Swiss Politics

Cabinet doesn’t want to be chosen by the people

This content was published on May 16, 2012 The initiative was launched by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, which views the idea as a means of reinforcing the democratic rights of the people and giving the cabinet stronger democratic legitimacy. But in rejecting the initiative on Wednesday, the cabinet said a popularly elected cabinet would upset the balance between it and the parliament.…

Swiss Politics

Money laundering fears leap after Arab Spring

This content was published on May 14, 2012 Part of the reason for the increase was a new requirement for Swiss banks and other financial institutions to report shady deals surrounding foreign political events. Last year witnessed social unrest across North Africa and the Middle East, resulting in the downfall of several regimes. Switzerland has frozen the assets of former dictators, including Egypt’s…

Swiss Politics

EU ambassador rejects Swiss supervisory plan

This content was published on May 13, 2012 In an interview in the German-language SonntagsZeitung newspaper, Richard Jones said the EEA, a halfway house to EU membership which Swiss voters narrowly rejected in 1992, had an effective system for dealing with difficult questions. “Its structure is clear,” said Jones. “There are the monitoring authorities of the European Free Trade Association (Efta) and the…

Swiss Politics

Boost for home ownership gets second chance

This content was published on May 12, 2012 Sponsored by the Home Owners’ Association, the latest initiative facing voters on June 17 seeks to encourage the purchase of so-called first homes for taxpayers as Switzerland’s rate of home ownership is below average compared with other European countries. Up to SFr10,000 ($11,016) per person could be set aside as tax deductible for a period…

Swiss Politics

Poll sees Managed Care plans on sickbed

This content was published on May 11, 2012 A poll commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation found only one in three respondents approving the amendments. They were passed by parliament but challenged to a nationwide vote by the country’s main doctor’s organisation, trade unions and large parts of the centre-left. Political scientist Claude Longchamp of the leading GfS Bern research and polling institute…

Swiss Politics

Caflisch heads UN law commission

This content was published on May 11, 2012 The foreign ministry considers the appointment of 76-year-old Caflisch a mark of recognition for the former dean of the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Switzerland gives great importance to the work of the commission, particularly concerning compliance with international law and its further development, the ministry said in a statement. In 2006,…

Swiss Politics

Bachmann says she is a “proud American”

This content was published on May 11, 2012 Bachmann wrote to the Swiss consulate on Thursday asking to revoke her citizenship. “I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear: I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen. I am, and always have been, 100 per cent committed to our United States Constitution and the United States…

Swiss Politics

Bern and Rome return to negotiating table

This content was published on May 9, 2012 Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said she would travel to Rome for talks with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti. However, she refused to give a date. At a news conference on Wednesday, Widmer-Schlumpf welcomed the breakthrough, but warned of too much euphoria. “Italy showed its willingness and we will see what the negotiations will yield. I’m…

Swiss Politics

French voters opt for “end of bling”

This content was published on May 7, 2012 “It is a change […] that reflects the feelings of rejection associated with Nicolas Sarkozy’s name,” wrote Geneva’s Le Temps. “A majority of voters answered positively the calls made by the ‘normal’ presidential candidate, François Hollande, after an election without illusions, without hope,” it added. Fribourg’s La Liberté pointed out that if the last socialist…

Swiss Politics

Polarisation undermines party success

This content was published on May 7, 2012 The Selects Electoral Study written by Swiss political scientists and published on Monday says the party’s rightwing line had made it unattractive to centre voters. “A clear majority of the electorate cannot imagine ever voting for the People’s Party,” the study found. “The People’s Party was one of the major contributors to the polarisation that…

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Cabinet doesn’t want to be chosen by the people

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Money laundering fears leap after Arab Spring

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EU ambassador rejects Swiss supervisory plan

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Boost for home ownership gets second chance

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Poll sees Managed Care plans on sickbed

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Caflisch heads UN law commission

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Bachmann says she is a “proud American”

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Bern and Rome return to negotiating table

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French voters opt for “end of bling”

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Polarisation undermines party success

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