The pro-democracy left

Remember how members of the French left rioted after Sarkozy won the presidential election? Well, now it seems that some of their Swiss counterparts have had much the same idea:

Violence flared in the Swiss capital of Bern as left-wing protesters tried to stop a pre-election campaign event by the nationalist Swiss People's Party.

Police fired tear gas as demonstrators hurled rocks and bottles in front of parliament to interrupt a march and rally by about 5,000 SVP supporters.

The SVP has been criticised recently for its hard-line views on immigration.

Its campaign posters - showing white sheep kicking a black sheep off a Swiss flag - have stirred controversy.

The party, which has campaigned against minarets in Swiss cities, condemned the violence as contrary to the country's democratic tradition.

Sadly for the enemies of democracy, the SVP is expected to remain as the largest party after the coming elections.