Swiss Politics

Cabinet pursues plans to reform criminal code

This content was published on Oct 12, 2011 The justice ministry said it had been mandated to finalise plans for parliament by next March. The system of suspended fines was only introduced in 2007 but has been widely criticised. “To be effective and credible, criminal law must be accepted by the population which must have belief in the effectiveness of sanctions,” a statement…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet aims to restrict private security firms

This content was published on Oct 12, 2011 In a proposal that has been submitted to parliament for consultation, the government backed tougher rules for private security companies in an effort to safeguard Switzerland’s image as a neutral nation. The measures would require private security companies to report their activities to Swiss authorities, and abide by a 2010 code of conduct on respecting…

Swiss Politics

More Swiss bankers charged in United States

This content was published on Oct 12, 2011 The pair are accused of helping clients hide more than $600 million (SFr546 million) in offshore accounts and evade paying taxes on those accounts. Although the indictment by the US Attorney’s Office refers only to the pair working at “Swiss Bank No.1”, Julius Bär confirmed in a statement that one former and one current employee…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey defends Swiss interests in Brussels

This content was published on Oct 11, 2011 Issues discussed included dictators’ assets, bilateral relations and the tax agreement between Switzerland and Germany. Calmy-Rey explained that with the withholding tax Switzerland was following a “clean money” strategy, adding that Switzerland was open to negotiating further treaties. Greece had shown interest, she said. In response to EU accusations that many rich Greeks stashed their…

Swiss Politics

Leuthard addresses challenge of urban planning

This content was published on Oct 10, 2011 That’s according to Swiss Environment, Transport and Energy Minister Doris Leuthard, who spoke at a forum on the topic in Lucerne on Monday. “It is up to all of us to create a viable alliance for sustainable development in the three-way partnership between cities, the countryside and the mountains,” said Leuthard. She pointed out how…

Swiss Politics

Anti-death penalty group moves to Geneva

This content was published on Oct 10, 2011 Speaking at the fourth meeting of the group, Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey welcomed the move to Geneva where the commission will be integrated into the Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Established in 2010 in Madrid, the commission is supported by 15 countries, including Switzerland. It aims to fight the death penalty in…

Swiss Politics

More foreign nationals living in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 10, 2011 At the end of August, 1,751,301 foreigners were living in Switzerland, accounting for 22.3 per cent of permanent residents in the country. Citizens of the European Union and Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland – which are covered by agreements with Switzerland on the free movement of people – increased by 43,805 to 1,129,638 people in the…

Swiss Politics

Anti-Syrian protesters attack Geneva mission

This content was published on Oct 9, 2011 About 100 people gathered in front of the Syrian mission to the United Nations in Geneva on Sunday in protest against the killing of a Kurdish opposition figure. On Saturday five men were arrested after forcing their way into the building of the mission, a Geneva police spokesman said. The men have since been released.…

Swiss Politics

Will China introduce a Swiss-style democracy?

This content was published on Oct 9, 2011 Ahead of Swiss parliamentary elections on October 23, swissinfo.ch sounded out opinions in Beijing. “I really hope that Swiss democracy could serve as a model to China,” says a young Beijing artist who is getting ready to leave for Zurich where he will exhibit his work. Most of the travellers queuing for a visa at…

Swiss Politics

Swiss observer upbeat about Tunisian elections

This content was published on Oct 8, 2011 swissinfo.ch spoke to Andreas Gross, who has been chosen by the Council of Europe to head its mission to observe the elections. Gross, a member of the Swiss parliament for the centre-left Social Democrats, is one of the Swiss representatives in the Council. He says the bodies in Tunisia responsible for organising the elections have…

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