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Young people below the age of 18 get a chance to make decisions at the Kloten cantonal assembly.(swissinfo.ch) With mor...

caption-test no caption Over a thousand opponents of the "No Billag" initiative gathered at the parliament square on January 31(Keystone) The No Billag initiative, which seeks to abolish the licence fee used to finance public radio and television, is supported by a relatively small number of parties and organisations. The main official supporters include the Swiss People’s Party and the Swiss Arts and Crafts Union. Most other parties and organisations advocate rejecting the initiative. (swissinfo.ch) Political parties in favourSwiss People...

Could the model of presumed consent put an end to the lack of organ donations in Switzerland? Following thelaunch of a popular initiative, opinionsare deeply divided. (Keystone) Every adult who dies should automatically become an organ donor:that’s the idea behind a Swiss people’s initiative. However, two doctors who have increased the number of donations in canton Ticino describe the scheme as a dangerous shortcut. “But where’s his soul now?” “We agree in principle with donating the organs of our loved one, but that would tu him into a giraffe in his next life; therefore we can’t give our consent.” Those are two of the various comments that Sebastiano Martinoli and Roberto Malacrida, ...

Hush - silence: No talking about the funding of political parties in Switzerland (GraphicaArtis/Getty Images) Lack of transparency as regards the funding of parties andpolitical campaigns: this is one of the few weak points where Switzerland is criticised. “One doesn’t talk about money,” is a proverbial saying in this country. So it is hardly surprising that the nation has trouble with the issue of transparency of funding of parties and political campaigns. But there are more and more voices calling for change. In January 2015 a report in the Handelszeitung business paper attracted considerable attention. For the first time, an opinion survey about contributions to political parties by...

Not strong enough: An initiative aimed at making health insurance companies pay for fitness lessons failed to collect enough signatures and didn't make it to a nationwide vote (Keystone/Gaetan Bally) Health matters were top of the list of people’s conces in Switzerland over the past 12 months, as an overview of political efforts outside parliament shows. Under the country’s political system of direct democracy, legislation is not a privilege of the elected representatives and the govement. Citizens have the right to challenge laws in referendums and they can propose changes to the constitution by collecting at least 100,000 signatures over 18 months to force a nationwide vote on an iss...

The village choir of Stans in traditional costumes posing for national event in 2011. Many local clubs are struggling to survive and are looking for new ways to attract young members (Keystone/Peter Schneider) There are tens of thousands of them, all around the country: clubs and associations. Often these are very local groups. The classic example is the village rabbit-breeders’ club. In Switzerland these groups are important for leaing democracy, says Fai Dahinden of the Vitamin B centre in Zurich, which advises and supports volunteer boards and knows what the issues for clubs and associations are. Its name is based on a slang expression in German for the power of networking. #Dear D...

Mike Müller in the role of mayor at a town hall meeting(André Albrecht) A few times a year, the locals of some small and medium-sized Swiss communities get together to discuss the community’s budget, the aual accounts, tax rates, a new school building or anything else that’s going on. The discussions are often heated, and afterwards the people cast their votes by raising their hands.+ How can communities improve the appeal of town hall meetings?Four-fifths of Switzerland’s communities still have this tool of direct democracy which forms the legislative arm instead of having a parliament.In his comedy “Town Hall Meetings Today”, Müll...

Historicscene: Tim Wilson proposes marriage to his partner in the Australian Parliament. Hesaid yes.(Getty Images) In 1913, Canberra was founded as the capital in this region which expands over 2,300 square kilometres. This is where the federal govement of the country of 25 million people has its seat and where the two houses of the national parliament conduct their sessions.Recently, the House of Representatives witnessed history being made. Tim Wilson was standing at the speaker’s desk, but the representative of the ruling liberal party did not talk about same-sex marriages, as listed on the agenda.Instead, Wilson dropped a bomb. ...

The World Forum for Democracy is hosted by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.(Council of Europe/ Cathérine Monfils) Despite a population of a mere 270,000, Strasbourg nevertheless became the world capital of democracy this November. With more than 1,000 participating experts from over 100 countries around the world, the World Forum for Democracyexteal link, held aually in the French city, has become one of the most important global conferences on democracy. See in other languages: 8 This year, the Forum’s focus was on de...

Iroquois tribes formed the Five Nation Confederacy onthe territory that is now New York State and Canada. Thisform of political and civic organisation served as model for the federal systems in Switzerland ...

This content was published on October 26, 2017 10:47 AMOct 26, 2017 - 10:47 Known for directing Hollywood blockbusters ‘Good Will Hunting’ and ‘Milk’, Gus Van Sant will now feature in the first retrospective of his work in Switz...

This content was published on October 7, 2017 5:00 PMOct 7, 2017 - 17:00 It was a highlight for many participants of Geneva’s Democracy Week, for which a series of events were held last month: A special treasure hunt through the streets of the weste Swiss city in search of places and institutions that have made local history.‘Democracy between reason and emotions’ was the t...

Trying to check the electronic timetableat Swiss railway stations it is difficult to ignore the political posters (Keystone / Alessandro della Valle) Mode direct democracy keeps citizens tuned in with Swiss politics. It enables them to make an informed judgement on issues at stake in popular votes. There are also good reasons for Switzerland to promote people power worldwide through dipl...

The initiative to abolish the license fee should spark lively debate in Parliament. (Keystone) Throughoutthe autumn session, which began Monday, Swiss parliamentarians will vote on no less than six Popular initiatives. The subjects are varied, from the protection of hoed cows to the abolishing of the tv and radio license fee. Concretely, once a Popular initiative is submitted to the Feder...

Democracy is a bit likea puzzle, withmany different people holding a piece. People trying to solve the puzzle have todiscuss ideas and vote. If citizens don'tfulfil certain criteria, the puzzle doesn't fit together very well. Civic education plays a crucial part in democracy:it prepares people to take part in a democracy and helps them find their place on the political spectrum. What happens ...

Swiss President Doris Leuthard visitingLenzburg on July 6, 2017 (© KEYSTONE / ALEXANDRA WEY) Political scientist Daniel Waer questions Switzerland’s brand of direct democracy if the people have no say in the election of the country’s seven-member cabinet. Exteal Content graphic By Daniel Waer The surprising aouncement by Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter that he will...

A sea of golden five-centime coins - and a lot of media hype (Stefan Bohrer / Flickr) A year after the nationwide vote, hardly anyone is talking about the controversial topic of unconditional basic income for all in Switzerland. Not so in other parts of the world. The Swiss initiative's backers see this as a reason to rejoice. Finland is trying basic income out, the concept is a part of the ...

A small group of activists launched Spain's anti-austerity Indignados movement(Indiginados)From the United States to Europe, wealthy and captivating populists such as US President Donald Trump and Swiss People’s Party backer Christoph Blocher pose a ...

Swiss newspapers were surprised that Oskar Freysinger's political career had lasted as long as it had(Keystone)The conservative right Swiss People’s Party has been dealt a heavy blow after its provocative vice-president, Oskar Freysinger, failed to retain his seat in elections in canton Valais. Sund...

Campaigners celebrate the rejection in 2016 of a controversial initiative to deport foreigners who commit certain crimes(Keystone)The more options people are given to participate politically, the happier they are, according to scientific research. So shouldn’t every country introduce Swiss-style dir...