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Swiss Politics

Survey favours Leuenberger and Calmy-Rey

This content was published on Dec 4, 2005 Parliamentarians are expected to back Leuenberger as the 2006 Swiss president when they vote on Wednesday. The rightwing Swiss People’s Party has declared it will oppose his appointment. However, a survey published in Le Matin Dimanche newspaper shows that Leuenberger’s impending accession to the Swiss presidency is widely supported by the public. According to the…

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People’s Party reaffirms anti-Europe stance

This content was published on Dec 3, 2005 The new document, agreed upon at a national party conference, calls for the withdrawal of Switzerland’s dormant EU membership application. At a meeting in Suhr in canton Aargau, party delegates unanimously approved the 11-point policy document, which states that the bilateral approach is only acceptable as long as Swiss sovereignty and democratic rights are protected.…

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Conference takes stock of demining work

This content was published on Dec 3, 2005 The meeting of signatory countries to the 1997 Ottawa Convention on banning landmines served to review progress on global demining activities. The treaty prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines. At last year’s meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, delegates adopted a five-year plan for clearing mines, destroying stockpiles and improving care for victims.…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad in a hurry for hi-tech vote

This content was published on Dec 2, 2005 The organisation is calling for e-voting to be extended worldwide as soon as possible following a successful pilot project in cantons Zurich and Neuchâtel in November. Internet voting was first trialled in 2003 in Anières near Geneva, while residents in Bülach, canton Zurich, were able to cast votes using mobile phones in October. SMS voting…

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Swiss Politics

Accord paves way for new Red Cross emblem

This content was published on Nov 28, 2005 The historic accord, which was brokered by the Swiss government, comes a week before a diplomatic conference in Geneva on whether to approve a third humanitarian symbol – the Red Crystal. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, who presided over Monday’s ceremony, declared the agreement an “important milestone” not just in the humanitarian domain but also…

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Swiss Politics

New speaker urges conviction-led parliament

This content was published on Nov 28, 2005 Claude Janiak will preside over debates in the House of Representatives for the next 12 months, while the work of the Senate will be overseen by Rolf Büttiker. Janiak, from canton Basel Country, was elected on Monday with 154 votes out of 177. He takes over the post from Thérèse Meyer, whose term ended on…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad take different approach to votes

This content was published on Nov 28, 2005 Partial results reveal that the nearly 100,000 registered voters abroad were also much more liberal when it came to the vote on lifting restrictions on Sunday shopping. The proposal for the GMO moratorium was accepted by 55.7 per cent of voters nationwide, while a narrow majority – 50.6 per cent – approved easing restrictions on…

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Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey calls for pragmatism in EU relations

This content was published on Nov 26, 2005 Her Social Democratic Party, meeting in Bern on Saturday, voted by a large majority in favour of a European policy programme that backs Swiss membership of the European Union. Delegates also voted to launch a referendum against a planned revision of the law on asylum. Calmy-Rey said there were good reasons for Swiss membership of…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss publisher Ringier gives Schröder work

This content was published on Nov 24, 2005 The announcement comes a day after Schröder handed the keys of the German parliament to Christian Democrat rival Angela Merkel. Schröder will take up his post in January at the Zurich-based Ringier, the largest publishing house in Switzerland, said publisher Michael Ringier. No compensation details were disclosed. “As a chancellor he was a modest man,”…

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Swiss Politics

German stability should boost Swiss economy

This content was published on Nov 22, 2005 Merkel was sworn in as head of a coalition government on Tuesday, ending weeks of uncertainty for Switzerland’s biggest trading partner after September’s inconclusive general election. She became Germany’s first ever woman chancellor with the Christian Democrat-Social Democrat coalition winning 397 of the 614 seats in the German parliament. However, 51 members of the coalition…

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