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.
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.
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.
(4 October 2024) (Edit./sv) The tireless work of parliamentarians and committed experts has led to a partial victory. It should no longer be possible to simply override the cantons and the electorate – Switzerland’s supreme sovereign – with a simple reference to international regulations.
by Ralph Studer*
(20 September 2024) (CH-S/uc) On 26 September, the National Council and the Council of States will decide together whether WHO agreements can be approved or rejected by the Federal Council alone or whether the agreements must be submitted to parliament – the legislature – for a vote. So far, the Federal Council has not given any indication that it intends to avert the impending loss of sovereignty for Switzerland by accepting the amended “International Health Regulations” (IHR).
by Jean-Paul Vuilleumier, chief-editor of “Swiss Standpoint”
(20 September 2024) On 29 August 2024, the “Report of the Security Policy Study Commission” was presented at the Bern Media Centre at the invitation of Federal President Viola Amherd. The “Study Commission”, set up in June 2023 by Viola Amherd, head of the “Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport” (DDPS), has written a 70-page report on how, in her view, a “future-oriented security policy” should be designed.