Swiss Politics

US ambassador seeks fresh start to ties

This content was published on Sep 13, 2009 “I want to show that it is time for the two countries to put the difficulties they have been confronting behind them,” Beyer told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper. He defended the recent US probe into tax fraud by American customers at Swiss bank UBS, noting that it was not an attack on Swiss banking…

Swiss Politics

Poll finds Swiss president in popularity slide

This content was published on Sep 13, 2009 The Isopublic polling firm asked respondents which politicians they wanted to play an important role in future politics. Only 47 per cent of Swiss backed Merz, who has come under fire for his handling of relations with Libya, compared with 59 per cent in June. No other minister holding the presidential role had experienced such…

Swiss Politics

Army chief objects to objectors

This content was published on Sep 11, 2009 André Blattmann told the Mittelland Zeitung newspaper that some recruits are giving up after only a few days of basic training, choosing to do civilian service instead. The army chief blamed the situation on a new law – in force since April 1 – which no longer requires young men to give a reason for…

Swiss Politics

Life in transit

This content was published on Sep 11, 2009 “They” are the asylum seekers who arrive in Switzerland by plane in search of a new life. swissinfo.ch visited their temporary home – the new Schengen-compliant reception centre for asylum seekers at Geneva airport. Léonie* sat huddled up on the bottom bunk looking slightly anxious as the group of strangers bounded into her dormitory. “This…

Revelations about Libya fail to shed light

This content was published on Sep 10, 2009 The Swiss foreign ministry has confirmed media reports that one of the two businessmen barred from leaving Libya for over a year has close ties with the family of the Libyan prime minister. It also said that it had held discussions last year with Edwin Bollier, a Swiss businessman with ties to Libya and a…

Swiss Politics

Court dates announced for army accidents

This content was published on Sep 10, 2009 In July 2007, six soldiers died in an avalanche while climbing the Jungfrau mountain. Less than a year later, five died while rafting on the Kander river in the Bernese Oberland. The military justice authorities levelled multiple involuntary manslaughter charges in both cases, as well as disregard for army regulations. The officer involved in the…

Swiss Politics

Senate opposes weapons database

This content was published on Sep 10, 2009 It voted 25 to seven against the creation of a database to keep tabs on all weapons purchased by the Swiss, as called for by the Green party and centre-left Social Democrats. During Thursday’s debate Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf argued that Switzerland did not need to change its current system tracking weapons to fulfil its…

Swiss Politics

Health cost savings move a step further

This content was published on Sep 10, 2009 But after a six-hour debate, it came out against the introduction of a standard fee to be paid by patients for doctor’s consultations, with which the government had hoped to make savings. The package is slated to come into force at the beginning of 2010 and last two years. The Senate is due to debate…

Swiss Politics

Libyan “promises” lost in translation?

This content was published on Sep 8, 2009 But Geri Müller, president of the Swiss foreign affairs committee, which discussed the letter and the Swiss-Libyan diplomatic crisis on Tuesday, voiced his support for Merz and said signs from Libya were “not that bad”. The letter sent by Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi to the Swiss president on August 26, published in Tuesday’s…

Swiss Politics

Christian Democrats nominate cabinet contender

This content was published on Sep 8, 2009 The 56-year-old lawyer was chosen in a secret ballot on Tuesday after rivals Dominique de Buman and Luigi Pedrazzini pulled out. The Christian Democrats are challenging the seat of Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin, one of two centre-right Radical Party representatives in the seven-member cabinet. He is to step down next month. The Radicals have put…

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US ambassador seeks fresh start to ties

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Life in transit

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Revelations about Libya fail to shed light

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Court dates announced for army accidents

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Senate opposes weapons database

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Libyan “promises” lost in translation?

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Christian Democrats nominate cabinet contender

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