Swiss Politics

Alternative to “fat cat” initiative agreed

This content was published on Mar 15, 2012 The initiative by entrepreneur and senator Thomas Minder against “fat cat” salaries dates back to 2008 and parliament has since been grappling to ensure a counterproposal is put forward when it goes to a nationwide ballot. The alternative takes a softer approach to Minder’s initiative. He called for a complete end to golden parachutes and…

Swiss Politics

Taliban free Swiss hostages

This content was published on Mar 15, 2012 The couple from Bern were filmed by local television smiling and waving as they alighted from a military helicopter at Rawalpindi military base near Islamabad, where they had been transported by Pakistani authorities. In a statement on Thursday, the Swiss government said embassy officials in Islamabad were in direct contact with the couple, who were in good…

Central bank powers remain untouched

This content was published on Mar 14, 2012 The House of Representatives threw out bids to restrict the bank’s foreign currency deals and to set a minimum equity capital quota and keep current gold reserves unchanged. Wednesday’s special debate was called in the wake of the resignation of the president of the central bank, Philipp Hildebrand, in January over controversial private currency transactions.…

Swiss Politics

Safeguard clause looks like safety valve

This content was published on Mar 13, 2012 The clause, included in the accord on the free movement of people which enables Swiss and EU citizens to work freely in each other’s countries, can be invoked if the number of people arriving in any one year is more than ten per cent up on the average for the previous three. One group that…

Swiss Politics

Hotels lose bid for reduced tax rate

This content was published on Mar 13, 2012 The Senate on Tuesday followed the House of Representatives and the government in rejecting the proposal put forward by representatives of mountain cantons, including Valais, Graubünden and Bern. Supporters argued that some tourist regions were suffering from a ten per cent slump in overnight stays as a result of the expensive Swiss franc for foreign…

Swiss Politics

Zurich residents vote to move sex scene out of city centre

This content was published on Mar 12, 2012

Swiss Politics

Zurich voters reject new naturalisation law

This content was published on Mar 12, 2012 On Sunday, 56.4 per cent of voters rejected the new law, which aimed to harmonise naturalisation across the canton. The result means naturalisation decisions will continue to be taken at cantonal and communal level. Turnout was 40 per cent. Had the new law been accepted, only those people holding a C Permit (a permanent residence…

Swiss Politics

Voters agree limit on holiday homes

This content was published on Mar 11, 2012 In other votes on Sunday, a proposal to increase statutory holiday entitlement was rejected. Voters also turned down the re-introduction of a fixed book price agreement. Final results showed 50.6 per cent of voters backing the initiative to set a maximum quota of 20 per cent on holiday homes across the country. A majority of cantons also backed…

Swiss Politics

Lump sum taxation comes under pressure

This content was published on Mar 11, 2012 A clear majority of voters on Sunday approved the proposal by the centre-left Social Democrats, according to official results. In a similar ballot in canton Lucerne, voters rejected abolition. They opted instead to increase the tax rate to seven times the annual rental value of the residence, instead of the current five. Over the past…

Swiss Politics

Voters say no to longer holidays

This content was published on Mar 11, 2012 Voters also turned down the re-introduction of an agreement on fixed book prices. But they looked set to narrowly approve a limit on the number of new holiday homes. The gfs.bern polling institute said incomplete results showed 67 per cent of voters had turned down the holiday initiative, as had all but one canton –…

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Swiss Politics

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Alternative to “fat cat” initiative agreed

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Taliban free Swiss hostages

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Central bank powers remain untouched

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Safeguard clause looks like safety valve

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Hotels lose bid for reduced tax rate

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Zurich residents vote to move sex scene out of city centre

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Zurich voters reject new naturalisation law

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Voters agree limit on holiday homes

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Lump sum taxation comes under pressure

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Voters say no to longer holidays

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