Switzerland

Shrink UBS to size! Critical comments on the Swis

Critical comments on the Swiss mega-bank

by René Zeyer*

(22 November 2024) There is a lot that speaks for it, but one thing speaks against it: The greed of the Kelleher-Ermotti duo. Or are the two of them making a cucumber salad out of the state? UBS has become a monster bank after the incorporation of Credit Suisse at a bargain price. It is not only “much too big to fail”. With total assets twice the size of Switzerland’s GDP, it poses the greatest threat to the existence of the Swiss Confederation since the Second World War. Evidently, there is no awareness of this problem at the top management level – or it is being ignored deliberately.
Switzerland

Only UNRWA can aid the people of Gaza

Open letter to the Council of States

(8 November 2024) (CH-S) On 16 October 2024, the Swiss “Observatory for Ethics and Humanitarian Health” (OESH)* sent a letter to all members of the Council of States, calling on them to reverse the National Council’s decision to cut subsidies to UNRWA. The Monitoring Agency also endeavours to preserve Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition and its positive influence in the world.

“Sky Shield” and Switzerland

The ties with NATO being pushed forward

by Jean-Paul Vuilleumier, Editor-in-Chief of “Swiss Standpoint”

(8 November 2024) On 10 April 2024, the Swiss Federal Council decided to join the “European Sky Shield Initiative” (ESSI) and authorised the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) to sign the declaration of accession. On 17 October 2024, the Swiss Armaments Director Urs Loher signed the official document to this effect. The people and the cantons had no opportunity to express their views on this.

With this new step towards NATO, our seven-member government council is allowing the further erosion of our country’s neutrality and sovereignty.

Is Switzerland mutating into a “city-state”?

Correcting blatant political misjudgement

by Hans Bieri, managing director of SVIL,* Zurich

(1 November 2024) (CH-S) On 9 October 2024, the consultation on the ordinance to the Spatial Planning Act 2 (SPA 2) adopted by the Federal Assembly ended. This ordinance decides what Switzerland will look like in the future outside the building zones and how its areas will be used. Was this a media topic? Hardly.

Switzerland

E-ID marching through. Supposedly, it has nothing but advantages.

What risks need to be considered?

by Philipp Kruse, attorney-at-Law, LL.M., ABF Schweiz

(25 October 2024) “Switzerland wants and needs an E-ID card”. That was the general consensus in the Federal Palace. On 10 September 2024, the Council of States almost unanimously approved the E-ID law. “The E-ID enables people to prove their identity in the virtual world. It will be comparable to an ID card or passport in the physical world. However, the E-ID will not replace either of these two documents.” [...] It will “meet the highest data protection requirements.” This is what Federal Councillor Beat Jans said on 10 September 2024 in the Council of States. Critical dissenting voices are currently few and far between. Reason enough for “ABF Schweiz” to take a closer look.

Council of States rejects UN migration pact

by Ralph Studer*

(18 October 2024) (CH-S) Ralph Studer presents the decision of the Council of States from the end of September on migration for the organisation “Zukunft CH”. We would like to reproduce the summary of the council debate here because of its importance for the country.