Swiss Politics

Gaddafi to “personally” help free detained Swiss

This content was published on Sep 25, 2009 “He told me that he would personally deal with this affair,” Merz told Swiss television on Thursday evening. “I made it very clear that this contract that we signed should be implemented by our Libyan partners and that the two Swiss must be returned,” he said. Merz said releasing the two men was a precondition…

Swiss Politics

Bern attacks legitimacy of G20 group

This content was published on Sep 24, 2009 Merz, who is this year’s Swiss president, was speaking in New York at the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations. While repeating the Swiss view that the UN itself has to reform, he said that the “exchange between the UN and other fora such as the G20”, meeting in Pittsburgh, had to be strengthened.…

Swiss Politics

Swiss economy receives another boost

This content was published on Sep 24, 2009 Both chambers – the House of Representatives and the Senate – accepted a compromise plan to reduce the original sum foreseen by about SFr120 million francs. The new package is intended to help the long-term unemployed and young people without a job. Economics Minister Doris Leuthard was critical of moves to torpedo the package, arguing…

Swiss Politics

Parliament torpedoes anti-pirate proposal

This content was published on Sep 24, 2009 The House of Representatives on Thursday voted against participating in the Atalanta mission, with an anti-interventionist, left-right alliance defeating a centrist bloc by a count of 102-81 votes. As a political matter, the anti-pirate force is now finished even though the Senate – the other parliamentary chamber – had come out in favour. Defence Minister…

Swiss Politics

Merz said to have met Gaddafi

This content was published on Sep 24, 2009 Merz’s finance ministry has not confirmed the report by the Libyan Jana news agency. But in an interview Merz gave to Swiss French television, he said he planned to meet Gaddafi. That interview was published on the television website on Thursday. According to Jana, the meeting took place on Wednesday, the day Gaddafi addressed the…

Swiss Politics

G20 finds Pittsburgh booming in times of bust

This content was published on Sep 23, 2009 Charles Dickens may have once called it “hell with the lid off” but some Swiss-Americans living in the Pennsylvania city say they’ve been spared the economic meltdown. Last week the US president called Pittsburgh, population 316,000, “a marvellous city”, a stark contrast to its old image as a dirty place of smog, steel and smelters.…

Swiss Politics

Foreign policy faces new challenges

This content was published on Sep 23, 2009 Switzerland needs not only to strengthen its relations with the European Union but also to develop new connections in the rest of the world, according to the 2009 foreign policy report approved by the government at the beginning of the month. “Switzerland can only maintain its influence and reputation in the international community if it…

Swiss Politics

Swiss integration laws could be tightened

This content was published on Sep 23, 2009 The Senate on Wednesday followed the House of Representatives in approving a proposal by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, despite opposition by the centre-left. A second motion imposing stricter pre-conditions for naturalisation applicants was also passed. Successful candidates must demonstrate a good level of integration and have a good knowledge of one of the four…

Swiss Politics

Parliament wants tougher child pornography laws

This content was published on Sep 23, 2009 The Senate followed the House of Representatives in approving a motion demanding that so-called “child grooming” be made a punishable offence. Child grooming is considered an action undertaken by an adult to form a relationship with a child with the eventual intent of having sexual contact. The Senate also voted in favour of a proposal…

Swiss Politics

Obama climate address disappoints Leuenberger

This content was published on Sep 22, 2009 “More commitment was shown in the talks today but I’m disappointed with Barack Obama’s address. He made no specific promises,” Leuenberger told Swiss television on Tuesday evening. Leuenberger said the “cascading effect” would be that China and Japan would not feel compelled either to toughen their own environmental standards. Leuenberger, of Switzerland’s centre-left Social Democrats,…

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