Swiss Politics

Briton demystifies Swiss politics

This content was published on Feb 28, 2004 “The Politics and Government of Switzerland” seeks to destroy the illusion of a sleepy alpine nation where very little happens. Church – a retired professor of politics and international relations at the University of Kent in England – has written extensively on Switzerland’s history, democracy and relations with the European Union since the 1970s. Church…

Swiss Politics

Swiss work towards Cyprus reunification

This content was published on Feb 24, 2004 They will be advising both sides during negotiations on a United Nations-backed reunification plan, based on the Swiss model of federalism. The Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the team had been sent to Cyprus to support the reunification talks, and expected to complete its mission by the end of March.…

Swiss Politics

European Greens present united front

This content was published on Feb 23, 2004 The European Green Party was founded in the Italian capital, Rome, and groups together parties from 29 countries, including the Swiss Green Party. The alliance was formed ahead of European Union expansion in May, when ten new countries, mostly from eastern Europe, will join the bloc. Members hope that a common manifesto will give them…

Swiss Politics

Saudi minister highlights Swiss peace efforts

This content was published on Feb 19, 2004 In an interview with swissinfo, Prince Saud al-Faisal explained why the initiative was a significant step towards finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His comments came during an official visit to Bern this week – the first ever by a Saudi foreign minister. While in Switzerland, he held talks with his Swiss counterpart Micheline…

Swiss Politics

More Swiss move abroad

This content was published on Feb 17, 2004 According to figures provided by the Swiss foreign ministry, this is an increase of 2.3 per cent compared with last year. The latest figures show that around 60 per cent of the 612,562 registered Swiss expatriates have made their home in the European Union. The most popular country for expatriates is France, which is home…

EU and Swiss still deadlocked over tax evasion

This content was published on Feb 16, 2004 Deiss told the Irish government that Bern would only sign an agreement on tax evasion along with eight other treaties being negotiated. The Swiss economics ministry said on Monday that both sides were sticking to their respective positions. Ireland currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency. The Irish finance minister, Charlie McGreevy, reiterated the EU’s demand…

Swiss Politics

Times change for parliamentary aides

This content was published on Feb 12, 2004 But others prefer to rely on their – mostly unpaid – wives to do the bulk of their administrative work. “I couldn’t do all this work by myself,” said Social Democrat Evi Allemann, who, at 26 years old, is the youngest parliamentarian in the House of Representatives. An increase in the allowance she receives from…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet refuses to be gagged

This content was published on Feb 11, 2004 The rightwing Swiss People’s Party had earlier attacked government ministers for criticising some parliamentary decisions. In Switzerland policies drawn up by the seven-strong cabinet, which is made up of ministers from the four main parties, can be amended by parliament. The Swiss president, Joseph Deiss, said on Wednesday that the cabinet should be allowed to…

Switzerland rejects EU tax demand

This content was published on Feb 10, 2004 In a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, EU finance ministers said the time had come for Switzerland to agree a tax cooperation accord with the 15-nation bloc. But Swiss finance minister Hans-Rudolf Merz rejected the latest EU appeal, saying that Switzerland would not sign the accord until stalled negotiations on closer security cooperation and tax…

Swiss Politics

Christian Democrats seek political salvation

This content was published on Feb 10, 2004 But with no candidates to choose from, the leadership vote has been postponed until September. The failure to find a president is the latest in a string of setbacks to have bedevilled the party. In last October’s parliamentary elections its share of the vote shrank to a record low; then in December, one of the…

Swiss Politics

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