne, Daniel Brélaz, was elected. In 1983, a number of groups joined forces to form the Federation of Swiss…
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The Swiss government consists of a cabinet (also known as the Federal Council) made up of seven ministers (federal councillors), each of whom heads a ministry. The members are elected by a joint session of parliament for a four-year term. Cabinet ministers take turns at being Swiss president for a period of one calendar year.…
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This is a term used to describe initiatives taken by a third party to stop litigation or make contact easier between two conflicting parties. More generally it refers to any initiative or contribution that encourages peace and international cooperation. As a neutral country, Switzerland has made good offices one of the pillars of its foreign…
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The research institutes gfs.bern and gfs.zurich were founded in 1959 as the “Swiss Society for Practical Social Research”. They are now independent companies mainly active in research by surveys. gfs.bern does applied research in the areas of politics, communications and society. The institute is commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation to provide surveys, first trends…
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Federalism is a system which gives both the national government as well as defined regions within the country the power to pass laws. In Switzerland, the cantons decide their own laws regarding taxation and education, for example. Federalism differs from the centralised state model, where local authorities have only an administrative competence. Switzerland has been…
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A report published last week noted that while more land was cleared of mines in 2005 than ever before, the number of victims rose by 11 per cent to more than 7,300. “A lot has been achieved but there is still much more to do. It’s certainly not the moment to give up,” said Ambassador…
