Swiss Politics

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

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…

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

Swiss Politics

UN rights watchdog agrees Darfur mission

This content was published on Dec 13, 2006 On Wednesday the 47-strong body approved a compromise proposal – supported by Switzerland – after a two-day emergency session. The resolution expressed concern at the “seriousness of the human rights and humanitarian situation in Darfur” but stopped short of condemning the Sudanese government for widely documented atrocities. The UN estimates that at least 200,000 people…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey is elected president for 2007

This content was published on Dec 13, 2006 The joint session of the two parliamentary chambers on Wednesday also named Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin vice-president. Calmy-Rey will keep her foreign ministry portfolio when she takes over the ceremonial one-year post from Moritz Leuenberger, on January 1. The 61-year-old Social Democrat received 147 votes (out of 192 valid votes), the poorest result in presidential…

Swiss Politics

Micheline Calmy-Rey is elected Swiss president for 2007

This content was published on Dec 13, 2006

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey becomes “people’s president”

This content was published on Dec 12, 2006 Calmy-Rey regularly tops popularity polls for Swiss politicians. But her outspoken manner and policy decisions have also won her some enemies. Calmy-Rey was appointed in a rare joint session of the two parliamentary chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The 61-year-old is expected to continue pushing Switzerland’s views in the world, engaging in…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland not satisfied with Security Council

This content was published on Dec 11, 2006 Peter Maurer told the UN General Assembly on Monday that members would be better served by a detailed analysis of the council’s activities than by a general overview. The Security Council is the body of the UN charged with maintaining peace and security among nations. While other UN bodies only make recommendations to member governments,…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Parliament ambivalent on environmental issues

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Dispute breaks out over tsunami reconstruction

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Euro 2008 goals on target

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Facing up to the lessons of Swiss history

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Army shopping list gets go-ahead

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UN rights watchdog agrees Darfur mission

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Calmy-Rey is elected president for 2007

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Micheline Calmy-Rey is elected Swiss president for 2007

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Calmy-Rey becomes “people’s president”

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Switzerland not satisfied with Security Council

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