Direct Democracy, Citizens and Federal Government in Switzerland

24 March 2025

It has wholly escaped the attention of foreign countries. Still, on March 12, 2025, the United Chambers (Vereinigte Bundesversammlung, l’Assemblée fédérale, chambre réunies) of the Swiss parliament (the Nationalrat/Conseil national and the Ständerat/Conseil d’États) elected a new member of the national government (Bundesrat/Conseil fédéral) based on the Zauberformul/formule magique. Martin Pfister from Die Mitte/Le Centre … Read more » “Direct Democracy, Citizens and Federal Government in Switzerland”

The True European Union of 26 cantons

11 December 2024

The Celts and Romans The Celtic and Rhaetian tribes inhabited the territory of present-day Switzerland centuries before the arrival of the Romans. They were in close (trade) contact with Germanic tribes, the Mediterranean region and northern countries.  After Rome’s occupation (15-13 BC) and already Geneva (Genava in 122 BC), the construction of towns, roads and … Read more » “The True European Union of 26 cantons”

The Landsgemeinde and Direct Democracy

10 December 2024

A (historical) knowledge of the Landsgemeinde is indispensable for understanding the emergence and functioning of direct democracy in Switzerland. This article provides a broad outline of the subject. It shows that the basis of Swiss direct democracy is centuries old. The political choice in the nineteenth century resulted from fierce discussions and profound controversies. The … Read more » “The Landsgemeinde and Direct Democracy”

A mill symbolises the stability of the canton and the Confederation

6 October 2024

1461 Peter Reich von Reichenstein bought Landskron Castle, including a mill on the Mühlbach at Flüh. Today, Landskron Castle is in France, near the village of Leymen (Alsace), just over the border from the canton of Solothurn. At the time, however, Alsace still belonged to the Habsburgs. Flüh consisted of a few farms. The neighbouring … Read more » “A mill symbolises the stability of the canton and the Confederation”

The Three Leagues and the Canton of Graubünden 1524-2024

20 September 2024

From the 5th century onwards, the language spoken in today’s Graubünden was mainly Romansh. However, the influence of German-speaking immigrants (Alemanni) from the north and west (the Walser) gradually grew. Politically, the area (then called Rhaetia) was divided into several dominions, monasteries, and counties. It was partly owned by the Counts of Tyrol and later … Read more » “The Three Leagues and the Canton of Graubünden 1524-2024”

The Heart of the Confoederatio Helvetica

30 July 2024

Switzerland celebrated its national day on 1 August. The country has long struggled with its national anthem, flag, and Constitution. After a lengthy unification process, marked by civil wars and other religious disputes from the 13th century onwards, the cooperation between the cantons changed on 12 September 1848. The Confederation became the Confoederatio Helvetica (CH). The flag … Read more » “The Heart of the Confoederatio Helvetica”

Buochs, democracy and the Netherlands

30 June 2024

What do the small villages of Buochs (Canton Nidwalden), democracy, and the Netherlands have in common? Not much at first glance. But appearances can be deceptive. Not only were Louis Wyrsch or Borneo Louis (1793-1858) and his son Alois (Louis) Wyrsch (1825-1888) employed in the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies for many years, but the … Read more » “Buochs, democracy and the Netherlands”

Lake Wohlensee, the Niederried-Oltigenmatt Reserve and the European Court of Human Rights

10 May 2024

Many of Switzerland’s 1,500 lakes are reservoirs. The country pioneered eco-friendly electricity, or ‘white energy,‘ in the nineteenth century. Even trains have been running on this energy since the 1920s. Switzerland is also a forerunner in a city heating system. In the 1950s, for example, this facility could already supply 40,000 homes and businesses in … Read more » “Lake Wohlensee, the Niederried-Oltigenmatt Reserve and the European Court of Human Rights”

What do foreigners know about Switzerland?

14 February 2024

In the last edition of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung am Sonntag of 2023, the Financial Times correspondent asked, ‘Ist die Schweiz sympathisch?’ (Is Switzerland sympathetic?) He then lists several examples of Switzerland’s image abroad: prosperous by Jewish assets and looted goods, neutrality and profiting from World War II (1939-1945), the banking secret and dirty and criminal money, … Read more » “What do foreigners know about Switzerland?”

Europe’s oldest democracy has a new government

13 December 2023

On 13 December, Europe’s oldest democracy with universal suffrage (for men) elected the world’s most stable and oldest government with seven ministers (Bundesrat or Bundesratin). The appointment procedure for these seven ministers is also exceptional. The powers, the number (seven) of ministers, the term of office of the national government, the Federal Council (Bundesrat/Conseil fédéral), … Read more » “Europe’s oldest democracy has a new government”