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Swiss Politics

Senate backs compromise on smoking

This content was published on Oct 2, 2008 The chamber that represents Switzerland’s cantons joined the House of Representatives in approving a compromise package on the smoking issue. It permits smoking in small restaurants and bars with a surface area of less than 80 square metres, but there are strict conditions. Rooms where smoking is allowed have to be well ventilated and clearly…

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Swiss Politics

Vote for Hitler “normal” in economic context

This content was published on Oct 1, 2008 But researchers demonstrate that the voters most hurt by the depression, and most likely to oppose the government, were a disparate group who did not uniformly turn to the Nazis. “The consequences of Hitler’s election were extraordinary,” the authors say, “but the voting behaviour that led to it was not.” Because of the unprecedented circumstances…

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Swiss Politics

Embattled minister’s popularity plummets

This content was published on Oct 1, 2008 For the first time since 2002 Pascal Couchepin, this year’s president, doesn’t find himself at the bottom of the seven-minister class, thanks largely to Schmid experiencing an annus horribilis. Schmid is under pressure to resign both over reforms of the armed forces and personnel decisions. He is also at odds with the rightwing Swiss People’s…

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Swiss Politics

Government aid agency introduces new structure

This content was published on Oct 1, 2008 The SDC said in a statement on Wednesday that the move was expected to raise the efficiency of its efforts to alleviate poverty and solve global development problems. Measures include a reduction of the management board from 11 to seven members and the creation of staff office to help in planning. Reforms at the SDC’s…

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Swiss Politics

Iranians detained in money laundering probe

This content was published on Sep 30, 2008 The group of about ten detainees has connections to the People’s Mujahideen Organisation of Iran (PMOI), which is listed as a terrorist group in the European Union and United States. They were arrested last week and are still in custody, judicial sources and the group’s lawyer said. The police swoop was coordinated between French and…

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Swiss Politics

Federal Court reverses Geneva smoking ban

This content was published on Sep 30, 2008 The judgement puts a dent in the nationwide anti-smoking trend with voters in Zurich and Basel voting on Sunday in favour of more restrictive smoking regulations in line with existing practice in several other cantons. The Federal Court annulled the ruling by the Geneva cantonal government on the grounds that the legal basis for the…

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Swiss Politics

Artificial reproduction on the rise

This content was published on Sep 29, 2008 According to the Federal Statistics Office, around 5,400 couples last year made use of one form or another of assisted reproductive technology – a 13 per cent rise on 2006. The Statistics Office said on Monday that around 1.6 of every 1,000 women in Switzerland of child bearing age undergoes treatment. About one in every…

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Swiss Politics

Trend to ban smoking in public continues

This content was published on Sep 28, 2008 Smoking in the country’s most populated canton will be allowed in separate rooms that are well ventilated but where guests will not be served. Canton Basel City voted the same way. In the central canton of Nidwalden, the electorate decided it would be up to the restaurateurs themselves to decide if they wanted to designate…

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Swiss Politics

Bern seeks more business with Caracas

This content was published on Sep 28, 2008 A spokeswoman at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs confirmed a report in the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper that Bern would receive a delegation from the South American country at the end of October. Giuseppina Iampietro said a framework agreement was due to be signed during the visit, aimed at creating a joint commission to…

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Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey wants greater army presence abroad

This content was published on Sep 28, 2008 In an interview in the Zentralschweiz am Sonntag newspaper, she said that several scenarios had been developed to pursue the idea. “But the foreign policy committee [of the House of Representatives] has some reservations,” she said. Calmy-Rey said Switzerland as a neutral country was “predestined” to carry out such missions. She cited the case of…

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