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by Stefan Brändle,* Paris
(10 May 2024) (CH-S) It is usually committed and courageous individuals who can win over their fellow citizens in favour of sensible innovations. Mayor Vincent Paul-Petit opens a mobile phone-free zone in the village of Seine-Port. A clear signal for the protection of children and young people, after decades of too little action on the part of the state.
by Ueli Gubler*
(10 May 2024) (CH-S) On 9 June 2024, a federal referendum on four proposals will take place. The first three proposals concern a decision on three popular initiatives on healthcare issues.
The fourth proposal is about the acceptance or rejection of the “Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply with Renewable Energy Sources” passed by Parliament in autumn 2023. A committee has launched a referendum against this law and collected the necessary 50,000 signatures within three months. As a result, this federal law is now up for a vote.
Ueli Gubler has analysed the content of this law on “secure electricity supply” and sets out his considerations for the “Swiss Standpoint” in the following article.
Interview with Philippe Lazzarini* conducted by Pavel Tsukanov
(10 May 2024) In a special interview with TASS, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provided insight into his visit to Russia, highlighted what support Moscow has provided to the agency, and addressed the motivations behind some countries’ attempts to dismantle UNRWA and undermine the interests of Palestinians.
by Ueli Meister
(3 May 2024) For some time now, the Swiss Federal Council has been signing international treaties of major importance on its own without the involvement of Parliament and the people. It describes these agreements as so-called “soft law”, which is not legally binding and therefore falls within the remit of the Federal Council.
by Thomas Fazi*
(3 May 2024) “Green” policies are simply the latest cover to pursue a specific agri-food model: an increasingly centralised, concentrated, globalised model centred around a few mega-farms.
Yesterday I participated in a great event organised by MCC Brussels on “European farming: which way now?”. Here’s the text of the speech that I gave:
By TFF & Jan Oberg & others,* Lund, Sweden
(3 May 2024) NATO is desperate to cover up its Himalayan mistakes of
a) expanding NATO instead of creating a common European security and peace system that would have permitted us all to live in prosperity and peace today; and
b) stupidly including Ukraine in that expansion – with only a small minority of Ukrainians wanting NATO membership for their country at the time. Ukrainian and NATO elites couldn’t care less about people’s opinion – as is also well known for, e.g. Sweden's membership process.