Swiss Politics

Micheline Calmy-Rey – Geneva’s iron lady

This content was published on Nov 25, 2002 The local minister was the favourite to succeed Dreifuss. Calmy-Rey has been in charge of Geneva’s finances since 1997. Her cool demeanour and often pugnacious and aggressive manner have earned her the nickname, “Cruella”. A native of canton Valais, Calmy-Rey studied in Geneva and earned a degree from the Graduate Institute of International Studies. The…

Swiss Politics

Ruth Lüthi – an outsider and wild card

This content was published on Nov 25, 2002 But there were two major obstacles: she originally hails from the German-speaking part of Switzerland and her canton is already represented in the government. Lüthi has been a local minister since 1991, when she became head of canton Fribourg’s public health and social affairs department. Although born in Grenchen in the German-speaking part of Switzerland…

Swiss Politics

More of the same

This content was published on Nov 25, 2002 In all probability Ruth Dreifuss will be replaced by another Social Democrat – one of the party’s official candidates. A convention dating back to 1959 – commonly known as the “Magic Formula” – ensures that there is a representative balance in government between the country’s different political and linguistic blocks. “As far as replacing Dreifuss…

Swiss say no to tougher asylum laws

This content was published on Nov 24, 2002 Of 2,240,000 votes cast, a tiny majority of some 3,422 came out against the initiative. The result is provisional, and will only be confirmed in six to eight weeks. In the closest vote on a people’s initiative since 1891, the Swiss rejected by 50.1 to 49.9 per cent a proposal which would have effectively closed…

Swiss Politics

Asylum vote cliffhanger

This content was published on Nov 24, 2002 The United Nations says the controversial rightwing proposal would make Swiss asylum laws among the most draconian in the industrialised world. But the Swiss People’s Party, which tabled the proposal, has said the new laws would cut back on abuse of the country’s asylum system by limiting the number of asylum applications. Benefits would also…

Swiss vote on tighter asylum laws

This content was published on Nov 23, 2002 The initiative would limit the number of applications and cut benefits by slapping a work ban on asylum seekers. The government and the Swiss Refugee Council both oppose the initiative, but the vote is expected to be close. Aliki Panayides of the People’s Party dismisses claims that a “yes” vote would lead to Switzerland introducing…

Swiss Politics

Guards inspect UN Baghdad headquarters

This content was published on Nov 21, 2002 The offices were used for the previous UN mission, which was abandoned in 1998. The Swiss specialists, who are members of the army’s fortification guards, are responsible for ensuring that the Baghdad headquarters of the weapons inspectors is habitable. The group, which arrived on Wednesday, was sent as an advance party to establish what needs…

Swiss Politics

Return Assistance Programme for Yugoslavia

This content was published on Nov 20, 2002 Switzerland helped to shelter more than 50,000 refugees from the Balkans. In 1999, the Swiss government launched a repatriation programme, which led to the voluntary return of some 30,000 people – mainly ethnic Albanians – to Kosovo. But as ethnic Albanians started going home, at least 220,000 Kosovo Serbs and other minority groups fled the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss capital plays host to UN appeal

This content was published on Nov 19, 2002 Although Switzerland has only been a UN member for two months, Bern was chosen as one of eight cities around the world to help launch the appeal. Some of the UN’s most senior officials, including the deputy secretary general, Louise Fréchette, came to the Swiss capital to call on donor countries to contribute $3 billion…

Swiss Politics

Swiss prepare ground for weapons inspectors

This content was published on Nov 18, 2002 They will prepare the ground for weapons inspectors to follow at a later date. The Swiss specialists, who are members of the army’s fortification guards, will be responsible for ensuring that the Baghdad headquarters of the weapons inspectors is habitable. The group is being sent as an advance party to establish what needs to be…

Swiss Politics

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