Perspective: Switzerland

The French government intends to introduce rent control. Cécile Duflot, the newly appointed Minister of Territorial Equality and Housing in the Ayrault Cabinet, wants to draw on the German rent control system.

Anders Breivik Behring, the person accountable for the twin attacks of Oslo, was a member of the Progress Party (PRF) from 1999 to 2006. The party belongs to the new European radical right: uninhibited, breaking away from the symbols, rituals and language of the traditional extreme right, it attracts more and more younger crowd. Are these parties any less dangerous? Let’s have a panoramic view of the new populism throughout Europe.

The German minister of Defence wants to get rid of conscription, following suit with the many European countries, the UK and France included, that have put an end to military service. Yet 18 countries in Europe still draft their citizens; in Germany a majority of young conscripts prefer to do a civil service.