Swiss Politics

Parliament approves free trade deal with China

This content was published on Mar 20, 2014 On Thursday, the Senate approved the agreement 25 to three, with 11 abstentions. In December 2013, the House of Representatives passed it with a majority of more than two thirds. Supporters insisted that the agreement was very important for foreign economic policy as China is Switzerland’s third largest trading partner. In 2012, Swiss exports to China…

Swiss Politics

Immigration vote triggers political mud fight

This content was published on Mar 20, 2014 Some parliamentarians did not mince their words during Thursday’s televised debate from the House of Representatives. Toni Brunner, president of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, which had championed the immigration quotas, accused the government of trying to ignore his party, of dragging its feet and shirking from taking urgent measures to push through the immigration…

Swiss Politics

Nature concerns drive anti-immigration plan

This content was published on Mar 19, 2014 This people’s initiative has been launched by the Ecopop association, which wants to tackle population growth in Switzerland and all over the world in order to protect the environment from over-exploitation. “I think it is to the credit of the [rightwing] Swiss People’s Party and the Swiss people that they had the confidence to make…

Swiss Politics

Swiss break off free-trade talks with Russia

This content was published on Mar 19, 2014 Switzerland started the talks, as a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), in 2010. Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann said on Wednesday the decision had been taken with the three other EFTA countries: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. “In the meantime the four of us agreed that we wanted a postponement,” he told Swiss public…

Swiss Politics

US senators: extradite Swiss bankers

This content was published on Mar 19, 2014 In a letter published on Tuesday to Deputy Attorney General James Cole (see attachment), Levin and McCain wrote that the department should “at least attempt to use” powers under an extradition treaty with the Swiss. Levin, a Michigan Democrat, and McCain, an Arizona Republican, lead the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which issued a report…

Swiss Politics

States urged to carve out path to Syrian peace

This content was published on Mar 18, 2014 “We cannot continue to sit for years in these rooms, writing reports and making speeches lamenting the blood that is running in Syria’s street,” Sergio Pinheiro told the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday during a debate on the commission’s latest Syria report. The Brazilian said all states, particularly those with influence over the…

Swiss Politics

French inheritance tax deal gets new lease of life

This content was published on Mar 18, 2014 The accord, under which inheritances would be taxed based on where the recipient resides and not where the deceased person lived, as used to be the case, has been under attack since it was announced last year. The agreement, if adopted, would see French citizens living in Switzerland taxed by their government, while Swiss residents…

Swiss Politics

Intense talks continue over Crimea observers

This content was published on Mar 18, 2014 Putin said as much in a telephone conversation with Burkhalter on Monday. Now, says the Swiss president, a clearer mandate for the OSCE observers must be negotiated. “We are very close to having a consensus among all 57 (OSCE) members,” Burkhalter told Swiss public television SRF. Also on Monday – the day that the European…

Swiss Politics

UN: North Korean rights abuses mirror Nazis

This content was published on Mar 18, 2014 Enslavement, executions and torture at political prison camps, state-sponsored abductions, indoctrination, persecution and mass starvations – the list of crimes against civilians in the secretive Asian nation documented in a 372-page UN inquiry report discussed at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday makes terrifying reading. “My mother and my older brother were publicly…

Swiss Politics

Swiss media express dismay over Crimea vote

This content was published on Mar 17, 2014 Zurich’s Tages-Anzeiger criticised the Russian authorities for trying to manipulate public opinion. “The Kremlin has taken aim at the last forms of free communication, such as social networks and small alternative media,” yet the paper pointed out that nevertheless, thousands of people had marched through Moscow on Saturday chanting “no war” and “Maidan” – referring…

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Parliament approves free trade deal with China

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Immigration vote triggers political mud fight

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Nature concerns drive anti-immigration plan

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Swiss break off free-trade talks with Russia

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US senators: extradite Swiss bankers

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States urged to carve out path to Syrian peace

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French inheritance tax deal gets new lease of life

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Intense talks continue over Crimea observers

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UN: North Korean rights abuses mirror Nazis

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Swiss media express dismay over Crimea vote

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