Swiss Politics

Consensus government fails to tame Blocher

This content was published on Dec 23, 2004 Opinions differ about his achievements in government, but allies and enemies alike agree that he has changed the complexion of government. A former businessman, the billionaire and veteran parliamentarian was elected to the Swiss government in December 2003, after his rightwing Swiss People’s Party triumphed in parliamentary elections two months earlier. His election changed the…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet takes justice minister to task

This content was published on Dec 22, 2004 The topic dominated the last cabinet meeting of 2004 and brought to an end a year in which the seven ministers spent 130 hours debating issues. Speaking at a press conference in Biel on Monday to mark his first year in office, Blocher – a member of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party – said the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss boost aid for democracy in Ukraine

This content was published on Dec 22, 2004 It is also sending 13 election observers to monitor Sunday’s re-run of the second round of the country’s presidential election. Ukrainian voters go to the polls on Sunday to elect a successor to Leonid Kuchma. In the second round of the presidential election last month, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was declared the winner ahead of…

Swiss Politics

Democracy triumphs in Ukraine

This content was published on Dec 22, 2004 Rudolf Von Rohr, one of 12,000 international observers who were on-hand at polling sites around the country, told swissinfo that all sides had acted in good faith. Opposition leader Yushchenko won 52 per cent of the votes in a race against the incumbent prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, who took 44 per cent. Turnout was 77…

Swiss Politics

Unions lift opposition to EU labour accord

This content was published on Dec 21, 2004 Union leaders said on Tuesday that they were satisfied with additional measures to prevent wage dumping, which is one of their biggest concerns. The Federation of Trade Unions had threatened in October to challenge the agreement on the free movement of people unless parliament took action. But union leaders voted late on Monday night not…

Swiss Politics

Unions accuse Blocher of provocation

This content was published on Dec 20, 2004 They accused Blocher, whom they branded “an enemy of the workers”, of provocation – a charge denied by the justice ministry. Blocher took stock of his first year as a government minister at the Assembly Hall in the city of Biel in western Switzerland on Monday. The building, which opened in December 1932, was financed…

Swiss Politics

Swiss wait for result of Turkey-EU talks

This content was published on Dec 18, 2004 The EU and Turkey agreed on Friday to begin negotiations next year on the Muslim nation joining the Union. The Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, said the government’s position would depend on the results of the entry talks between the EU and Turkey. Switzerland is not a member of the EU. She added that if…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing launches challenge to EU accords

This content was published on Dec 17, 2004 They are opposed to the Schengen/Dublin treaty on closer security cooperation and an accord on extending an existing labour agreement to the ten new EU member states. In a final reading on Friday, parliament approved both accords, which form part of a second set of nine bilateral treaties signed at a low-key ceremony in Luxembourg…

Swiss Politics

Parliament signs off on bilaterals

This content was published on Dec 17, 2004 But rightwing parties have launched campaigns against closer cooperation on security and asylum as well as on opening access to the Swiss labour market. On Friday both houses of parliament signed off on the second set of bilateral accords between Bern and Brussels and on the extension of an existing treaty governing the free movement…

Swiss Politics

Parliament shelves debate on Social Charter

This content was published on Dec 17, 2004 Parliament has been dragging its feet over ratification ever since Switzerland signed the Council of Europe’s treaty in 1976. The charter, a sister agreement to the European Convention on Human Rights, came into force in 1965 and was renewed in 1996. All countries wishing to ratify the charter are required to accept five of the…

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Consensus government fails to tame Blocher

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Cabinet takes justice minister to task

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Swiss boost aid for democracy in Ukraine

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Democracy triumphs in Ukraine

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Unions lift opposition to EU labour accord

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Unions accuse Blocher of provocation

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Swiss wait for result of Turkey-EU talks

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Rightwing launches challenge to EU accords

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Parliament signs off on bilaterals

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Parliament shelves debate on Social Charter

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