08/17/2015 Echo
CVP courts Swiss living abroad
CVP Switzerland founded the CVP International as a parent party on 1 August. It is focusing primarily on three objectives: Establishing a global party network, ensuring the issues of the Swiss Abroad are addressed more effectively in politics and giving CVP members and sympathisers living abroad the opportunity to voice support and engage in politics for the CVP. CVP International will be led by Patricia Mattle (New York), Daniel Wyss (Hong Kong), Raymond Loretan (Geneva) and Filipo Lombardi (Council of States member for Ticino) as co-presidents.
Swiss weapons much in demand
The Swiss arms industry exported weapons worth just under 217 million Swiss francs in the first half-year 2015. That is about 30 million Swiss francs or 16 % more than in the same period last year. Germany was the largest recipient of Swiss armaments. A new major buyer of war material is Indonesia, whereas exports of weapons to Russia and France fell sharply.
MPs and moonlighting
Who are MPs primarily representing in politics? French-speaking radio and swissinfo have carried out an in-depth investigation into this issue. Using various databases (commercial register, official list of vested interests, parliamentary proposals) they revealed which MPs hold mandates at which private companies, associations and foundations etc. and are therefore interest group representatives in this respect. Topping the list is the liberal Council of States member Max Fluri with 33 mandates. In second and third places are National Councillors Ruedi Noser of the FDP with 30 mandates and Jean-François Steiert of the SP with 29. FDP MPs hold 11 non-parliamentary mandates on average. They are closely followed by CVP parliamentarians. At the bottom of the list come the Greens with six mandates on average.
Photo of Zimmerwald
In the last issue of "Swiss Review" we published a photo of the Hotel Beau Séjour in the article on the international socialist conference held in Zimmerwald without giving proper attribution for the photo. The stone lithograph belongs to Daniel Guggisberg, a Swiss Abroad living in Los Angeles.
An outside perspective on Switzerland
The election campaign in Switzerland is in full swing and obviously the candidates and parties are making lots of promises about the future. The...
Parliament and the concerns of citizens
With the elections on 18 October the 49th legislative period of the federal government will come to an end. What were the issues that impacted the...
The magic formula and the parties' conjuring trick
Georg Kohler, professor emeritus of political philosophy at the University of Zurich, is conducting observation and analysis of the election campaign...
The same questions are asked every four years. People have a good idea what the answers are but are often not entirely certain. We have therefore...
Election campaign speeches
Back to the family drama
Lending beauty to terror
From Grisons to Lake Schwielowsee
Survey amongst the political parties
How do our MPs vote on issues concerning the Swiss Abroad?
All eyes on Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
Emerging victorious from depression
Studying in Switzerland with foreign qualifications
Offers for young people
Free participation in young people's ski camp!
Facebook, Twitter and Co. at the FDFA
How to become Polish?
One female party president and her six male counterparts
12.30 p.m. – the news colossus