Interesting. I am working on writing my own article on the decline of Christian Democracy in Europe with a particular focus on Germany(as the "last" country where Christian Democrats are a major political force). Something I keep coming back to is I feel for that all of Switzerland's small c Conservative nature a real socially conservative oriented CDU/CSU type politics that is strongly against sex/prostitution/pornography, hard drug de-criminalization(The Swiss have some of the highest cocaine usage in the world), and assisted dying as practiced by someone like Dorothee Bar of the CSU would be very unwelcome in Switzerland. Is this because there is balance in CH between social liberalism and economic conservativism that economic conservatives don't want to change or is Switzerland so back in time one might call it explicitly anti feminist or at least anti first wave feminism where the government just wants women to do what their told and shut up about the anti feminist aspects of prostitution, pornography, drug use, etc. Hope you might have some insight.
What is ironic is for those in Germany who wish to return to an old 1980s Helmut Kohl pre unification West German style of politics Switzerland is the de-facto model. The Swiss National Bank during Covid was this all powerful inflation fighting machine just like the old Bundesbank. Swiss and West German living standards used to be comparable but now the Swiss are much richer(and have kept pace with the US). Just like Kohl era West Germany the SVP talks about both sides of its mouth on immigration i.e. talks tough against immigrants but makes sure the business community gets all the guest workers and work permits they need(just like Helmut used to do). The difference being that in a strong economy like Switzerland of today and Kohl era West Germany no one really cares as long as the good times roll but in a bad economy like today's Germany people get really mad.
Still there is something that prevents the CDU/CSU for wanting Switzerland as a model. Is it the social liberalism or the immigration hypocrisy of present-day CH(that the Adenauer and Kohl CDU used to know how to practice quite well)? Anyways thought maybe you or your German husband might have some thoughts? Also, Switzerland is part of Schengen like Germany but doesn't seem to have all these stabbings and people driving cars into Christmas markets. Are German police just incompetent compared to Swiss police?
PS. Is it true the leader of the AfD actually lives in Switzerland.?
Tim, thanks for your thought-provoking comment. It has provoked so many thoughts that I find myself hatching another piece in attempting to answer, so stay tuned.
Also, I am not so sure that Germany is the "last" country where Christian Democrats are a major force. Switzerland's The Center (Die Mitte / Le Centre / Il Centro / Il Center) is the rebranded Christian Democratic People's Party and is one of the parties making up Switzerland's executive since 1959.
I've been lurking but I wanted to thank you for sharing your archives on your journey to citizenship (not even going to try to use the Swiss terms!) As someone who's about 3.5 years out from being eligible to apply for Portuguese dual citizenship, I'm super impressed with how fast you and your family were able to get your new passports - after the initial monthslong delay with your local paperwork, a speedy passport process seems only fair!
Thanks for reading along! The longest part was waiting for eligibility: 12 years, then another five because we changed cantons by moving 10 kilometers downriver. In Portugal, one is eligible much faster but I suspect they may make up for it with slower bureaucracy. 😉
Good luck— I’ll be interested to hear how you fare, since I’m spending more and more time in Portugal… who knows where that will lead?
Interesting. I am working on writing my own article on the decline of Christian Democracy in Europe with a particular focus on Germany(as the "last" country where Christian Democrats are a major political force). Something I keep coming back to is I feel for that all of Switzerland's small c Conservative nature a real socially conservative oriented CDU/CSU type politics that is strongly against sex/prostitution/pornography, hard drug de-criminalization(The Swiss have some of the highest cocaine usage in the world), and assisted dying as practiced by someone like Dorothee Bar of the CSU would be very unwelcome in Switzerland. Is this because there is balance in CH between social liberalism and economic conservativism that economic conservatives don't want to change or is Switzerland so back in time one might call it explicitly anti feminist or at least anti first wave feminism where the government just wants women to do what their told and shut up about the anti feminist aspects of prostitution, pornography, drug use, etc. Hope you might have some insight.
What is ironic is for those in Germany who wish to return to an old 1980s Helmut Kohl pre unification West German style of politics Switzerland is the de-facto model. The Swiss National Bank during Covid was this all powerful inflation fighting machine just like the old Bundesbank. Swiss and West German living standards used to be comparable but now the Swiss are much richer(and have kept pace with the US). Just like Kohl era West Germany the SVP talks about both sides of its mouth on immigration i.e. talks tough against immigrants but makes sure the business community gets all the guest workers and work permits they need(just like Helmut used to do). The difference being that in a strong economy like Switzerland of today and Kohl era West Germany no one really cares as long as the good times roll but in a bad economy like today's Germany people get really mad.
Still there is something that prevents the CDU/CSU for wanting Switzerland as a model. Is it the social liberalism or the immigration hypocrisy of present-day CH(that the Adenauer and Kohl CDU used to know how to practice quite well)? Anyways thought maybe you or your German husband might have some thoughts? Also, Switzerland is part of Schengen like Germany but doesn't seem to have all these stabbings and people driving cars into Christmas markets. Are German police just incompetent compared to Swiss police?
PS. Is it true the leader of the AfD actually lives in Switzerland.?
Tim, thanks for your thought-provoking comment. It has provoked so many thoughts that I find myself hatching another piece in attempting to answer, so stay tuned.
Also, I am not so sure that Germany is the "last" country where Christian Democrats are a major force. Switzerland's The Center (Die Mitte / Le Centre / Il Centro / Il Center) is the rebranded Christian Democratic People's Party and is one of the parties making up Switzerland's executive since 1959.
I've been lurking but I wanted to thank you for sharing your archives on your journey to citizenship (not even going to try to use the Swiss terms!) As someone who's about 3.5 years out from being eligible to apply for Portuguese dual citizenship, I'm super impressed with how fast you and your family were able to get your new passports - after the initial monthslong delay with your local paperwork, a speedy passport process seems only fair!
Thanks for reading along! The longest part was waiting for eligibility: 12 years, then another five because we changed cantons by moving 10 kilometers downriver. In Portugal, one is eligible much faster but I suspect they may make up for it with slower bureaucracy. 😉
Good luck— I’ll be interested to hear how you fare, since I’m spending more and more time in Portugal… who knows where that will lead?
Wow, I didn't realize that moving from one canton to another would add time to wait to apply!
The bureaucracy here is truly legendary. But so far I've found it navigable (knock wood!)