Swiss Politics

Geneva still fuming over Libyan apology

This content was published on Aug 24, 2009 swissinfo.ch went to find out what people in Geneva feel about the agreement to end a year-long standoff that has frozen Swiss-Libyan business ties and left two Swiss businessmen marooned in Tripoli. “Humiliation”, “scandal” and “shocking” are some of the more common words and phrases still being heard on the streets of Geneva just three…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland: a country of politicians

This content was published on Aug 24, 2009 But some posts remain unfilled, as Switzerland’s system of grass-roots democracy is suffering from a shortage of volunteers. Why “very probably”? Because Switzerland, organised on federal lines, does not keep centralised statistics in this field. As for statistics in other parts of the world…. It is, however, established that Switzerland’s resident population of 7.7 million…

Swiss Politics

Libya continues to dominate Swiss concerns

This content was published on Aug 23, 2009 Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the legal basis was questionable, adding that the issue would be put forward at next Wednesday’s meeting of the seven-member Swiss cabinet. The Swiss president, Hans-Rudolf Merz, apologised on Thursday in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, for the detention of Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife Aline in July 2008 after Geneva police received…

Swiss Politics

Subtle democratic rights fail to spark interest

This content was published on Aug 23, 2009 Voters will have the final say on the fate of the so-called general people’s initiative in a nationwide ballot at the end of next month. Approved by voters with an overwhelming majority in 2003, it has never been put to use because it is seen as incompatible with the rules of the current parliamentary system.…

Swiss Politics

Merz out on a limb over his visit to Libya

This content was published on Aug 21, 2009 He said it was the only way to break a deadlock in economic relations with the north African country and secure the release of two Swiss nationals held for allegedly violating visa regulations. Merz’s visit to Tripoli on Thursday prompted mixed reactions in Switzerland. Critics have accused him of groveling before an unreliable authoritarian regime…

Swiss Politics

Geneva concerned over Libya accord fallout

This content was published on Aug 21, 2009 In an agreement signed by President Hans-Rudolf Merz in Tripoli on Thursday, the Swiss government offered an “official and public apology for the unjustified and unnecessary arrest” of Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife in Geneva in July 2008. The agreement also sets up a three-person independent arbitration panel to sift through the conditions of the…

Swiss Politics

Press chokes on “bitter pill” of Libyan apology

This content was published on Aug 21, 2009 Geneva police took Hannibal Gaddafi and his pregnant wife into custody on charges of beating their servants. They were later released on bail, but Tripoli limited trade, stopped flights and held two Swiss nationals. Hannibal talked of dropping a nuclear bomb on the country. The criminal charges were eventually dropped but the matter quickly turned…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland apologises to Libya

This content was published on Aug 20, 2009 Two Swiss businessmen currently detained in Libya would be released “soon”, according to a finance ministry statement. “I express to the Libyan people my apologies for the unjust arrest of Libyan diplomats by Geneva police,” Merz said in English at a joint news conference, according to AFP news agency. Libyan Prime Minister al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi…

Swiss Politics

Government sells UBS shares with healthy profit

This content was published on Aug 20, 2009 A statement said the total sale proceeds for the 332.2 million mandatory convertible notes was SFr7.2 billion ($6.75 billion), resulting in a net profit of SFr1.2 billion. The statement noted that the net profit represented a return of more than 30 per cent over a period of around eight months. The government’s stake was bought…

Swiss Politics

An unpaid occupation

This content was published on Aug 20, 2009

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Swiss Politics

More

Geneva still fuming over Libyan apology

More

Switzerland: a country of politicians

More

Libya continues to dominate Swiss concerns

More

Subtle democratic rights fail to spark interest

More

Merz out on a limb over his visit to Libya

More

Geneva concerned over Libya accord fallout

More

Press chokes on “bitter pill” of Libyan apology

More

Switzerland apologises to Libya

More

Government sells UBS shares with healthy profit

More

An unpaid occupation

Popular Stories

Most Discussed