This content was published on
Just days before the parliamentary election, the missing mascot of the Swiss People’s Party was found painted black alongside another goat and tied to a tree in a village near Zurich. But the People’s Party might want to consider a new lucky charm: according to provisional results on Sunday evening voters have shifted their support…
This content was published on
In a provisional projection of the 200-seat House of Representatives released at 7pm, the big winners were, as expected, the two new parties, the Conservative Democrats and the Liberal Greens, each gaining nine seats. The former split from the rightwing Swiss People’s Party in 2007 and the latter, a more business-friendly version of the…
This content was published on
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said she “wouldn’t tolerate any minister of mine wearing a beard” – something about men with facial hair having something to hide. Fulvio Pelli, the stubbly 60-year-old Radical president from Lugano, has said he’ll shave off his beard if his party gets 25 per cent of the vote.…
This content was published on
Sadly I couldn’t try my luck as those running for parliament have to be Swiss, at least 18 and not certifiably insane. I fall down on at least one of them. It does, however, raise an interesting question: what role do good looks play in Swiss politics? The general feeling – backed up here in…
This content was published on
Polls are generally considered a reasonable indicator of how the public intends to vote, however they are far from infallible, as became clear in November 2009 when voters accepted by 57 per cent a nationwide ban on the construction of minarets that surveys had predicted they would reject by 53 per cent. So if your…
This content was published on
Well Rita, let me educate you – but without really answering your question. Calls to swissinfo’s election-watchers in Zurich and Bern have drawn a blank – Calmy-Rey – who stands down at the end of the year – has yet to be sighted. But your interest is understandable. Calmy-Rey is no stranger to the fashion pages.…
This content was published on
1. Will the Pirate Party be able to follow its stunning success in Berlin last month when it attracted 8.5 per cent of the vote, winning its first ever seats in a state parliament? 2. And what about the Greens – six months ago a real “zeitgeist” party after the Fukushima disaster in Japan. To what…
This content was published on
Zurich – Can controversial People’s Party figurehead Christoph Blocher – deselected from the cabinet in 2007 – knock out either Verena Diener from the Green Liberals or Felix Gutzwiller from the Radicals? Probably not – his combined enemies are stronger than his friends – although the 71-year-old billionaire should succeed in getting into the House…
This content was published on
How quick are Swiss vote counters? First results are expected to trickle in some time this afternoon – but it’s hard to be precise. At a guess, the smaller cantons such as Uri (pictured), which only has one seat in the House of Representatives, could declare as early as 2pm. First nationwide projections aren’t expected…
This content was published on
The previous post was in danger of getting a bit heavy, so on a crisp Sunday morning – praise the dawning – let’s lighten things up a bit. Think of Swiss politicians and you might think of secretive, behind-the-scenes dealmakers – although the British swipe at the “gnomes of Zurich” was of course aimed at…
