BERN, SWITZERLAND – Switzerland’s closely-watched numbers of asylum-seekers rose by 7.9 percent in April, compared to March, showing a continuing significant increase. The countries of origin were markedly different compared to the previous month, however.
The country’s relatively high number of foreigners, 22.3 percent of the population and the highest percentage in Europe except for tiny Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, does not include the figures for asylum seekers.
Both are on the rise, adding fuel to the debate over Swiss immigration policies.
The far-right UDC People’s Party in March 2012 handed in enough signatures for a popular referendum, “Against mass immigration”, and although the vote is not yet scheduled, both sides are building their arguments
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Swiss voters are turning in their ballots to decide on tightening regulations covering firearms. Many of them are doing so Friday using local commune’s special ballot boxes before they head for the mountains, rather than turning up in person to vote Sunday 13 February.
The popular referendum is supported by Socialists and Greens but no other major parties, nor does the federal government back it. The “initiative” as referendums are called, calls for a national gun registry to replace the current cantonal registries, and for military guns to be kept centrally, rather than in homes.
International media are turning the spotlight on the vote as Sunday draws nearer, often (incorrectly) drawing a parallel with US arms discussions: the Swiss debate is not over the right to bear arms, but the responsibility that goes with bearing them. The Swiss militia obligation for citizens to have firearms is accompanied by the legal obligation to practice shooting regularly.
The vote would not change this obligation, both to bear arms and to use them responsibly, but it would shift how information about gun-owners is kept and where the firearms reside.
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The two-house commission that met early Thursday morning to reach a decision on a popular referendum for a Swiss-US treaty has voted 14-11 to recommend, along with the Swiss Federal Council (seven-member ruling cabinet), not to hold a popular referendum. The two houses must now vote yes or no to accept the commission’s recommendation, but the upper house has already voted three times against a referendum, so attention now turns to the lower house final vote.
The treaty is a one-time agreement for Switzerland to accept a US request for judicial assistance in the case of 4.450 UBS bank accounts suspected of being used for tax fraud.
Background, GenevaLunch
Lower house of Parliament insists on referendum, motion now goes to commission
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The lower house of the Swiss parliament Wednesday afternoon repeated its earlier vote in favour of a popular referendum on the Swiss-US treaty covering possibly fraudulent use of some UBS bank accounts.
The upper house earlier in the day refused to consider taking the treaty to the Swiss population. The motion now goes to a special commission that meets Thursday to try to find a political compromise.
The treaty, agreed to by the ruling seven-member Swiss Federal Council, has fallen victim to political negotiations over taxing bank bonuses and related banking issues.
Lausanne/Bex, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – A 20-year-old who was knifed in the heart Tuesday 1 September by two youths he didn’t know as he walked through Parc Montbenon in Lausanne, died Saturday of his injuries, Vaud police say. The 15- and 17-year-olds who killed him were caught near the train station shortly after the crime and told a judge they pulled a knife on him because they didn’t like the way he looked at them.
One of them had been charged in the past with attempted murder and spent time in a juvenile detention centre in the Jura, but he escaped in January 2009.
A second violent crime was committed by juveniles in Bex Sunday night, near the Vaud/Valais cantonal line, that sent a police officer to hospital with head, throat and knee injuries.
All four youths are of foreign nationality, from three countries, and none of them have permanent residence status. The crimes come at a time when Switzerland has been debating what to do with foreigners who have not become well integrated into Swiss society and who commit serious crimes.
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss Federal Council Wednesday 19 August approved six of the 12 new double taxation agreements required by the OECD before the end of 2009 if Switzerland is to avoid being considered an “uncooperative” country by the group of 30 rich countries, in terms of tax assistance to other nations. Such countries make up the much publicized OECD gray list, versus a black list of tax havens.
Military jets above Swiss Alps, Valais, before World Economic Forum in January 2009.
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - More than 100,000 Swiss have signed a petition asking for a popular referendum to put a limit on the number of fighter jets owned by the Swiss military, a large enough number to now force a vote, the Swiss Chancellory announced Friday 26 June.
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Eighty cases were either cut or compensation was reduced in the Swiss federal disability allowance scheme (Assurance invalidité, AI) during the six months after a new surveillance and fraud review programme went into effect in August 2008. The findings resulted in annual savings of CHF1.5 million, which would normally cost CHF24 million in compensation payments over the lifetime of the individuals. The 80 were part of a first batch of 380 suspect cases that were reviewed, but Bern says 1,400 cases have been identified as suspect and the others will come under review.
