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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about CH votes
People's election of Federal Council would lead to 'popularity contest'
Tuesday, 26 March, 2013
A Federal Council elected by the people? Yesterday, the Council formally opposed an initiative by the Swiss People’s Party. The proposal will go to popular vote and the outcome is anything but certain—unlike the last time the issue came up, in the 1940s. Marc Bühlmann is a political scientist at the universities of Bern and Zurich. WRS’s Lucas Chambers asked him what we can expect and why:
Tuesday, 26 March, 2013
A Federal Council elected by the people? Yesterday, the Council formally opposed an initiative by the Swiss People’s Party. The proposal will go to popular vote and the outcome is anything but certain—unlike the last time the issue came up, in the 1940s. Marc Bühlmann is a political scientist at the universities of Bern and Zurich. WRS’s Lucas Chambers asked him what we can expect and why:
Edging toward minimum wage law
Tuesday, 5 March, 2013
The campaign for a minimum wage in Switzerland gained a boost at the weekend when the canton Jura voted to introduce minimum wages in every sector. The canton of Neuchâtel already voted in favour of introducing a minimum wage in 2011, and similar initiatives are underway in Valais and Ticino. At a national level, a minimum wage initiative was introduced in 2012 and a vote’s expected later this year—so what are the chances of it passing? WRS’s Vincent Landon talked to Hans Hartmann, a spokesman for Unia, the largest trade union in Switzerland with more than 200,000 members and began by asking him about the significance of the Jura vote:
Tuesday, 5 March, 2013
The campaign for a minimum wage in Switzerland gained a boost at the weekend when the canton Jura voted to introduce minimum wages in every sector. The canton of Neuchâtel already voted in favour of introducing a minimum wage in 2011, and similar initiatives are underway in Valais and Ticino. At a national level, a minimum wage initiative was introduced in 2012 and a vote’s expected later this year—so what are the chances of it passing? WRS’s Vincent Landon talked to Hans Hartmann, a spokesman for Unia, the largest trade union in Switzerland with more than 200,000 members and began by asking him about the significance of the Jura vote:
Why work-life balance vote fails
Monday, 4 March, 2013
One of the three federal issues voters decided yesterday was about promoting better work-life balance. This would change the Constitution to make it a federal issue to provide services to better help working mothers manage a household and a career, for example. Voters liked the idea and about 54 percent approved the change to the Constitution. But the article failed anyway. WRS’s Tony Ganzer explains:
Monday, 4 March, 2013
One of the three federal issues voters decided yesterday was about promoting better work-life balance. This would change the Constitution to make it a federal issue to provide services to better help working mothers manage a household and a career, for example. Voters liked the idea and about 54 percent approved the change to the Constitution. But the article failed anyway. WRS’s Tony Ganzer explains:
Why Swiss People's Party opposes right to work-life balance
Wednesday, 27 February, 2013
The current shortage in daycare means many parents—particularly mothers—give up careers to stay at home with their kids. The Swiss people will vote this weekend on whether to enshrine the “right to a work-life balance” into the Constitution. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Yves Nidegger, a Swiss People’s Party MP for Geneva. His party is opposing the change:
Wednesday, 27 February, 2013
The current shortage in daycare means many parents—particularly mothers—give up careers to stay at home with their kids. The Swiss people will vote this weekend on whether to enshrine the “right to a work-life balance” into the Constitution. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Yves Nidegger, a Swiss People’s Party MP for Geneva. His party is opposing the change:
Swiss to decide on right to work-life balance
Wednesday, 27 February, 2013
The Swiss people will vote this weekend on whether to enshrine the “right to a work-life balance” into the Constitution. The current shortage in daycare means many parents—particularly mothers—give up careers to stay at home with their kids. Earlier we heard from Yves Nidegger. He’s a Swiss People’s Party MP for Geneva and his party are opposing the change WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Lucrezia Meier-Schatz, a Christian Democrat MP for Saint Gallen and director of lobby group Pro Familia who is backing the change:
Wednesday, 27 February, 2013
The Swiss people will vote this weekend on whether to enshrine the “right to a work-life balance” into the Constitution. The current shortage in daycare means many parents—particularly mothers—give up careers to stay at home with their kids. Earlier we heard from Yves Nidegger. He’s a Swiss People’s Party MP for Geneva and his party are opposing the change WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Lucrezia Meier-Schatz, a Christian Democrat MP for Saint Gallen and director of lobby group Pro Familia who is backing the change:
Reasons for voting against the 'Fat Cat' Minder initiative
Tuesday, 26 February, 2013
For years, the so-called “Minder initiative” has gained support for giving more power to shareholders when it comes to executive compensation. It will come before voters on Sunday. On Monday, we heard a final defense of that initiative. Now we hear from the side against the Minder initiative, defending instead the counter proposal. Martin Landolt is president of the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP). He admitted to WRS’s Tony Ganzer recent public outrage over a pay package for outgoing Novartis chairman Daniel Vasella hurt his cause, but the outrage shouldn’t be a reason for folks to vote for the initiative:
Tuesday, 26 February, 2013
For years, the so-called “Minder initiative” has gained support for giving more power to shareholders when it comes to executive compensation. It will come before voters on Sunday. On Monday, we heard a final defense of that initiative. Now we hear from the side against the Minder initiative, defending instead the counter proposal. Martin Landolt is president of the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP). He admitted to WRS’s Tony Ganzer recent public outrage over a pay package for outgoing Novartis chairman Daniel Vasella hurt his cause, but the outrage shouldn’t be a reason for folks to vote for the initiative:
Property owners nervous before land use vote
Tuesday, 26 February, 2013
There is less than a week to go before the next round of national votes. Among the federal laws coming to the ballot is the one on town and country planning. If accepted, it would force many communes to pull land out of construction zones, the goal being to build cities up more densely and leave the countryside to farmers and nature. A noble intention, some say, but others wonder if it isn’t already paving the proverbial road to hell. WRS’s Lucas Chambers has this story:
Tuesday, 26 February, 2013
There is less than a week to go before the next round of national votes. Among the federal laws coming to the ballot is the one on town and country planning. If accepted, it would force many communes to pull land out of construction zones, the goal being to build cities up more densely and leave the countryside to farmers and nature. A noble intention, some say, but others wonder if it isn’t already paving the proverbial road to hell. WRS’s Lucas Chambers has this story:
A final defence of the Minder initiative
Monday, 25 February, 2013
It’s been years in the making, but Swiss voters will finally cast their ballots on Sunday for or against the so-called “Minder Initiative” on executive pay. This initiative aims at making company shareholders a deciding factor in figuring out executive pay. The shareholders would presumably reign in what some say are excessive salaries and payouts. Recent polls show public support seems to lean in favor of the initiative, perhaps bolstered by a controversial pay package for outgoing Novartis chairman Daniel Vasella, which he later declined. To hear the final defence for the Minder Initiative, WRS’s Tony Ganzer talks to Birgitta Moser-Harder, a member of the initiative committee:
Monday, 25 February, 2013
It’s been years in the making, but Swiss voters will finally cast their ballots on Sunday for or against the so-called “Minder Initiative” on executive pay. This initiative aims at making company shareholders a deciding factor in figuring out executive pay. The shareholders would presumably reign in what some say are excessive salaries and payouts. Recent polls show public support seems to lean in favor of the initiative, perhaps bolstered by a controversial pay package for outgoing Novartis chairman Daniel Vasella, which he later declined. To hear the final defence for the Minder Initiative, WRS’s Tony Ganzer talks to Birgitta Moser-Harder, a member of the initiative committee:
Poll: less support for daycare amendment, more for Minder initiative
Thursday, 21 February, 2013
A new poll by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, WRS’s parent company, is out on the March 3rd referenda. Issues up for vote including everything from curbing excessive executive pay to limiting urban sprawl to an amendment to the constitution for creating more daycare centers. WRS’s Alex Helmick asks DRS correspondent Pascal Krauthammer, who is at the Federal Palace in Bern, what he finds most surprising in this latest round of polls:
Thursday, 21 February, 2013
A new poll by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, WRS’s parent company, is out on the March 3rd referenda. Issues up for vote including everything from curbing excessive executive pay to limiting urban sprawl to an amendment to the constitution for creating more daycare centers. WRS’s Alex Helmick asks DRS correspondent Pascal Krauthammer, who is at the Federal Palace in Bern, what he finds most surprising in this latest round of polls:
Concerns mount over Maurer as next president
Wednesday, 5 December, 2012
Switzerland elects its next president today. In a tradition that’s been in place since the 1890s, the role of head of state is rotated among members of the Federal Council. Despite that a formal vote will be held in Parliament later today. Next in line for the job is Swiss People’s Party politician, Ueli Maurer. And that’s been controversial since he’s an outspoken member of the People’s Party’s conservative core. To find out more, WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to professor Andreas Ladner, political scientist at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Public Administration at Lausanne University:
Wednesday, 5 December, 2012
Switzerland elects its next president today. In a tradition that’s been in place since the 1890s, the role of head of state is rotated among members of the Federal Council. Despite that a formal vote will be held in Parliament later today. Next in line for the job is Swiss People’s Party politician, Ueli Maurer. And that’s been controversial since he’s an outspoken member of the People’s Party’s conservative core. To find out more, WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to professor Andreas Ladner, political scientist at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Public Administration at Lausanne University:
How vaccines for animals ended up on the ballot
Monday, 5 November, 2012
Are vaccines the latest battle over individual freedoms versus the power of the state? That may very well be the case in Switzerland in the coming months. Opponents of a new Swiss public health law that could make vaccines mandatory for some people are collecting signatures for a referendum vote that could happen next year. However, there is already a national vote scheduled on vaccines for animals later this month. WRS’s Jordan Davis explains to host Dave Goodman just how vaccines for animals ended up on the ballot:
Monday, 5 November, 2012
Are vaccines the latest battle over individual freedoms versus the power of the state? That may very well be the case in Switzerland in the coming months. Opponents of a new Swiss public health law that could make vaccines mandatory for some people are collecting signatures for a referendum vote that could happen next year. However, there is already a national vote scheduled on vaccines for animals later this month. WRS’s Jordan Davis explains to host Dave Goodman just how vaccines for animals ended up on the ballot:
Zurich votes on art museum extension
Monday, 5 November, 2012
The people of Zurich will have their say later this month on whether 88 million francs worth of taxpayers money should be spent on an extension of Zurich’s art museum or Kunsthaus. The new building, whose total cost is more than 200 million francs, is designed by British architect David Chipperfield. The museum is staging an exhibition to show both the new architecture and what will be housed there when it opens in 2017. However, not everyone is happy, as WRS’s Vincent Landon reports:
Monday, 5 November, 2012
The people of Zurich will have their say later this month on whether 88 million francs worth of taxpayers money should be spent on an extension of Zurich’s art museum or Kunsthaus. The new building, whose total cost is more than 200 million francs, is designed by British architect David Chipperfield. The museum is staging an exhibition to show both the new architecture and what will be housed there when it opens in 2017. However, not everyone is happy, as WRS’s Vincent Landon reports:
Election of gay politicians in Biel a 'non-theme'
Wednesday, 26 September, 2012
Being a gay politician isn’t a big deal anymore. But this weekend the canton of Bern’s bilingual city of Biel put the issue back on the front pages. Voters there elected a city government with not just one homosexual—but three. That’s in fact a majority of the five-person executive. One of them is Beat Feurer from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party. He made headlines several years ago as the first president of the Gay People’s Party Association. The gay rights group Pink Cross hailed the news from Biel as a landmark. And WRS’s Jordan Davis asked Feurer if he considered being part of a majority-gay government a victory for gay rights:
Wednesday, 26 September, 2012
Being a gay politician isn’t a big deal anymore. But this weekend the canton of Bern’s bilingual city of Biel put the issue back on the front pages. Voters there elected a city government with not just one homosexual—but three. That’s in fact a majority of the five-person executive. One of them is Beat Feurer from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party. He made headlines several years ago as the first president of the Gay People’s Party Association. The gay rights group Pink Cross hailed the news from Biel as a landmark. And WRS’s Jordan Davis asked Feurer if he considered being part of a majority-gay government a victory for gay rights:
Voters reject national smoking ban in bars
Monday, 24 September, 2012
Two-thirds of Swiss voters have rejected a national ban on smoking in restaurants, bars and other workplaces. The initative aimed to replace the current federal law which allows a patchwork of cantonal regulations. But defenders of cantonal exceptions won the day. That means some cantons will keep their table service in smoking lounges, and in some cases all-out smoking in restaurants and bars. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports from Bern:
Monday, 24 September, 2012
Two-thirds of Swiss voters have rejected a national ban on smoking in restaurants, bars and other workplaces. The initative aimed to replace the current federal law which allows a patchwork of cantonal regulations. But defenders of cantonal exceptions won the day. That means some cantons will keep their table service in smoking lounges, and in some cases all-out smoking in restaurants and bars. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports from Bern:
Housing security in retirement goes to vote for third time
Tuesday, 4 September, 2012
Secondhand smoke, music classes and elderly property owners will all be up for national vote on September 23. While the first two issues have been in the media spotlight, the third has gotten relatively little attention so far. It is an initiative called “Housing Security in Retirement.” WRS’s Dave Goodman asks reporter Jordan Davis what is at stake:
Tuesday, 4 September, 2012
Secondhand smoke, music classes and elderly property owners will all be up for national vote on September 23. While the first two issues have been in the media spotlight, the third has gotten relatively little attention so far. It is an initiative called “Housing Security in Retirement.” WRS’s Dave Goodman asks reporter Jordan Davis what is at stake:
