Swiss Politics

May Day marked by violent clashes

This content was published on May 1, 2006 Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at rock-throwing demonstrators, and another group of militants disrupted a speech by President Moritz Leuenberger, who was forced to flee for his safety. The extremists caused damage to buildings, including at least one branch of a Swiss bank and a clothing store. Police arrested about 50 people, and…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey attacks tough foreigner and asylum laws

This content was published on Apr 30, 2006 Speaking in Geneva on Saturday, Micheline Calmy-Rey also defended the country’s “active neutrality” which came under fire last week after the Swiss president criticised a boycott of the Hamas-led Palestinian government. During a wide-ranging speech at the Museum of the Swiss Abroad, Calmy-Rey cautioned that the country’s standing abroad was in danger of being damaged…

Swiss Politics

Swisscom sell-off faces increasing opposition

This content was published on Apr 29, 2006 Ahead of a special session of parliament next month, the Christian Democratic Party has reaffirmed its opposition to a government proposal to sell its majority stake in the company. Delegates of Switzerland’s fourth-biggest party on Saturday called on the government to withdraw its plan to sell its 62.5 per cent stake in Swisscom. They also…

Swiss Politics

Taxation tops Swiss-Bangladeshi talks

This content was published on Apr 28, 2006 The talks between Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and her Bangladeshi counterpart, Morshed Khan, were the first of their kind in six years. A government statement said the meeting was a sign of “expanding relations” between the two countries. Bangladesh has recorded strong economic growth in recent years, averaging around five per cent, which has benefited…

Swiss Politics

Foreign affairs hold fonder memories for Deiss

This content was published on Apr 28, 2006 For it was at the foreign ministry from 1999-2003 that Deiss achieved his biggest successes, gaining a seat on the world body and forging closer ties with the European Union. Having suffered recent setbacks on a free-trade deal with the United States and controversial plans for a ban on Pitbulls, Deiss did not dwell on…

Swiss Politics

Deiss legacy divides press

This content was published on Apr 28, 2006 But most editorialists agreed that his departure could give his centre-right Christian Democratic Party a boost and open the door to its president, Doris Leuthard. Usually when a government minister chooses to step down, the Swiss media are not very critical. The French-speaking press was no exception. For the Tribune de Genève, the centre-right Christian…

Why Deiss’s resignation wasn’t so unexpected

This content was published on Apr 27, 2006 Plomb, a veteran observer of federal politics, puts the economics minister’s decision down to political isolation and consideration of next autumn’s federal elections. Hardly anyone involved in Swiss politics saw Deiss’s decision coming. Nothing had leaked out prior to his announcement to the media on Thursday morning. But Plomb, who was a parliamentary correspondent for…

Swiss Politics

Economics minister announces surprise departure

This content was published on Apr 27, 2006 The announcement he was standing down to make way for new blood took the government and many in the country by surprise. The 60-year-old Christian Democrat said on Thursday that seven years as a cabinet minister and a quarter of a century in politics was enough. He said he was stepping down of his own…

Swiss Politics

Professor with a passion for politics

This content was published on Apr 27, 2006 Deiss, an economist by trade, was not a man of flamboyant gestures, which some took as a lack of assertiveness. “Nice Deiss” was not only a catchy title for the 60-year-old politician. Dealing with the media, Deiss lived up to this good guy reputation, which he earned shortly after joining the cabinet as foreign minister…

Swiss Politics

Economics Minister Deiss resigns

This content was published on Apr 27, 2006 The 60-year-old Christian Democrat explained his surprise decision by saying he wanted to make way for new blood. Deiss told a news conference on Thursday morning that seven years as a cabinet minister and a quarter of a century in politics was enough. He said he was stepping down voluntarily at a time when Switzerland’s…

Swiss Politics

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May Day marked by violent clashes

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Calmy-Rey attacks tough foreigner and asylum laws

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Swisscom sell-off faces increasing opposition

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Taxation tops Swiss-Bangladeshi talks

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Foreign affairs hold fonder memories for Deiss

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Deiss legacy divides press

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Why Deiss’s resignation wasn’t so unexpected

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Economics minister announces surprise departure

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Professor with a passion for politics

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Economics Minister Deiss resigns

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