Swiss Politics

Merz was “better with numbers than crises”

This content was published on Aug 8, 2010 Merz balanced the national books during the global crisis to achieve a budget surplus last year and oversaw important tax reforms. But he was also blamed for giving away Swiss banking secrecy too easily. Shortly after announcing his resignation on Friday, Merz was widely acclaimed for steering Switzerland through the recent economic downturn. He has…

Swiss Politics

Press criticise cabinet “consultant”

This content was published on Aug 7, 2010 Ridiculing him as an “eternal consultant”, most newspapers agreed that Merz failed to rise to the many challenges he and Switzerland faced during his seven-year term, including attacks on banking secrecy. “Hans-Rudolf Merz resigns. This is good news for him, for his party and for the whole country,” read the commentary in Blick. The tabloid…

Swiss Politics

Political system to survive cabinet shake-up

This content was published on Aug 6, 2010 But experts say the stability of the Swiss government system with its seven-member multiparty cabinet is not under threat. “Resignations before the end of the term are part of Swiss politics,“ says Michael Hermann, political scientist at Zurich University. He adds that every resignation of a minister has its own history. “Compared with changes in…

Swiss Politics

Out of the limelight

This content was published on Aug 6, 2010 Merz, who leaves the government in October, had his fair share of ups and downs during almost seven years as a minister. These pictures reveal the good and not-so-good times.

Embattled finance minister bows out

This content was published on Aug 6, 2010 Merz, who stands down in October, has held the post since his election nearly seven years ago and served as Swiss president in 2009. “I used my summer break to take a difficult decision,” he told a news conference on Friday. “I consider the timing to be right for my resignation,” he added. Merz said…

Swiss Politics

Challenge to keep nuclear “genie in the bottle”

This content was published on Aug 5, 2010 Swiss security expert Kurt R. Spillmann tells swissinfo.ch that, in his opinion, nuclear state Pakistan represents a greater threat than Iran with its ambitions to build the bomb. Spillmann says the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), has proven to be a “useful instrument”. But whichever accord is in force, whether the treaty…

Swiss Politics

Swiss commitment to EU could face new test

This content was published on Aug 5, 2010 Four years after voters endorsed a government plan for SFr1 billion ($950 million) towards new EU member states there is speculation that the Swiss might soon be asked to grant further financial support for projects. The reports come after parliament last December granted an additional SFr257 million for EU cohesion. The money goes towards projects…

Swiss Politics

Train passengers to pay more for a ride

This content was published on Aug 4, 2010 The move was justified by the continually increased service, new rolling stock, higher personnel costs and technical updates, said the Public Transport Association, an umbrella organisation of the country’s 130 transport companies, including Swiss Federal Railways. “Good quality has its price,” the association’s president Peter Vollmer told a news conference on Wednesday. He added that…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet prepares for musical chairs

This content was published on Aug 2, 2010 An increasing polarisation of the political climate and shifting informal alliances over the past few years have broken up a traditional pattern in force for nearly 50 years. The main political parties are entitled to a proportional share of the seats in the seven-strong cabinet according to an informal agreement reached in 1959. This deal,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss help to clamp down on smugglers in Poland

This content was published on Aug 2, 2010 Switzerland, which signed the Schengen agreement, helps finance vehicles and equipment for Poland’s mobile border police. Although not a member of the European Union, Switzerland contributes to reducing the gap between old and new EU states. Southeast of Poland, in neighbouring Ukraine, wages are low and products are cheap. As a result trafficking cigarettes, drugs,…

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Merz was “better with numbers than crises”

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Press criticise cabinet “consultant”

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Political system to survive cabinet shake-up

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Out of the limelight

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Embattled finance minister bows out

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Challenge to keep nuclear “genie in the bottle”

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Swiss commitment to EU could face new test

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Train passengers to pay more for a ride

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Cabinet prepares for musical chairs

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Swiss help to clamp down on smugglers in Poland

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