Swiss Politics

Jimmy Carter backs Geneva peace plan

This content was published on Oct 30, 2003 The Bush administration has chosen to remain on the sidelines, while the Israeli government says it is unhappy with Switzerland’s role in the affair. Professor Alexis Keller, a Geneva-based academic and architect of the 60-page document, announced Carter’s support for the plan on Monday. The “Geneva Accord” covers many divisive issues between Israelis and Palestinians:…

Swiss Politics

Five Radicals fight for seat in government

This content was published on Oct 29, 2003 Villiger – who heads the finance ministry – is to step down at the end of the year. Radical Women Christine Beerli, 50, is from canton Bern and has been a member of the Senate for the past 12 years. Beerli – who was the first politician to enter the race – is on the…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey presents peace plan to UN

This content was published on Oct 25, 2003 During her visit to New York, Calmy-Rey also held talks with Jewish organisations. After discussing the so-called Geneva Accord with the Swiss foreign minister, Annan said he would “study the document”. “The UN supports every contribution to a solution for the Middle East conflict,” said a spokesman for Annan’s office. The Geneva Accord was drafted…

Swiss Politics

Donors pledge $33 billion to rebuild Iraq

This content was published on Oct 24, 2003 But Switzerland warned that security would have to be restored before meaningful reconstruction could take place. The pledges, including humanitarian and reconstruction aid, export credits and project finance, are a first step towards the $56 billion target set by the United Nations and World Bank for rebuilding Iraq over the next four years. Switzerland offered…

Swiss Politics

Summit talks relaunch bilateral negotiations

This content was published on Oct 24, 2003 Both sides are hoping to end discussions this year, but it is likely to be an uphill struggle given the political and economic interests at stake. The Swiss president, Pascal Couchepin, and the European Commission president, Romano Prodi, met at the Jean Monnet Foundation in Lausanne, canton Vaud. Speaking in Lausanne, the EU commission president,…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing success threatens bilateral agreements

This content was published on Oct 23, 2003 The main bones of contention are the Schengen-Dublin accords on crime and asylum, and the extension of an agreement on the free movement of people. Shortly after Sunday’s parliamentary election, the Swiss delegation met up with their EU counterparts for further discussions on the second set of bilateral accords. “We continue to work on the…

Swiss Politics

Fear factor key to Rightwing success

This content was published on Oct 22, 2003 swissinfo spoke to Oscar Mazzoleni, author of a recent study on the People’s Party, about the reasons for its success. Mazzoleni says that the People’s Party is unique in Europe for having become more radical while also being a party in government. On Sunday, it polled nearly 27 per cent of the popular vote, winning…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing cabinet minister stands firm

This content was published on Oct 22, 2003 Backed by his Bern powerbase, Schmid said he would not be pressured into standing down in the event of the party not gaining a second cabinet seat. Following Sunday’s resounding election victory, where it gained the largest share of the vote, the People’s Party laid claim to a second seat in the seven-member cabinet. And…

Swiss Politics

Swiss rightwing pales alongside European extremes

This content was published on Oct 22, 2003 But political scientists say the People’s Party is a different animal. The foreign press have likened the People’s Party – which won the largest share of the popular vote on Sunday (26.6 per cent) – to movements led by France’s Jean-Marie Le Pen, Austria’s Jörg Haider, and the Netherlands’ Pim Fortuyn, who was murdered in…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing power bid gathers momentum

This content was published on Oct 21, 2003 Such an eventuality is no longer ruled out by the media, following the resounding success of the Right in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. The big losers on Sunday were the centre-right Christian Democrats, who are now under pressure to hand over one of their two cabinet seats to the People’s Party. The People’s Party, which has…

Swiss Politics

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Jimmy Carter backs Geneva peace plan

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Five Radicals fight for seat in government

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Calmy-Rey presents peace plan to UN

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Donors pledge $33 billion to rebuild Iraq

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Summit talks relaunch bilateral negotiations

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Rightwing success threatens bilateral agreements

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Fear factor key to Rightwing success

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Rightwing cabinet minister stands firm

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Swiss rightwing pales alongside European extremes

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Rightwing power bid gathers momentum

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