Swiss People's Party (SVP) is expected to win

[Mars]

Full Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3206778.stm

The billionaire industrialist's right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) is expected to win the most votes in elections on 21 October, rounding off a campaign that the United Nations described as blatantly racist.

The party has depicted Switzerland as a society under siege from immigrants who have scant regard for the country's laws and customs.

Many voters appear to be impressed by the skilled oratory of Mr Blocher, 67, seeing him as the epitome of a stern leader stepping forward to safeguard Swiss values.

Mr Blocher, currently justice minister, was quick to make political capital out of rioting that erupted at an SVP election rally in Bern. Left-wing protesters clashed with police, adding to the unusually edgy atmosphere of this Swiss election.

"It's obvious that the biggest party in Switzerland can no longer go to the federal square," Mr Blocher told a cheering crowd of supporters.

Consensus challenged

The SVP is currently pushing for a law that would give authorities the power to expel entire families of immigrants if one member is found guilty of a violent crime or of an offence such as drug dealing or benefit fraud.

Swiss row over sheep poster

A poster linked to the campaign, featuring three white sheep ganging up on a black sheep, was condemned as racist by opposition groups and the UN.

The party insists its poster does not reflect its policy towards immigrants at large - merely those with criminal records.

Switzerland's citizenship laws - among the toughest in the world - mean roughly 20% of the population are classed as foreigners, even though many were born in Switzerland.

It is not only Switzerland's immigrants who view Mr Blocher with deep distrust.

He is also unpopular among many of his fellow politicians and among voters in the country's Francophone west.

They regard Mr Blocher's combative manner as a threat to the delicate consensus that has traditionally dictated the shape of Switzerland's government.

Blocher's rise

The decades-old system of dividing cabinet responsibility between the top parties, known as the "magic formula", received its first jolt in 2003.

Right-wing parties fear Swiss traditions are threatened

An election win that year gave the SVP two seats instead of one, placing it on a par with the Socialists.

Mr Blocher has been a dominant force since as early as 1986, arranging campaigns and referendums to keep Switzerland out of international organisations.

And he has almost single-handedly turned the SVP from a docile, eastern rural party into a provocative, isolationist national force tapping into many of the fears and aspirations of ordinary Swiss.

Mr Blocher's main support is in the Zurich area - the SVP's German-speaking heartland.

He became leader of the party in Zurich canton in 1977 after gaining a reputation as a fiery public speaker, and two years later was elected to the national parliament.

Referendums

While pursuing his political career, he has also become a prominent industrialist.

In 1983 he bought the Swiss plastics and polymers giant EMS Chemie.

He has since made a fortune with the company, recently estimated by US business magazine Forbes at $1.4bn, and is the ninth richest person in Switzerland.

Mr Blocher first rose to fame 17 years ago, when he founded a lobby group, the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (CINS).

[SnakeProphet]

I've seen them. Bunch of idiots.

[ships-cat]

I've seen them. Bunch of idiots.

You've seen the SVP ?

Bit harsh to call them idiots... that suggests that the majority of Swiss are idiots.

Meow Purr.

[atom286]

Well Done Switzerland

All across Europe and the Western world the people are being forced to except immigration and the changes that come with it or they are called racists, bigots and extremists.

At last the first few cracks are appearing in Switzerland. I only hope the other parties dont gang up on them before their expected victory and make them illegal like they did to that Belgium party before they got to the polks.

Well Done

[ships-cat]

Well Done Switzerland

All across Europe and the Western world the people are being forced to except immigration and the changes that come with it or they are called racists, bigots and extremists.

At last the first few cracks are appearing in Switzerland. I only hope the other parties dont gang up on them before their expected victory and make them illegal like they did to that Belgium party before they got to the polks.

Well Done

The nice thing about Switzerland is that they take democracy seriously. The "other parties" can't easily make the SVP illegal, because the SVP is already the largest single party in their parliament. Moreover, the Swiss system allows direct control by the voters. If any Canton can raise a petition of 100,000 signatures, then it automaticly triggers a refferendum. If the refferendum passes, then the petition becomes law, despite the wishes of parliament.

This is probably unique in the world, and makes sure that politicians are in touch with their constituents. (which, of course, is also why the SVP is so sucessfull). Any attempt to 'unseat' the SVP using exotic parliamentary proceedures would simply trigger a refferendum.

Neat.

Meow Purr.

[questionmark]

Neat.

Meow Purr.

Well, every European could have had that if the old version of the European Constitution would have been adopted. But thanks to everybody b****ing (who did not know what it was about) the version that will be adopted will not have that, as well as all other privileges for individuals will be watered down...

Just another missed chance for the citizens.

[Mars]

I don't see anything racist about restricting immigration. Too much immigration and especially immigration from third world countries can destroy any modern nation. Even though I despise Le Pen (hes a dumb Neo-Nazi) he did make a few good points.

Edited October 15, 2007 by Mars

[ships-cat]

Well, every European could have had that if the old version of the European Constitution would have been adopted. But thanks to everybody b****ing (who did not know what it was about) the version that will be adopted will not have that, as well as all other privileges for individuals will be watered down...

Just another missed chance for the citizens.

Are you SERIOUSLY suggesting that the European Constitution had a measure that introduced binding refferendums that could be automaticly triggered by a local poll ? Surely that would fly in the face of subsidiarity, as well as riding a coach and horses through the concept of Commission Competencies.

0/10 - must try harder

Meow Purr.

[questionmark]

Are you SERIOUSLY suggesting that the European Constitution had a measure that introduced binding refferendums that could be automaticly triggered by a local poll ? Surely that would fly in the face of subsidiarity, as well as riding a coach and horses through the concept of Commission Competencies.

0/10 - must try harder

Meow Purr.

Yes, Joschka Fischer was behind that one. But what competences of the commission? They can't do anything without the approval of both the parliament and the European Council, except proposing new laws, which have to be approved by the previous.

[Mekorig]

I am very weary of this kind of "right wing" anti/inmigration groups. Usually right wing groups look for a expiatory goat to blame of everything. And at worst, they can damage a society bad. Look at the 70s in Argentina.

[Siara]

I don't see anything racist about restricting immigration. Too much immigration and especially immigration from third world countries can destroy any modern nation. Even though I despise Le Pen (hes a dumb Neo-Nazi) he did make a few good points.

I agree that restricting immigration isn't necessarily racist. I think a country has a right to ask that its traditions be respected and in recent years that hasn't happened. It would be racist if they had loads of extra space and refused to let people who DID respect their traditions in because their skin or hair wasn't the "right" color.

[AztecInca]

The SVP is currently pushing for a law that would give authorities the power to expel entire families of immigrants if one member is found guilty of a violent crime or of an offence such as drug dealing or benefit fraud.

How can this be justified? Surely they should only expel the offending family member, guilt by association, when all it involves is being related to the offender is hardly fair.

[Caesar]

How can this be justified? Surely they should only expel the offending family member, guilt by association, when all it involves is being related to the offender is hardly fair.

Well said!

[ships-cat]

It seems to only apply when the 'criminal' is under 18... hence they are holding the family legaly responsible for the actions of the "child".

Hmmm.....

Meow Purr.

[Starscream]

i see no problem with any of SVP new laws

i would like to see the US to adopt some

immigrants would care about their kids

TN is close to some new laws also

[Cradle of Fish]

Immigration is the new political scapegoat, replacing the Jews.

Sure, Immigration might create problems, but it's not going to destroy a country like right wingers pretend it is.

[BlueZone]

I didn't know much about this issue so I Googled it and found this at http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/...92000&ty=st

"The rightwing Swiss People's Party says it has collected over 170,000 signatures in three months for its initiative to expel foreign criminals.

The initiative calls for any foreigner condemned of murder, rape, robbery, drug trafficking, burglary, human trafficking or social security abuse to have their residence permit taken away. Once thrown out of the country, they cannot return for up to 15 years, or even 20 if they re-offend."

This doesn't seem racist to me. They're making their residency permits conditional on good behavior. I assume that if the blondest people in the world moved there and then began dealing drugs, they'd have to leave too.

[ships-cat]

Immigration is the new political scapegoat, replacing the Jews.

Sure, Immigration might create problems, but it's not going to destroy a country like right wingers pretend it is.

Truly ?

You might want to ask the Aborigines or the Souix tribe about that.

Meow Purr.

[Starscream]

I didn't know much about this issue so I Googled it and found this

"The rightwing Swiss People's Party says it has collected over 170,000

signatures in three months for its initiative to expel foreign criminals.

This doesn't seem racist to me. They're making their residency permits

conditional on good behavior.

i the swiss have a great feel of things to come and shall be the last indepent ones

Foreigners who do not learn the language of the area in which they are

resident must leave the country

WOW that is great, in many parts of Los Angeles they dont care to learn english

becuase they think that California still belongs to Mexico so now most cops speak

spanish and some schools teach in spanish,i guess its one way to steal back a state

[ships-cat]

Well, with the votes in, it appears that the SVP have indeed increased their representation in Parliament - up from 55 seats to 62. (out of 200). They are now the strongest individual political party in Switzerland since 1919.

In December, the parliament votes in the new Federal Council - a seven-person body that acts like the Executive (US) or Cabinet (UK). It will be interesting to see wether the SVP increase their membership of THAT as well.

The SVP have been capitalising on Switzerlands unique demographics: around 25% of the population are immigrants (e.g. wtih no right of residency), and 70% of jail inmates are immigrants. (which led to the infamous "black sheep" poster, and a demand for immigrants who commit serious crimes to be immidiately deported).

As Switzerland is NOT a part of the European Union, it can set it's own judicial policy in regard to the human rights of immigrants, and can deport them without having to consider wether they may be in danger if they return to their country of origin. (as I understand it, in practice they DO consider this, but they are not COMPELLED to do so, unlike EU "nations". )

A curious country.

Meow Purr.