Letter to the Editor

Does the Swiss Federal Council still take the population seriously?

The initiative of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) in order to limit the immigration sits heavily on Federal Councilor Sommaruga’s stomach, as was evident during her recent press conference. Ultimately, she fears the cancellation of the Bilateral Agreements on the part of the EU. Do we really need to worry about that? The EU countries are far more interested in these agreements than our country. The exports of the EU to Switzerland are for example far higher than our corresponding exports to the EU.

Mrs Sommaruga, however, exactly uses this argument to tempt fate for the Swiss economy. We cannot help feeling that our representatives court the favor of the already too powerful business circles more than that of the people. So she still formally refuses to limit immigration “by measures of the state”, although the massive increase of the population already badly overtaxes the infrastructure in various areas (such as railways, roads, schools, etc.). And concerning the policy on immigrants the people have been waiting in vain for effective measures against the large number of criminals.

On the other hand, commerce and trade can still abuse their power position in the economy. These circles can act independently as for example by refusing to pass on their excessive import gains to the customers or when they massively raise prices for domestic products. To mention only a single example: A local farmer is paid only 53 centimes for a liter of milk. In the store of the same place the customer pays CHF 1.60 a liter, although the product has obtained no accretion.

Traugott Voegeli-Tschirky, Consul retired, Leibstadt AG/Switzerland

^{(Translation Current Concerns)}

Most recent presumption of the Federal Court

With its recent decision The Federal Court tore usurped the right to award the Swiss passport. This is an unseemly intrusion in the separation of powers, a new presumption to the detriment of the communal autonomy.

If the Federal Court usurps more and more executive powers, it becomes more and more vulnerable. Just continue this way, and the Federal Court will  soon have lost its credibility.

The Confederate Parliaments are requested!

Hans-Jacob Heitz, Männedorf

^{(Translation Current Concerns)}