Swiss Politics

Cohesion Fund “benefits both sides”

This content was published on Sep 26, 2006 The central issue is the SFr1 billion ($800 million) Switzerland has pledged to the ten new EU member states. The government said this is a “good investment” that will benefit not only the new EU states but also Switzerland. The vote, which will take place on November 26, was forced by the rightwing Swiss People’s…

Swiss Politics

“Switzerland has a xenophobic heritage”

This content was published on Sep 25, 2006 The honorary professor at Lausanne University also explains why he thinks Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition only applies if it serves the country’s interests. Around 68 per cent of voters endorsed tightened laws on asylum and immigration in Sunday’s vote, according to official results. All 26 cantons were also behind the measures, which were approved last year…

Swiss Politics

Papers see asylum vote as clear victory for Blocher

This content was published on Sep 25, 2006 Most editorialists said the result was largely driven by voter anger with perceived abuses of the asylum system, and described the outcome as a slap in the face for the left. Zurich’s Tages-Anzeiger called the vote Christoph Blocher’s “biggest win” since he became justice minister, but added that proposals to tighten asylum legislation had always…

Swiss Politics

Asylum abuse proved decisive for voters

This content was published on Sep 24, 2006 On Sunday around 68 per cent of voters backed new laws on immigration and asylum, which the government says are necessary to make Switzerland less attractive and to curb abuses. Helbling, who works at Zurich University’s institute of political sciences, told swissinfo that he was surprised by the size of the majority but said the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss voters take hard line on asylum and immigration

This content was published on Sep 24, 2006 But an initiative to prop up the country’s ailing old-age pension scheme with profits from the National Bank failed to win a majority at the ballot box. Around 68 per cent of voters endorsed amended laws on asylum and immigration in Sunday’s vote, according to official results. All 26 cantons were also behind the measures,…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey calls for inter-religious dialogue

This content was published on Sep 23, 2006 Calmy-Rey also spoke out in favour of a strengthening of dialogue between Christians and Muslims at the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday. And she proposed reforms to the Security Council. Emphasising the need for Switzerland to play a more active role within the UN, Calmy-Rey believes the Swiss approach may help to…

Swiss Politics

Asylum trauma

This content was published on Sep 22, 2006

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…

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,…

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…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Cohesion Fund “benefits both sides”

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“Switzerland has a xenophobic heritage”

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Papers see asylum vote as clear victory for Blocher

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Asylum abuse proved decisive for voters

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Swiss voters take hard line on asylum and immigration

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Calmy-Rey calls for inter-religious dialogue

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Asylum trauma

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Swiss see progress in fight against landmines

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Women’s magazine hands in gun ban petition

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Communist Labour Party

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