Swiss television is projecting that the far-right Swiss People’s party will lose seats in Sunday’s parliamentary election, but will still finish on top. If the prediction holds up, it will be the first time in 20 years the party has failed to gain votes in an election. Pre-election opinion polls had the fiercely anti-immigration party […]
Swiss TV: Anti-Immigrant Right Wingers to Lose Sets in Parliament
Posted October 23rd, 2011 at 3:50 pm (UTC-5)
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Immigration Tops Swiss Elections Agenda
Posted October 23rd, 2011 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
Switzerland is voting Sunday in an election that could give the far-right Swiss People’s Party a 30 percent voice in parliament. The country has an unemployment rate of just 2.8 percent and healthy public finances, making it an “island of prosperity” in economically troubled Europe. However, opinion polls show that voters are concerned that immigration […]
Swiss Government Proposes Ban on Mercenary Firms
Posted October 12th, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
Switzerland’s government is proposing to ban all mercenary firms in a bid to protect the Swiss tradition of neutrality and show the country’s respect for international law. A draft bill submitted to parliament Wednesday would ban all Swiss-based companies from direct participation in armed conflicts abroad, and from recruiting or training mercenaries in Switzerland. It […]
Swiss Government Proposes Ban on Mercenary Firms
Posted October 12th, 2011 at 7:25 am (UTC-5)
Switzerland’s government is proposing to ban all mercenary firms in a bid to protect the Swiss tradition of neutrality and show the country’s respect for international law. A draft bill submitted to parliament Wednesday would ban all Swiss-based companies from direct participation in armed conflicts abroad, and from recruiting or training mercenaries in Switzerland. It […]
Germany, Switzerland Reach Agreement in Tax Dispute
Posted August 10th, 2011 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
Germany has announced an agreement with Switzerland to resolve a long-running dispute over tax evasion. The deal means that Swiss banks will pay the German government $2.7 billion to help cover the tax debt of Germans who have hidden their money in Swiss bank accounts. The deal also gives Germans with previously undisclosed Swiss accounts […]
Former Sri Lankan Commander Accused of War Crimes
Posted August 4th, 2011 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Two advocacy groups have asked Switzerland to charge a former Sri Lankan army commander with war crimes. The two Swiss-based groups — the Society for Threatened Peoples and Track Impunity Always — filed a criminal complaint against Jagath Dias with Switzerland’s attorney general. The allegations accuse him of ordering the bombing of civilians and hospitals […]
Secretive Bilderberg Meeting Held in Switzerland
Posted June 12th, 2011 at 2:45 pm (UTC-5)
Around 150 senior government officials and business executives are attending a secretive gathering known as the Bilderberg meetings at the Swiss resort of St. Moritz. The official website of the Bilderberg meetings says its annual conference ending Sunday mainly dealt with challenges for growth in Europe, the Middle East and China, with topics including the […]
Switzerland Planning to Phase Out Nuclear Energy
Posted June 8th, 2011 at 2:15 pm (UTC-5)
The lower house of Switzerland’s parliament has approved a proposal to phase out the use of nuclear power in the country by 2034. The plan calls for existing power plants to be shut down when their current licenses to operate expire. Lawmakers also agreed to prohibit any replacement nuclear plants from being built. The government […]
