Swiss Politics

Young Swiss women take first steps in parliament

This content was published on Dec 19, 2003 Evi Allemann, Jasmin Hutter and Christa Markwalder Bär told swissinfo that they are striving to be accepted in the male-dominated world of politics. The three women, aged between 25 and 28, started their careers as members of the cantonal governments of Bern and St Gallen before they were voted into the House of Representatives on…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland aims for bigger role on world stage

This content was published on Dec 18, 2003 A breath of fresh air blew in to the Swiss cabinet at the beginning of the year in the shape of the new foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey. “I wanted to bring foreign policy closer to the Swiss people,” Calmy-Rey said. In February Switzerland launched a humanitarian conference to prepare for war in Iraq, and in…

Swiss Politics

Immigrants under no illusions about Blocher

This content was published on Dec 18, 2003 The hardliner from the rightwing Swiss People’s Party takes over as justice minister next month – a portfolio that includes asylum and migration issues. Speaking ahead of International Migrants Day, Sandro Cattacin, director of the Swiss Forum for Migration Studies, told swissinfo that immigrants already faced a tough time. “In Switzerland, the new wave of…

Swiss Politics

Swiss inaugurate leaner army

This content was published on Dec 16, 2003 Last May, the Swiss voted in favour of government proposals to reduce the size of the army and restructure its civil protection scheme. Trumpets and tambourines hailed the launch of Switzerland’s smaller army which starts operating as a professional force on January 1, 2004. “The army has been adapted to meet new challenges,” Defence Minister…

Swiss army to protect World Economic Forum

This content was published on Dec 15, 2003 The vote paves the way for a maximum of 6,500 troops to be deployed. The House of Representatives on Monday voted 92 in favour and 68 against; the Senate voted 31 for and eight against. Parliament had to be consulted because the use of more than 2,000 troops was being considered. Security at last year’s…

Swiss Politics

Finance for Merz, while Blocher gets justice

This content was published on Dec 14, 2003 Rightwinger Blocher takes charge of justice and police affairs – which includes asylum policy – while Merz is the new finance minister. Both Blocher and Merz had wanted the finance portfolio, said the Swiss president, Pascal Couchepin. But both men accepted the posts they were offered during a meeting of the newly elected cabinet on…

Swiss Politics

Bern welcomes Saddam’s capture

This content was published on Dec 14, 2003 Saddam was captured near his hometown of Tikrit by United States’ forces during a night-time raid on Saturday. A ministry spokesman said the arrest would pave the way for returning sovereignty to the Iraqi people and would fuel a rapid transition to Iraq becoming a democracy. The ministry added that Saddam had subjected his country…

Swiss Politics

Mission accomplished for Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 13, 2003 The Swiss secretary of state to the summit, Marc Furrer, told swissinfo that he was satisfied with the outcome of the first phase of the global gathering. The original aim of the WSIS was to bridge the digital divide, but negotiations quickly became entangled in thorny issues such as internet governance, human rights and the…

Swiss Politics

Protesters call for more women in government

This content was published on Dec 13, 2003 The rally was supported by 30 major Swiss women’s organisations, the Social Democratic Party, the Green Party and the trade unions. On Wednesday, parliament elected two conservative politicians, Christoph Blocher and Hans-Rudolf Merz, to the seven-member cabinet, which now includes only one woman. Blocher unseated the justice minister, Ruth Metzler, while Merz defeated a female…

Swiss Politics

Blocher election complicates EU relations

This content was published on Dec 11, 2003 The arrival of the rightwing populist in office could threaten a set of bilateral agreements in force since June 2002. Blocher is a hardline eurosceptic who, throughout his long political career, has campaigned against closer ties with Brussels. In 1992 he helped fight a proposal to take Switzerland into the European Economic Area. The campaign…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Young Swiss women take first steps in parliament

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Switzerland aims for bigger role on world stage

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Immigrants under no illusions about Blocher

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Swiss inaugurate leaner army

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Swiss army to protect World Economic Forum

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Finance for Merz, while Blocher gets justice

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Bern welcomes Saddam’s capture

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Mission accomplished for Switzerland

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Protesters call for more women in government

More

Blocher election complicates EU relations

Popular Stories

Most Discussed