The one comment I will make here, in regards to my perspective on the whole election campaign here: That the SVP have taken a page out of the US republican playbook...they have been aggressive, playing the race card and the fear card, trying to blame all problems on the Left (who for the most part have not defended themselves), and spending A LOT of money on media. Also very Berlusconi-esque, what with the promotion of Blocher as their savior. Its been pretty disgusting, actually.

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

I've also not noticed much in the papers but I haven't had chance to read them properly this week.

What kind of comments are coming back re the allegations that the Swiss are turning fascist?  How is the SVP being portrayed within local press?

There are illegals aliens being expelled by the dozens, a few of them comitting suicide to avoid it ; there was a national strike, with no public transportation and thousands demonstrating ; the French team has been eliminated from the RWC ; and our President is getting divorced. Those are the items the French media care about, in increasing orders of importance. Do you think Swiss elections can beat any of those ?

The last time Switzerland made the news in France was when our most famous and most lousy rock singer exiled there to pay less taxes. A prominent member of the opposition party suggested the EU besiege the country to prevent tax dumping.

Maybe it's better the French press and politicians don't comment on these elections...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères

yes.. it's in the news, that you are a full of extremists and racists...

Like most people here in SPain but in the open.. (this last thing is mine :))

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

swissinfo - Swiss elections under OSCE scrutiny

Experts from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have arrived in Switzerland ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections.

The ten observers, who work for the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, were invited by the Swiss authorities.

 

The purpose of the OSCE's first mission to Switzerland is to analyse the workings of the electoral system. The experts will assess and report on the overall framework for the conduct of elections in Switzerland.

 

In a newspaper interview, the head of the team, Paul DeGregorio, said that his team wanted to learn from Switzerland. "At the same time we have to be honest with Switzerland and also point out the areas which are not running optimally," he said.

 

The team has a packed schedule of meetings with representatives of the authorities, the parties, civil society and the media.

 

OSCE spokeswoman, Urdur Gunnarsdottir, told swissinfo that postal voting would be one area of particular interest.

 

Eighty per cent of Swiss citizens vote by post and in some cantons and urban areas this can even go above 90 per cent.

Of course, I have no idea of the outcome. I watched a special on TV5 about the media-savvy young males (30-50) who represent swiss rightwing politics these days. It is the only recent in-depth swiss political info I have had but I was struck by the level of artifice/opportunism displayed. Otherwise, similarly to greater Europe at large, a significant fraction of the Swiss seem to be falling prey to far rightwing rhetorics. Hopefully, it will be contained and progressive will wake up.

For those who might be interested, here is a link to

Swissinfo - Swiss politics graphs page

And here is one chart I thought was informative: Choice of political party by social class

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia