YouTube politics – swissinfo

Anyone can put up videos on the internet. And that’s what many of the 3,000 or so candidates in October’s Swiss general elections are doing. The main reason is that in Switzerland the law forbids TV campaign ads, which are so popular in the United States and in other countries. (SF/swissinfo.ch)
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Fight over jets – swissinfo

In 2009, the Group for a Switzerland Without an Army handed in an initiative to stop the purchase of new fighter jets, but withdrew it a year later when the government abandoned its plans. Now the House of Representatives has overturned the government’s proposal and voted in favour of a higher budget, which puts the jet deal back on the agenda. (SF/swissinfo.ch)
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A dictator’s fall – swissinfo

“Amnesia” is a play by the famous Tunisian theater and film director Fadhel Jaïbi. The story, co-authored by his partner, actress Jalila Baccar, describes in an almost prophetic way the fall of former Tunisian president Ben Ali. The play was shown at the Zürcher Theater Spektakel. (Raffaella Rossello, swissinfo.ch/SF)
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Switzerland’s direct democracy – swissinfo

Together with neutrality and federalism, direct democracy is a part of the Swiss national identity and helps unite the various languages, religions and cultures in the country. This video gives you a short instruction to this unique political system. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch for ASO)
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Déja vu – swissinfo

It isn’t the first time that the strong franc has given the Swiss economy a headache. In the 1970s Switzerland was in a very similar situation, and back then the National Bank managed to lower the value of the currency – but at quite a price: inflation. (SF/swissinfo.ch)
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Nuclear protest – swissinfo

Following events in Japan, nuclear power opponents have set up camp in the gardens of Bern’s electricity provider BKW. The protesters are determined to stay until the Mühleberg power plant is shut down. (SF/swissinfo.ch)
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Voters endorse labour accord with EU

A key bilateral accord with the European Union on open labour markets has won a clear majority at the ballot box. Switzerland’s rightwing parties, which forced the nationwide vote, suffered a defeat on Sunday February 8, as nearly 60 per cent of voters backed the government and a broad alliance of parties, organisations and the business community.

Official results show 59.6 per cent of the electorate approving a proposal to continue a labour accord with 25 EU states and at the same time extend the agreement to the newest members Bulgaria and Romania.

Gas deal is burning issue

A controversial Swiss-Iranian gas deal is still causing a stir a few weeks after it was signed. The deal, worth up to €22 billion, is being criticised yet again, this time by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League. The Jewish association has posted ads in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times as well as others stating that Switzerland is financing terrorism. The US government, the World Jewish Congress and Israel have already complained about the deal, with the American authorities asking for details to see if violated UN sanctions.

Carnival loses its glitter

Carnival has ended in most of Switzerland with the Mardi Gras festivities. But in one town, they hardly got off to a start this year. The authorities in Locarno, canton Ticino, called off the partying after a local student was savagely beaten by three other men. The young man was taken in a critical condition to a nearby hospital with severe brain damage. He died the next day without ever waking up.

Big guns meet in Davos

If the world’s media are to be believed, the masters of the universe are meeting in the (ugly) Swiss resort of Davos for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The usual suspects have turned up for drinks , a chinwag and perhaps the odd business deal. Given the cost of joining the club, it’s only for the very wealthy and/or influential. The pollies are also in the house, trying to find peace in their spare time, but as usual to no great effect…

This year they are ostensibly discussing how to slow climate change (although given that many of them have been in charge for some time and not done anything, I wouldn’t hand over the keys to the family car) and ending poverty (please note that if someone is rich, that means someone else ain’t).