Swiss Politics

Baby Doc assets law set to enter into force

This content was published on Jan 17, 2011 “Baby Doc” Duvalier, a once feared and reviled dictator who was ousted in a popular uprising nearly 25 years ago, made a surprise return to Haiti on Sunday. Swiss bank accounts containing some SFr6 million ($6.2 million) linked to the former Haitian dictator have been frozen since 1986. In February 2010 the Swiss government issued…

Swiss Politics

Tamil Tigers return to legal spotlight

This content was published on Jan 17, 2011 Last week the Federal Criminal Police searched 23 sites in cantons Basel City, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Graubünden, Lucerne, Solothurn, St Gallen, Vaud and Zurich. The sting was carried out in connection with an investigation dating back to May 2009, when several people of Tamil origin were accused of extortion, forgery, money laundering and membership in…

Swiss Politics

Tunisia’s ex-leader risks freeze of Swiss assets

This content was published on Jan 16, 2011 The association of exiled Tunisians in Switzerland accuses Ben Ali’s family of having abused its power and embezzled public and private funds, according to the Swiss News Agency. Similarly the centre-left Social Democratic Party has urged the government to return Ben Ali’s funds to the new Tunisian authorities if such a request is filed. The…

Swiss Politics

US Geneva mission under investigation

This content was published on Jan 16, 2011 The justice ministry confirmed that it called on Washington to stop its surveillance detection programme aimed at spying on people who are near official US buildings. The Swiss government had rejected a request for surveillance activities by the Geneva mission in 2007, a ministry spokesman said. He added that there are indications that the mission…

Swiss Politics

Swiss bid for Security Council seat welcomed

This content was published on Jan 16, 2011 Neighbouring Austria has gathered considerable experience during its membership stints. In 2010, the country sat on the Council for the third time since 1955. swissinfo.ch spoke to Thomas Mayr-Harting, Austria’s UN Ambassador in New York. He shared his nation’s experiences while discussing Switzerland’s possible candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. According to…

Swiss Politics

Haiti pays a price for outside help

This content was published on Jan 15, 2011 At a medical clinic in the Goâve region, southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince, it is possible to see Haiti’s imported health system at work. Two hours by car from Grand-Goâve, the Meyer dispensary is a hive of activity. In the courtyard, a little girl suffering from malnutrition struggles while being put on the weighing scales.…

Swiss Politics

Swiss tourists flown home from riot-hit Tunisia

This content was published on Jan 15, 2011 Several travel agencies said they would fly holidaymakers back to Switzerland by Sunday adding that all bookings for trips to Tunisia have been suspended. More than 300 holidaymakers left Tunisia on board several flights on Saturday according to travel agencies quoted by the Swiss News Agency. The Swiss foreign ministry has set up an emergency…

Swiss Politics

Poll finds anti-gun initiative still ahead

This content was published on Jan 14, 2011 The survey comes as the campaign by supporters and opponents of the anti-gun initiative gathers pace, fuelled by posters with a highly emotional appeal. The poll, carried out by the leading gfs.bern research and polling institute on behalf of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, found that supporters appear to have the upper hand at the moment…

Swiss Politics

Swiss seek better ties with EU and neighbours

This content was published on Jan 14, 2011 Calmy-Rey, who holds the rotating post of Swiss president and is also foreign minister, told reporters in Geneva that Switzerland had “serious” bilateral fiscal issues with Italy and problems over the EuroAirport in Basel and Zurich airport. She said there was a mutual desire with the EU to deepen relations. “The 120 bilateral accords with…

Swiss Politics

Government shelves spending cuts

This content was published on Jan 14, 2011 Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the government could hope for a surplus of nearly SFr3 billion for 2010 instead of the projected deficit of about SFr2 billion. Planned spending cuts in some 50 areas will be shelved, including public transport, Switzerland’s consular network, the budget of swissinfo.ch, science and research, school daycare services and the…

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