Swiss Politics

Polls show Swiss still divided over UN

This content was published on Jan 17, 2002 One of the polls, conducted by the MIS-Trend Institute in Lausanne, shows that 57.3 per cent of Swiss citizens are for UN membership. However, there were more ambiguous findings from a second poll by the Zurich-based GfS Research Institute, which showed that only 50 per cent of the electorate would vote to join the UN.…

Swiss Politics

Great and good join forces to promote integration

This content was published on Jan 15, 2002 Intralink aims not only to help foreigners get to grips with life in Switzerland, but also to allay Swiss fears about foreigners and to assist them in understanding other cultures. The initiative has being endorsed by the four parties in government, as well as business, churches, and organisations representing the interests of foreigners in Switzerland.…

Swiss Politics

Swiss mediated Sudan talks focus on ceasefire

This content was published on Jan 15, 2002 Sudanese government officials and members of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, (SPLA), are attending the week-long meeting, which is being mediated by both United States and Swiss officials. Joseph Bucher, Switzerland’s special envoy for conflict management, is heading up the Swiss team. On Monday the Swiss Foreign Ministry said no statement of the negotiations would…

Swiss Politics

Right wing party attacks government’s UN campaign

This content was published on Jan 12, 2002 During a party conference, Ueli Maurer accused the government of trying to influence the nationwide vote on UN membership on March 3 with tax incentives. He called this practice a major lapse in the cabinet’s policies and accused the government of manipulating the people’s opinions with public money. “Such practices will kill our direct democracy,”…

Swiss Politics

ICRC furious at being dragged into UN vote campaign

This content was published on Jan 12, 2002 “We absolutely refuse to be used in any way as an argument in this campaign,” said ICRC spokesperson, Antonella Notari An “outraged” ICRC said it “noted the abusive references made to its name, emblem and activities” in a poster circulated by the Federal Committee for a Neutral, Sovereign and Democratic Switzerland, which is campaigning for…

Swiss Politics

Swiss expatriates keen on e-voting

This content was published on Jan 10, 2002 The Organisation for the Swiss Abroad has expressed disappointment about Wednesday’s cabinet decision. But the head of the organisation, Rudolf Wyder, said he understood the concerns presented by e-voting. “There are technical difficulties to be solved, it is relatively costly and there is the problem of security of the votes, which have to tackled.” But…

Swiss Politics

Asylum seekers on the rise in Switzerland

This content was published on Jan 8, 2002 According to the Federal Office for Refugees, the number of people seeking asylum last year in Switzerland rose by 3,052, to stand at 20,663. Officials said the increase was probably due to tougher economic conditions pushing migrants to seek a better life in European countries. Nearly 17 per cent of requests for refugee status –…

Swiss Politics

Government launches UN campaign

This content was published on Jan 8, 2002 The countdown is on for the March 3 nationwide vote, and supporters and opponents are trumpeting their views. Three government ministers on Tuesday presented their case for joining the UN at a news conference in Bern. “The time is ripe for Switzerland to become a member of the United Nations,” said the Swiss president, Kaspar…

Swiss Politics

Swiss divided over need for professional army

This content was published on Jan 8, 2002 According to a survey published by the Swiss food giant, Coop, 64 per cent of French-speaking Swiss favour a professional army, while 32 per cent think Switzerland should keep its army militia. On the other side of the “Röstigraben”, a fictitious divide which has come to symbolize the frequent differences of opinion between the French…

Swiss Politics

India: The quiet role of Switzerland

This content was published on Jan 8, 2002 Through governmental and private agreements, Switzerland contributes more than SFr30 million (€20 million) to India, trying to help the poorest of its poor to become more self-sufficient. The two countries have strong business ties, with trade worth SFr1.25 billion per year. The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, is expected to visit India this spring, returning…

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Swiss Politics

More

Polls show Swiss still divided over UN

More

Great and good join forces to promote integration

More

Swiss mediated Sudan talks focus on ceasefire

More

Right wing party attacks government’s UN campaign

More

ICRC furious at being dragged into UN vote campaign

More

Swiss expatriates keen on e-voting

More

Asylum seekers on the rise in Switzerland

More

Government launches UN campaign

More

Swiss divided over need for professional army

More

India: The quiet role of Switzerland

Popular Stories

Most Discussed