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Swiss Politics

Geneva hosts revolutionary summit

This content was published on Dec 5, 2003 In an unprecedented move, the Geneva conference will open up its doors to representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society and the private sector. “Until now, the United Nations dealt only with governments,” said the UN’s secretary-general, Kofi Annan. “But today, we recognise that peace and prosperity cannot be realised without the contributions of governments,…

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Swiss Politics

Radicals offer a choice of two candidates

This content was published on Dec 4, 2003 Which one is elected could hinge on the rightwing Swiss People’s Party’s bid for a second seat. Hans-Rudolf Merz and Christine Beerli are the two official Radical Party nominees. They represent both wings of the party, according to political analyst Emanuel von Erlach, and should provide parliamentarians with enough choice when they vote on Villiger’s…

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Swiss Politics

Cabinet vote challenges government make-up

This content was published on Dec 4, 2003 But analysts do not believe a change would sound the death knell for the Swiss power-sharing system, known as the “Magic Formula”. Since 1959, the Magic Formula system has shared out the seven cabinet seats among Switzerland’s four main political parties according to their electoral strength at the time. But immediately after October’s parliamentary elections…

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Swiss Politics

Parliament mounts defence of banking secrecy

This content was published on Dec 3, 2003 The proposals – which now have to go before parliamentary committee – are being seen as a symbolic stand against European Union interference. In recent years Bern has come under increasing pressure from Brussels to exchange information on bank accounts held in Switzerland by EU residents. Earlier this year, both sides agreed to a compromise…

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Swiss Politics

Blocher sets sights on joining Schmid in cabinet

This content was published on Dec 3, 2003 The controversial populist, Christoph Blocher, is aiming to join the much more conciliatory Samuel Schmid in the seven-strong government. Blocher, who is the People’s Party’s driving force, has threatened to take it out of government unless he is elected. But Schmid, currently the party’s sole representative in government, has said he will decide for himself…

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Swiss Politics

Vote outcome hinges on order and whips

This content was published on Dec 3, 2003 The order of voting will play a large part in the rightwing Swiss People’s Party’s bid to capture one of the centre-right Christian Democrat seats. The result also depends on deals the four parties in government manage to strike in the run-up to the vote, and their ability to maintain party discipline. The vote itself…

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Swiss Politics

Voters leave cabinet selection to parliament

This content was published on Dec 3, 2003 They will vote in December on who joins, stays in, or leaves the seven-strong cabinet. The Swiss may not directly elect their government but Clive Church, an expert on Swiss politics at the University of Kent in Britain, insists their voice can still be heard in the choices made. “Opinion polls show that the electorate…

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Swiss Politics

Consensus politics risks becoming big loser

This content was published on Dec 3, 2003 The party is challenging the composition of Switzerland’s power-sharing government with its demands for a second seat in the cabinet. Political analysts say an additional seat for the People’s Party would alter the character of the government, both by moving it further to the Right and by undermining the consensus nature of Swiss politics. “It…

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Swiss Politics

Official candidates face tough time

This content was published on Dec 3, 2003 In the past 20 years parliament has chosen Samuel Schmid, Ruth Dreifuss and Otto Stich in preference to candidates put forward by their parties. These so-called “wild cards” made it into office, for the most part against the will of their parties, with official nominees often falling victim to scheming among the four main parties.…

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Swiss Politics

Parties manoeuvre in cabinet election

This content was published on Dec 3, 2003 But the other three parties in government, unwilling to give up one of their seats voluntarily, are negotiating to find a solution. The composition of the seven-strong cabinet has remained the same since 1959, thanks to an informal power-sharing arrangement known as the “Magic Formula”. When it was introduced, it divided the cabinet seats among…

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