Swiss Politics

“The concept of a withholding tax has failed”

This content was published on Nov 24, 2012 Only the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) still had faith in the “ingenious withholding tax system”. Switzerland had done its homework, the paper said, and developed a suitable tax model – “it’s therefore worthwhile to fight for such a solution”. It pointed out that Britain and Austria, with whom Switzerland had signed similar agreements which are…

Swiss Politics

German Senate blocks divisive Swiss tax deal

This content was published on Nov 23, 2012 The German Social Democrats and the Greens on Friday voted against the agreement, saying the accord has too many loopholes and that it goes against tax equity. A mediation committee of the two chambers of parliament is expected to meet next month to thrash out a compromise, in a bid to pave the way for…

Swiss Politics

What’s the point of prison?

This content was published on Nov 23, 2012 In Switzerland, the proportion of people jailed for assault causing bodily injury is a quarter of the European average. Many Swiss experts say this is justified, arguing that other sanctions are more effective. What’s your view?

Read more: What’s the point of prison?

Swiss Politics

Weighing up the “unusual” Swiss justice system

This content was published on Nov 23, 2012 Take a sample case of aggravated bodily assault. On a night out a young man savagely beats up a passer-by in a random attack leaving the victim seriously injured. The case goes to trial, the attacker is convicted, his name is published and he goes to jail. Right? In most countries maybe, but not necessarily…

Swiss Politics

Four more years of Swiss-US banking tension?

This content was published on Nov 22, 2012 Yves Rossier, secretary of state at the Swiss foreign ministry, believes the tax dispute “is certainly not at the top of the president’s to-do list”. Experts in the United States, however, warn that tax evasion in Switzerland will remain a “hot button issue” for Washington. According to Rossier the interests as well as the legal…

Swiss Politics

How watch movements spurred industrial peace

This content was published on Nov 22, 2012 Jean-Claude Rennwald, a former parliamentarian and union activist from canton Jura, tells swissinfo.ch that various crises in watchmaking have pushed the employers’ organisations and trade unions to come up with acceptable compromises for both sides. As a trade union secretary, Rennwald successfully negotiated four collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Such deals establish the working conditions in a…

Swiss Politics

Women to face extra year at work

This content was published on Nov 21, 2012 Among the proposals mooted by Interior Minister Alain Berset is an increase in women’s retirement age to 65 – up from 64 – to bring it in line with that of men. The aim is also to make the retirement age more flexible and encourage older people to stay in a job. Early retirement should…

Swiss Politics

Proper justice instead of empty words

This content was published on Nov 20, 2012 “In Senegal, more than half of the population is under 18. I take a lot of interest in their rights and I need legal tools so I can work with them,” explains Abdul Aziz Danfakha. Danfakha, a deputy prosecutor in the Dakar regional court, is following a juvenile justice training programme in the Senegalese capital,…

Swiss Politics

“We still have problems we need to solve”

This content was published on Nov 20, 2012 Speaking to swissinfo.ch on the occasion of the United Nations’ Universal Children’s Day, Kathie Wiederkehr, the head of the foundation, says child protection may not be seen as a major issue in Switzerland but it has gained in attention over the past 20 years. In a report looking into the issue in 2008, the Federal…

Swiss Politics

Court allows third-party surveillance to trace suspect

This content was published on Nov 19, 2012 The judges in Lausanne said that Zurich prosecutors may tap the wires of a friend of a suspected robber in order to track him down. The supreme court argued that alleged offenders should not be allowed to escape surveillance measures by frequently changing phones. The ruling may be a prelude to changes to the federal…

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Swiss Politics

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“The concept of a withholding tax has failed”

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German Senate blocks divisive Swiss tax deal

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What’s the point of prison?

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Weighing up the “unusual” Swiss justice system

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Four more years of Swiss-US banking tension?

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How watch movements spurred industrial peace

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Women to face extra year at work

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Proper justice instead of empty words

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“We still have problems we need to solve”

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Court allows third-party surveillance to trace suspect

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