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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about CH votes
Anti-Kosovar ads ignite fiery debate
Tuesday, 30 August, 2011
“A Kosovar stabs a Swiss man.” “A Kosovar kills the head of social services.” These are not newspaper headlines but instead the latest set of newspaper ads the Swiss People’s Party is running ahead of the general elections in October. They feature recent crimes committed by Kosovars with an image of their ubiquitous campaign poster “stop massive immigration” showing people trampling the Swiss flag. It is causing an uproar in many quarters including the Swiss Conference of Bishops. Critics say the Swiss People’s Party is trying to get votes by demonizing Kosovars. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Ulrich Schlüer, a Swiss People’s Party MP from the canton of Zurich, as well as Ylfete Fanaj, who was born in Kosovo. She is now a Social Democrat in the Lucerne cantonal Parliament. She is also the president of Secondos Plus, the association of second-generation Swiss who are running for political office:
Tuesday, 30 August, 2011
“A Kosovar stabs a Swiss man.” “A Kosovar kills the head of social services.” These are not newspaper headlines but instead the latest set of newspaper ads the Swiss People’s Party is running ahead of the general elections in October. They feature recent crimes committed by Kosovars with an image of their ubiquitous campaign poster “stop massive immigration” showing people trampling the Swiss flag. It is causing an uproar in many quarters including the Swiss Conference of Bishops. Critics say the Swiss People’s Party is trying to get votes by demonizing Kosovars. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Ulrich Schlüer, a Swiss People’s Party MP from the canton of Zurich, as well as Ylfete Fanaj, who was born in Kosovo. She is now a Social Democrat in the Lucerne cantonal Parliament. She is also the president of Secondos Plus, the association of second-generation Swiss who are running for political office:
Online 'Smartvote' tool could bias political choices, critics say
Tuesday, 16 August, 2011
Smartvote is a new online service that aims to help Swiss voters make smarter choices in the upcoming federal elections. Users of the service fill in a questionnaire and the website throws up the names of political candidates that best match their opinions. Operators of the site are even considering making this list convertible into a one-click ballot system. Quick and easy, but some experts think it could be biased, as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Tuesday, 16 August, 2011
Smartvote is a new online service that aims to help Swiss voters make smarter choices in the upcoming federal elections. Users of the service fill in a questionnaire and the website throws up the names of political candidates that best match their opinions. Operators of the site are even considering making this list convertible into a one-click ballot system. Quick and easy, but some experts think it could be biased, as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Neuchâtel's vote to cut taxes threatens rates war in western Switzerland
Tuesday, 21 June, 2011
The canton of Neuchâtel’s new tax policy is causing a ripple across all of western Switzerland. On the weekend voters in the canton approved a new tax structure that effectively lowers its corporate tax rates from 10 to five percent. Swiss-German cantons have been undercutting each other for years, but up to now French-speaking cantons have observed a truce. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports on how Neuchâel’s move may change unleash a regional tax war:
Tuesday, 21 June, 2011
The canton of Neuchâtel’s new tax policy is causing a ripple across all of western Switzerland. On the weekend voters in the canton approved a new tax structure that effectively lowers its corporate tax rates from 10 to five percent. Swiss-German cantons have been undercutting each other for years, but up to now French-speaking cantons have observed a truce. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports on how Neuchâel’s move may change unleash a regional tax war:
Anti-immigration initiatives are throwbacks to old debates, critics say
Friday, 3 June, 2011
Two anti-immigration ballot initiatives in Switzerland were recently launched. One planned by an environmental group would severely limit population growth from immigration. The group worries that Switzerland is running out of space. The other initiative, launched by the Swiss People’s Party, would essentially end the free movement of people accord with the European Union. Critics of the initiatives say they’re a throwback to the debate and policies in the 1960s and 1970s. So what was the debate over immigration then? WRS’s Jordan Davis takes a look back at the issue through a wealth of Swiss TV archives:
Friday, 3 June, 2011
Two anti-immigration ballot initiatives in Switzerland were recently launched. One planned by an environmental group would severely limit population growth from immigration. The group worries that Switzerland is running out of space. The other initiative, launched by the Swiss People’s Party, would essentially end the free movement of people accord with the European Union. Critics of the initiatives say they’re a throwback to the debate and policies in the 1960s and 1970s. So what was the debate over immigration then? WRS’s Jordan Davis takes a look back at the issue through a wealth of Swiss TV archives:
Right-wing Swiss People's Party outlines plan for immigration quotas
Tuesday, 24 May, 2011
Four years ago, the Swiss People’s Party successfully campaigned to expel foreign criminals by collecting signatures for their so-called “black sheep” initiative. With national elections coming up in October the populist party is now focusing attention on what it calls “uncontrolled immigration” from Europe. The party hopes to gain support for a new initiative to replace the free movement of people accord with the European Union with a system of quotas. Their plans were outlined in Bern yesterday. WRS’s Jordan Davis asked Aargau member of parliament Luzi Stamm about what is driving the current initiative:
Tuesday, 24 May, 2011
Four years ago, the Swiss People’s Party successfully campaigned to expel foreign criminals by collecting signatures for their so-called “black sheep” initiative. With national elections coming up in October the populist party is now focusing attention on what it calls “uncontrolled immigration” from Europe. The party hopes to gain support for a new initiative to replace the free movement of people accord with the European Union with a system of quotas. Their plans were outlined in Bern yesterday. WRS’s Jordan Davis asked Aargau member of parliament Luzi Stamm about what is driving the current initiative:
Integration group: Swiss parties scapegoat immigrants to gain votes
Wednesday, 23 February, 2011
As political parties line up their policies in the lead-up to federal elections in October, it’s clear that for many the issue of immigration is a key theme. The umbrella organisation for immigration groups, the Forum for the Integration of Migrants, or FIMM, has warned that parties should not make immigrants the scapegoat for economic and social problems. WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Jasmina Causevic of FIMM and asked her what prompted the organization to speak up:
Wednesday, 23 February, 2011
As political parties line up their policies in the lead-up to federal elections in October, it’s clear that for many the issue of immigration is a key theme. The umbrella organisation for immigration groups, the Forum for the Integration of Migrants, or FIMM, has warned that parties should not make immigrants the scapegoat for economic and social problems. WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Jasmina Causevic of FIMM and asked her what prompted the organization to speak up:
Political parties use 'Swissness' to appeal to electorate
Friday, 18 February, 2011
The Swiss general election may not be until October, but some political parties are already putting up campaign posters in railway stations. As WRS’s Jordan Davis explains, although the slogans and images vary, the politicians are all betting on an affirmation of their “Swissness” as a ticket to electoral success. He says that’s especially true for parties on the right:
Friday, 18 February, 2011
The Swiss general election may not be until October, but some political parties are already putting up campaign posters in railway stations. As WRS’s Jordan Davis explains, although the slogans and images vary, the politicians are all betting on an affirmation of their “Swissness” as a ticket to electoral success. He says that’s especially true for parties on the right:
Swiss hang on to citizen-soldier tradition
Monday, 14 February, 2011
Voters have delivered a resounding “no” to an inititative that would have required soldiers to keep their rifles in an armory rather than at home. Fifty-six percent rejected the proposal, which sparked a highly emotional debate over the national tradition of the citizen-soldier entrusted with his weapon. WRS’s Jordan Davis offers his analysis to WRS’s Pete Forster:
Monday, 14 February, 2011
Voters have delivered a resounding “no” to an inititative that would have required soldiers to keep their rifles in an armory rather than at home. Fifty-six percent rejected the proposal, which sparked a highly emotional debate over the national tradition of the citizen-soldier entrusted with his weapon. WRS’s Jordan Davis offers his analysis to WRS’s Pete Forster:
Mühlberg reactor vote to test opinions on nuclear power
Thursday, 10 February, 2011
Among this Sunday’s cantonal votes, Bern’s decision on a new reactor at the Mühlberg nuclear power plant is being closely watched across the country. As WRS’s Jordan Davis explains, the vote may not be binding, but the outcome could mark the opening salvo in a new battle over nuclear power:
Thursday, 10 February, 2011
Among this Sunday’s cantonal votes, Bern’s decision on a new reactor at the Mühlberg nuclear power plant is being closely watched across the country. As WRS’s Jordan Davis explains, the vote may not be binding, but the outcome could mark the opening salvo in a new battle over nuclear power:
Voters to pass judgment on citizen-soldier gun tradition
Friday, 4 February, 2011
Voters head to the polls on February 13 to decide on an initiative to take guns out of soldier’s homes and put them in arsenals. It would also prevent the army from selling the weapons to its members once their military service is over. The latest Swiss Broadcasting Corporation poll this week shows there’s no clear winner. But a closer analysis of the numbers reveals a growing number of voters on the right fear the end of the Swiss tradition of citizen soldiers keeping their arms at home. WRS’s Jordan Davis looks at the mythical status of the gun in Switzerland and those who claim the country would lose a part of its identity without it:
Friday, 4 February, 2011
Voters head to the polls on February 13 to decide on an initiative to take guns out of soldier’s homes and put them in arsenals. It would also prevent the army from selling the weapons to its members once their military service is over. The latest Swiss Broadcasting Corporation poll this week shows there’s no clear winner. But a closer analysis of the numbers reveals a growing number of voters on the right fear the end of the Swiss tradition of citizen soldiers keeping their arms at home. WRS’s Jordan Davis looks at the mythical status of the gun in Switzerland and those who claim the country would lose a part of its identity without it:
Debate heats up over tax amnesties
Monday, 31 January, 2011
Are tax amnesties an effective way to harvest previously undeclared assets or a reward to tax evaders for not obeying the law? Apart from the big national votes on February 13, there are a number of cantonal votes that might have national significance. One of them is in the canton of Geneva, where voters will decide on a law to reduce the rates of tax on previously undeclared funds. To walk us through the issues, WRS’s Pete Forster talks to centre-right Liberal party politician, Pierre Weisss, a supporter of the amnesty—and from the Greens, Sophie Forster Carbonnier, an opponent:
Monday, 31 January, 2011
Are tax amnesties an effective way to harvest previously undeclared assets or a reward to tax evaders for not obeying the law? Apart from the big national votes on February 13, there are a number of cantonal votes that might have national significance. One of them is in the canton of Geneva, where voters will decide on a law to reduce the rates of tax on previously undeclared funds. To walk us through the issues, WRS’s Pete Forster talks to centre-right Liberal party politician, Pierre Weisss, a supporter of the amnesty—and from the Greens, Sophie Forster Carbonnier, an opponent:
Poll finds women could swing a yes vote on stricter gun law
Monday, 17 January, 2011
The initiative to keep military guns at the armoury instead of at home has been given a boost by the latest results from the research institute, GFS. The poll was commissioned by WRS’s parent, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. According to results, if the vote was to happen today it would be passed. One of the key factors in swinging the decision is the women’s vote. WRS’s Jo Fahy spoke to Andreas Ladner, professor for political science at the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration in Lausanne. He said the results confirmed his feeling about the vote:
Monday, 17 January, 2011
The initiative to keep military guns at the armoury instead of at home has been given a boost by the latest results from the research institute, GFS. The poll was commissioned by WRS’s parent, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. According to results, if the vote was to happen today it would be passed. One of the key factors in swinging the decision is the women’s vote. WRS’s Jo Fahy spoke to Andreas Ladner, professor for political science at the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration in Lausanne. He said the results confirmed his feeling about the vote:
Fighting for the right to keep guns at home
Wednesday, 5 January, 2011
You may have seen the blood-stained posters by the pro- and anti-central gun storage campaigns as the latest fiery referendum battle gears up. We’ll be following the development of the arguments both for and against leading up to the vote. WRS’s Tony Ganzer has been speaking to Martina Brunschwig-Graf, one of the politicians against storing guns in a central armory. She says a ban on keeping them at home could cost millions:
Wednesday, 5 January, 2011
You may have seen the blood-stained posters by the pro- and anti-central gun storage campaigns as the latest fiery referendum battle gears up. We’ll be following the development of the arguments both for and against leading up to the vote. WRS’s Tony Ganzer has been speaking to Martina Brunschwig-Graf, one of the politicians against storing guns in a central armory. She says a ban on keeping them at home could cost millions:
Campaigners say anti-gun move would reduce suicides
Tuesday, 14 December, 2010
Campaigning on the initaitive against firearm violence is beginning in earnest. This week the pro campaign began making its case. The text calls for military weapons to stay at an armoury and not go home with soldiers. Backers argue domestic violence and suicides will go down. The president of the Swiss Medical Association suggested at least 100 suicides a year could be prevented. Florian Irminger represents the association known as Stop Suicide. He told WRS’s Jordan Davis that the initiative will particularly save the lives of young men:
Tuesday, 14 December, 2010
Campaigning on the initaitive against firearm violence is beginning in earnest. This week the pro campaign began making its case. The text calls for military weapons to stay at an armoury and not go home with soldiers. Backers argue domestic violence and suicides will go down. The president of the Swiss Medical Association suggested at least 100 suicides a year could be prevented. Florian Irminger represents the association known as Stop Suicide. He told WRS’s Jordan Davis that the initiative will particularly save the lives of young men:
