Swiss Politics

Parliamentarian still finds inspiration at 78

This content was published on Dec 9, 2009 No list of all his qualifications and qualities does justice to the 78-year-old Neirynck: electrical engineeer, professor, researcher, author, journalist and activist for consumer rights, who was born in Belgium, lived in Africa and obtained Swiss citizenship less than 15 years ago. Not only is he the oldest parliamentarian and a grandfatherly figure but is…

Swiss Politics

Iraqi rights minister sees more violence ahead

This content was published on Dec 8, 2009 Speaking on a visit to the Swiss capital Bern, Widjan M. Salim said terrorists were intent on seeing democracy fail in Iraq. She said the death penalty would not be abolished in the current climate of violence. At least 121 people were killed in Tuesday’s coordinated car bomb attacks, which mainly targeted government buildings. Similar…

Swiss Politics

UN rights chief tells Libya to free Swiss

This content was published on Dec 8, 2009 Navi Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said on Tuesday that the men had unfairly become victims of a political dispute between Switzerland and Libya. Max Göldi and Rashid Hamdani were taken into custody in July 2008 shortly after Geneva police arrested Hannibal Gaddafi, a son of Libyan ruler Moammar Gaddafi, and his…

Swiss Politics

Sarkozy wades into Swiss minaret ban debate

This content was published on Dec 8, 2009 The French president said he was “stupefied” by the response and wrote that instead of condemning the Swiss for the vote outcome, it was important to understand “what it intended to express and what so many people in Europe feel, including the French”. Sarkozy said he was convinced a yes or no response to such…

Swiss Politics

Poor need more than hot air from Copenhagen

This content was published on Dec 8, 2009 Already vulnerable to changes in weather patterns, Bangladesh’s population of 160 million, many of whom are among the poorest in the world, are responsible for a scant amount of the world’s carbon emissions. The South Asian country contributes 0.3 tons of carbon dioxide per capita annually. In the United States, it’s 22 tons. In Switzerland…

Swiss Politics

Funding for Romania and Bulgaria agreed

This content was published on Dec 8, 2009 The Senate on Monday followed the House of Representatives in granting financial support despite opposition by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party. Romania will gain the bulk of the money – SFr181 million – and the remainder will go to Bulgaria. The money will be used for the promotion of private companies, infrastructure and environment projects.…

Swiss Politics

Leuenberger hits out at polling firm

This content was published on Dec 7, 2009 Leuenberger, the minister responsible for media and communications, called the results of surveys conducted by the firm gfs.bern “politically grave” during Monday’s parliamentary question hour. gfs.bern, a respected firm, had predicted that a 53 per cent majority of people would vote against the referendum to ban the construction of new minarets on mosques. On November…

Swiss Politics

Minister says pension payments must be reduced

This content was published on Dec 7, 2009 Voters next March will have the final say on setting the minimum percentage rate used to calculate payments. A plan to reduce this conversion rate has angered unions and consumer groups but the government says it is necessary. “Voters can choose between security and insecurity,” Interior Minister Didier Burkhalter told a news conference on Monday.…

Swiss Politics

Gaddafi says minaret vote is gift to al-Qaida

This content was published on Dec 6, 2009 The vote gave the terrorists an “argument” to attack Europe, Gaddafi said in a ceremony at a religious faculty outside the capital, Tripoli. “Activists will now say: We warned you that they are our enemies… Look what they are doing in Europe. Join al-Qaida and proclaim jihad against Europe,” the official Libyan news agency quoted…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet “avoided necessary debate” over Islam

This content was published on Dec 6, 2009 In an interview with swissinfo.ch, Oswald Sigg, a former government spokesman and expert on direct democracy, criticises cabinet ministers and warns of the dangers of opinion polls ahead of nationwide votes and the damage for Switzerland’s political system. Sigg believes the unexpected result in last Sunday’s ballot can be beneficial if it prompts a fair…

Page 897 of 1339

First … 895 896 897 898 899 … Last

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Swiss Politics

More

Parliamentarian still finds inspiration at 78

More

Iraqi rights minister sees more violence ahead

More

UN rights chief tells Libya to free Swiss

More

Sarkozy wades into Swiss minaret ban debate

More

Poor need more than hot air from Copenhagen

More

Funding for Romania and Bulgaria agreed

More

Leuenberger hits out at polling firm

More

Minister says pension payments must be reduced

More

Gaddafi says minaret vote is gift to al-Qaida

More

Cabinet “avoided necessary debate” over Islam

Popular Stories

Most Discussed