Swiss Politics

People’s Party racked by internal strife

This content was published on Mar 20, 2000 The right-wing People’s Party appears to be in disarray following a torrent of criticism of its style and policies from within the party itself. In the latest blow, Myrtha Welti (pictured) is the second former secretary-general, along with Max Friedli, to leave the party on Monday. Welti said she was resigning because of the party’s…

Swiss Politics

Blocher under fire on home-ground

This content was published on Mar 18, 2000 The populist right-wing politician, Christoph Blocher, has come under fire from within his own party. Lisbeth Fehr, a member of the House of Representatives for Blocher’s home territory of Zurich, has launched an all-out attack on his political stance. Fehr said the party now showed totalitarian tendencies and had distanced itself from its original principles.…

Swiss Politics

Ogi defends arms for Swiss peacekeepers

This content was published on Mar 18, 2000 The president, Adolf Ogi, has been defending the controversial idea of arming Swiss peace-keepers abroad. He told army officers at a meeting in Sarnen, in canton Obwalden, that such a step would not compromise Swiss neutrality, nor did it have anything to do with a possible entry into Nato. Ogi, who is also defence minister,…

Swiss Politics

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 18, 2000 Swiss voters last weekend had the final say on five issues at the ballot boxes. They overwhelmlingly rejected people’s initiatives aimed at introducing quotas for women in parliament and public office. Proposals to ban test tube babies, to halve motorised road traffic and speed up the system of direct democracy were also given short shrift.…

Party political row over fascism slur heats up

This content was published on Mar 17, 2000 A row between two of the parties represented in government has escalated. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party has refused to apologise for controversial comments by Christoph Blocher (picture) associating the Social Democrats with fascism. The president of the People’s Party, Ueli Maurer, explained his party’s position in a letter to his Social Democrat counterpart, Ursula…

Swiss Politics

Party political row heats up

This content was published on Mar 17, 2000 A public row between two of the parties represented in government has escalated. The right-wing People’s Party has refused to apologise for controversial comments about the Social Democrats by of one of its leading members. In a letter published on Friday, the People’s Party said Christoph Blocher, who described the Social Democrats as closer to…

Government launches campaign for EU accords

This content was published on Mar 17, 2000 The government has launched a campaign to win support for Switzerland’s bilateral accords with the European Union, ahead of a referendum in May. In an unprecedented move, four cabinet ministers kicked off the campaign by extolling the benefits of closer integration with Europe. The foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, made it clear that every effort would…

Swiss Politics

Government launches campaign for bilateral accords with Europe

This content was published on Mar 17, 2000 The Swiss government has launched a campaign to win support for Switzerland’s bilateral accords with the European Union, ahead of a referendum in May. Four cabinet ministers kicked off the campaign by extolling the benefits of closer integration with Europe. The government is taking a hard-sell approach to the bilateral accords with the European Union.…

Swiss Politics

Construction unions reach compromise deal with employers

This content was published on Mar 16, 2000 A long-standing pay dispute in the Swiss construction industry appears to be over. The economics minister, Pascal Couchepin (pictured centre), said employers and unions had agreed on a compromise, averting possible strike action. The employers agreed to a pay increase of SFr100 a month starting on 1 July, while the unions accepted the introduction of…

Swiss Politics

Supporters rally round Solidarity Foundation

This content was published on Mar 15, 2000 Supporters of a planned SFr7 billion national charity have been mobilising to defend the idea, after a key political party surprisingly withdrew its blessing. The withdrawal of the Christian Democrats has dealt a decisive blow to the Solidarity Foundation. In an attempt to shore up the project, the finance minister, Kaspar Villiger, said there was…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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People’s Party racked by internal strife

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Blocher under fire on home-ground

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Ogi defends arms for Swiss peacekeepers

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The week in Switzerland

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Party political row over fascism slur heats up

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Party political row heats up

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Government launches campaign for EU accords

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Government launches campaign for bilateral accords with Europe

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Construction unions reach compromise deal with employers

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Supporters rally round Solidarity Foundation

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