The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 Democracy Index classified only 20 out of 165 countries as having fully functioning democracies in 2018. 14 were in Europe. Globally, democracy remained stable in 2018 according to the report. Only 4.5% of the world’s population (12% of countries) lives in a fully functioning democracy. Overall, the ranking shows a […]
Swiss to vote on gun law changes
After the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015, the EU decided to tighten firearms laws in member states and nations with EU agreements, such as Switzerland. Unhappy, a group of gun owners decided to launch a referendum against the pending changes. According to the organizers, the required number of 50,000 signatures has been presented […]
Switzerland’s new president for 2019
In Switzerland, the position of president is ceremonial. Switzerland’s executive is led jointly by all seven members of the Federal Council, also known as les sept sages (the seven wise ones) by French speakers. The ceremonial role of the president rotates annually among Federal Council members. In addition to the diplomatic duties of the president, […]
Toblerone quietly becomes halal
The iconic Swiss chocolate Toblerone quietly became halal earlier this year, according to the newspaper SonntagsBlick. Owned by the American food company Mondelez, Toblerone chocolate has been produced in conformity with islamic law since April 2018, said the newspaper. The product is not labelled halal. The recipe, which contains sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa […]
Switzerland’s army to be headed by a woman for the first time
Viola Amherd, one of two new women joining Switzerland’s seven-member executive team on 1 January 2019, will head the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), a position focused mainly on military matters. This will be the first time the position has been held by a woman, according to RTS. Amherd (on the […]
Three of seven of Switzerland’s executive will soon be women
Two members of Switzerland’s Federal Council announced they would step down earlier this year. Last week, two women were elected to replace them. Doris Leuthard and Johann Schneider-Ammann will be replaced by Karin Keller-Sutter and Viola Amherd. This means there will soon be three women, instead of two, among Switzerland’s seven-member executive team. Both women […]
Swiss town’s vote to leave canton invalidated
In 2017, 51.7% of voters in Moutier, a French-speaking Swiss town of around 7,000 people, voted to leave the predominantly German-speaking canton of Bern and become part of the canton of Jura, a process expected to be completed by 1 January 2021. In Switzerland, changing canton is a big deal involving changes in tax rates, […]
Switzerland’s religious decline continues – numbers by canton
Time and history have revealed almost countless Gods. However, in some countries, more and more people are choosing to believe in none. In Switzerland, where religious freedom is set out in the constitution, the portion of the population with no religious affiliation is approaching 25%, according to figures for 2016 published this year. In Switzerland, religion […]
Investigating suspected welfare cheats – Swiss vote on where to draw the line
On 25 November 2018, Swiss will vote on whether to accept laws allowing detectives to uncover welfare fraud. Currently, there is nothing specific in Swiss law covering the practice. In the past, investigators have been used to gather evidence on disability and accident beneficiaries. Between 2009 and 2016, detectives were used on around 220 investigations […]
Blood donation – Swiss politician calls for donors to be remunerated
National councillor Pierre-André Page (UDC/SVP) would like to see some form of remuneration offered to blood donors to address the shortage of blood, according to RTS. “A glass of red and a sandwich is fine but we could do better” Page told the newspaper 20 Minutes, suggesting donors be remunerated from the social tax pot […]
