GenevaLunch - Flims, Grisons, Switzerland

Swiss Parliament breaks until December

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 07:47:23 +0100

swissinfo.org - The Swiss Parliament has ended its autumn session in the Grisons resort of Flims, where it debated issues and passed laws while the federal parliament building in Bern undergoes repairs.

Parliament normally meets four times a year for three weeks, adding special sessions if the workload is too great. The next session will be in Bern, 4-20 Decembe

Swiss minorities worry as Geneva judge bypassed

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:37:40 +0100

Tribune de Geneve, Fre - Bernard Corboz, vice-president of the Federal Tribunal (FT), was bypassed yesterday when Parliament voted in a new FT president, Arthur Aeschlimann. The Swiss German's name was proposed by FT judges under new legal rules that replace the old rotation system, breaking with tradition.

Judges cited Aeschlimann's excellent management record but politicians from French-speaking Switzerland and Corboz voiced strong concerns that only Swiss Germans will lead the FT.

The main function of the Federal Tribunal in Lausanne is to hear civil and criminal case appeals.

Blocher calms Turkish-Swiss relations, but provokes anger at home

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 08:48:41 +0100

[swissinfo report, added 6 October, 9:00]

Tribune de Geneve, Fre - Swiss Police and Justice head Christoph Blocher said in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday that a 1994 Swiss anti-racism law used to condemn Turkey has been used inappropriately. The killings of 1915-17 were a matter for historians to decide. His remarks received praise in Turkey but provoked anger among parliamentarians meeting in Flims, Grisons.

Rent agreements revision thrown out by Bern

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:46:01 +0100

romandie/asp, Fre - The federal government Friday morning abandoned a project to revise legislation covering rental agreements. In December 2005 Bern announced that renters and landlords would need to come to an agreement when the law was rewritten to that would tie rents into the cost of living index and mortgage rates. The two groups remain too far apart for a compromise to be found, legislators noted in ending their efforts to write new legislation.

Federal government approves regional approach to economic development

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 08:21:10 +0100

24 heures, Fre - The federal government yesterday approved money for a programme to encourage economic development by region. The move is a change from giving funds and incentives to towns and sections of the country on a list of disadvantaged areas. Under the new plan, strongly supported by canton Vaud, SFr70 million will be made available, although the two houses of Parliament are still debating the time period this will cover.

Federal government votes SFr20.8 billion to improve traffic infrastructure

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 22:16:00 +0100

TSR, Fre and Tribune de Geneve, Fre - The Swiss government Tuesday voted, after much lobbying by road and rail groups, to spend SFr20.8 billion on autoroutes and a variety of traffic solutions in urban areas (see complete list, TSR). Among them, in Geneva: the CEVA rail project to link Geneva's Cornavin with Annemasse, tram lines from Cornavin to CERN and between Onex-Bernex. In Vaud: the M2 metro system in Lausanne as well as an M2 bus line, plus a CFF train station linking Prilly to Malley will be funded.

Federal Council rejects third rail line between Lausanne and Geneva

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 11:35:36 +0100

24 heures, Fre - The Federal Council Thursday rejected a motion by Vaudois politician André Bugnon to add a third rail line between Coppet and Renens. The motion, supported by virtually all the parlementarians from Vaud and Geneva, demanded that the line be included as part of the ZEB package of improvements to the country's railway infrastructure up to 2030.

The representatives expressed shock at the Council's refusal, pointing out that the rapid current growth is already putting pressure on the rail and road systems.

Federal government votes SFr120 million for new daycare centres

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 10:40:47 +0100

romandie/ats, Fre - The Swiss federal government, meeting in Grisons canton for its autumn session, has agreed to use SFr120 million over the next four years to help create more daycare centres for children. The funds are the second and final four-year package designed to make it easier for women to work.