50 Years of Development Aid: Prospects Needed, Not Good Intentions

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november 2011 / N o. 5

50 years of development aid: prospects needed, not good intentions

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The course has not yet been set 5 witzerland has voted, and we now know the winners and losers. However, Mailbag the results of the elections on 23 October do not tell the whole story of Swit- 5 Szerland’s political future. The situation will become clearer after 14 December Books: Democracy and the people following the Federal Council election. The key issue at the moment is whether the 7 system of concordance will be revived by a newly negotiated magic formula or whether Images: Changes in China it will be abandoned. In the September edition of “Swiss Review”, Professor Georg 8 Kohler outlined how this could result in political deadlock with unforeseeable con- Switzerland has been committed to develop- sequences for Switzerland. One thing is for sure and that is that ever since CVP Fed- ment aid for 50 years – some controversy eral Councillor Ruth Metzler was voted out of office in 2003 the magic formula that over how much and what type of aid to give had existed with stability since 1959 has been consigned to history. Read about the 12 possible scenarios for the Federal Council election and how the parties and candi- Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey dates are positioning themselves on page 13 onwards. steps down – a review of her term in office This election also raises the question of what the parties actually understand by concordance. Is the magic formula a purely mathematical model according to which 13-16 Parliamentary elections Federal Council seats are distributed by share of the vote? Or does concordance require a degree of agreement on issues, values and ideas about how a state should function? Regional news The de-selection of Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher in

2007 resulted in considerable intense and sometimes absurd de- 17 Didier Cuche – already a legend, but he has bate in Switzerland and ultimately led to an initiative for the postponed his retirement popular election of the Federal Council. Blocher has still not come to terms with the humiliation of this defeat. In an inter- 20 view with the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” two months before the The role of the media – critical analysis from elections, when asked to comment on his present frame of mind, Professor Kurt Imhof he said: “Of course I am bitter.” This bitterness has provided him with the incentive 21 to carry out a tireless campaign over the past four years and he has succeeded in mak- Swiss writers – unable to survive on a domes ing himself the centre of attention, whatever happens in politics. Blocher provides tic readership alone and often overlooked his party with political ideas and principles and – together with his extremely wealthy abroad friends – he possesses the financial means to engulf Switzerland, from Romanshorn 22 to Geneva, with propaganda. The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is increasingly adopt- The legendary Alps – an archive containing ing the approach of playing popular rule off against the rule of law. Opponents are images and documents spanning several defamed and simplistic solutions are put forward to complex problems. Populism is centuries experiencing a boom. This was one of the main issues for debate at the Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Lugano in August (page 24). 24 OSA news Much was written during the election campaign about how right-wing conservative politicians, with the support of industry federations, were specifically 27 setting out to bring about a fundamental transformation of Swiss politics. A book Notes from Parliament by Oswald Sigg and Viktor Parma (page 5) provides an insight into this. The loss 30 of solidarity within society and the egotism of a decadent upper social stratum – Treasures not just in Switzerland but worldwide – should not be overlooked. This has already led to revolt and unrest in many places. Let’s hope the new and re-elected politicians 31 Echo comprehend that the growing number of disillusioned and frustrated who have no prospects is also a threat to social harmony and prosperity in Switzerland. Barbara Engel Cover image: The construction of bridges is part of Swiss development aid work. Ghana, where this photograph was taken, is a priority country for Switzerland. Photo: Keystone

imprint: “Swiss Review”, the magazine for the Swiss abroad, is in its 38th year of publication and is published in German, French, Italian, English and Spanish in 14 regional editions. It has a total circulation of 395,000. Regional news appears four times a year. The ordering parties are fully responsible for the content of advertisements and promotional inserts. These contents do not necessarily represent the opinion of either the editorial office or the publisher. vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011 n EDITORS: Barbara Engel (BE), Editor-in-Chief; René Lenzin (RL); Alain Wey (AW); Marc Lettau (MUL); Manuel Gnos (MAG); Jean-François Lichtenstern (JFL), responsible for “Notes No

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Fukushima: warning sign tion with solar has been so deep a federal council spokesman and a journalist – two people and wake-up call and dismal a failure that it’s who are extremely familiar with the workings of the Federal The conservative parties hard to understand people tak- Palace in Berne – have written a book together. However, this and right-wing journalists al- ing it seriously. is not a title full of anecdotes about Bernese political life. ways focus on costs when it Geoff Russell, Australia Instead, Oswald Sigg and Viktor Parma focus on the mecha- comes to the issue of abandon- nisms behind Swiss politics that few know about. The book’s ing nuclear power. Whatever Offensive final chapter begins: “Whether we are talking about lobbying, the cost of decommissioning a It is fantastic that “Swiss sleaze or the political class, anxiety over the corruptibility nuclear power plant, that is Review” keeps us up to date of democracy is spreading.” Even the Federal Council is only part of the problem. The about the latest developments concerned about democratic deficits, otherwise why would it permanent disposal of nuclear and events in Switzerland. have declared the “challenges to democracy in the 21st waste still has to be resolved, However, I was outraged at century” a national research priority? but the advocates of nuclear the picture on page 19 in the The chapter on the Federal Council’s meetings and the power do not tell us about September 2011 edition. It is meeting room makes entertaining reading (see page 16). Few

that, let alone what a disaster not only offensive and dis- From inside the circle of power people have better knowledge of this than Sigg, who first would cost Switzerland. The tasteful towards our female worked under several Federal Councillors before later becoming right-wing and conservative Federal Councillors but also Vice-Chancellor and Spokesperson for the Federal Council. In his groups are also reticent to re- towards women in general. view, the tradition of open debate where joint solutions are sought veal how many new jobs with- This was very inappropriate and decisions taken collegially has been completely eroded in recent drawal from nuclear power for “Swiss Review” and indeed years. Voting has become increasingly commonplace on the Federal would create. any other magazine. Council, like a small-scale parliament, and everyone is eager to Progress means demon- Margret Zingg, Taiwan conclude meetings before lunch if possible. strating the courage and de- In the chapter entitled “Parliament”, Viktor Parma provides an as- sire to embrace innovation. Scapegoats tonishing insight into the lengths the business community goes to A responsible government I unfortunately have to in order to exercise influence over politicians in Berne. The business finds this courage and desire correct you with regard to the federation Economiesuisse and the Trade and Industry Group, to for the good of the people. article on the Germans being which 130 of the 246 Council members belong but which is not Perhaps it is not by chance the new scapegoats. The Ger- officially egistered,r play a key role in this. Through these two or- that the Federal Council is mans have always been scape- ganisations, Members of Parliament apparently receive clear in- dominated by female mem- goats, this is nothing new. This structions on how to vote. Voting is closely observed and anyone bers at this time. Perhaps it is may not have been expressed who flouts the instructions must explain why, writes Parma. This providence that Switzerland so publicly and vociferously in practice violates the prohibition of voting instructions enshrined in has a government able to read the past but they have the Federal Constitution, which states: “No member of the Federal the signs of the times. always been “die chaibe Assembly may vote on the instructions of another person.” The 2008 Jacqueline Zwahlen, Dütsche” or “d Sauschwobe”. referendum on corporate tax reform also highlights the Federal Amlapura, Indonesia When I married a German al- Council’s willingness to submit to the wishes of the business most 50 years ago, it was seen community. The referendum documents of FDP Federal Councillor “Swiss Review” and the as disastrous not only by my Rudolf Merz said at the time that the loss of tax revenue would be nuclear debate family but also by the wider limited, totalling less than a billion Swiss francs. It Rene Lenzin’s article on community. If you look at is now evident that the true figure is at least seven nuclear power in Switzerland Swiss history, this has been the billion. The Federal Supreme Court is now looking in your September issue was case since time immemorial. into the statements that Merz made against his interesting but didn’t really The Swiss fought the Hab- better knowledge. tackle what it means for an en- sburgs hundreds of years ago. The authors also take a critical view of popular ergy policy to work in the me- This deep-seated attitude will initiatives. Today, this instrument is primarily used dium to long term. The only never change. for commercial purposes and to generate media at- way to seriously slash trans- On that note, greetings tention. Indeed, Sigg believes a “pseudo-democratic port emissions is to massively from beautiful Ravensburg, coup attempt by the SVP” lies behind the recently submitted initia- increase the production of Anna Hellermann tive for the election of the Federal Council by the people. clean electricity and electrify The title of the book, “Die käufliche Schweiz” (Corruptible Switzer- transportation. The same ap- Charges for bank customers land), is not particularly subtle, and the authors’ indignation is a plies to heating oil emissions. domiciled abroad little too obvious in some passages. It is nevertheless well worth So electricity production in Without prior warning, reading, especially in an election year. vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No Switzerland must increase not Credit Suisse has charged Barbara Engel just a little, but probably dou- account management fees of eview R ble or even triple in the next CHF 192 for three months for VIKTOR PARMA, OSWALD SIGG. “Die käufliche Schweiz”, Für die Rückeroberung swiss few decades. Germany’s flirta- my nine-year-old son, a Swiss der Demokratie durch ihre Bürger; Verlag Nagel & Kimche 2011; CHF 23.90. 6 Mailbag

citizen living abroad in Graz. I am involuntarily paying to and thrown in the bin. The rea- a power game. It leaves a bitter The Aargauische Kantonal- sort out this mess are quite son: there might be juice in it. aftertaste. Given the economic bank will also be introducing sufficient. NOWHERE at the airport climate and the high value of high quarterly fees for Swiss Andrea Reich, Graz, STYRIA, does it say that food items are the Swiss Franc we thought living abroad from October Swiss Society Board Member not allowed that contain the Switzerland could ill afford but at least they have provided smallest amount of juice. We such service. sufficient warning to enable Swiss “service” at the airport explained to the security staff Esther Zuger, Moore, Cheshire accounts to be closed or trans- We have lived in England for that we do this very regularly, ferred. I think it is outrageous a very long time but, like most but to no avail. It is very aston- that banking conditions can be Swiss abroad, are sometimes ishing, given that there are changed without informing plagued with “Heimweh”. We shops before the security gate, customers. This also consti- return quite frequently to visit selling all sorts of delicatessen You can avoid problems at the secu- tutes clear discrimination friends and family. Unfortu- from Switzerland – just for rity checkpoint by packing Swiss against the Swiss abroad. I am nately our last trip, together them to land in the bin at the specialities you would like to take well aware that the legal with our sons and daughters- security checkpoint! We were with you in your suitcase, which you framework has been tightened in-law, was not the most mem- all infuriated and we saw other will hand over when you check in. to prevent money laundering, orable, and my husband and I passengers querying this. This Anyone shopping at the airport etc. felt quite ashamed about the has nothing to do with our se- should think about the liquid con- Despite my patriotism, I Swiss attitude and service we curity, but plainly rules and tained in all foodstuffs. A list of what will now close my son’s savings got. At the airport in Zurich regulations are being taken too is and is not permitted can be found account in Switzerland as I am the Fondue Cheese and the far and are turning the law into at: www.zurich-airport.ch not prepared to pay directly “Birnenweggen-Fuellung” pur- a laughing-stock. This is not in �› Arrivals & departures �› Security & for the speculative mistakes of chased from Migros were taken the spirit of the regulations but customs �› Liquids & cosmetics the banks. The extra taxes that away during the security checks taken to the utmost and plainly

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Swiss solidarity faces an acid test Switzerland has constructed bridges in Nepal, supported educational campaigns in Burkina Faso, provided clean drinking water in Haiti and helped to cultivate more re- sistant varieties of corn in Mozambique. Swiss development aid has contributed more to the image of a humanitarian, benevolent Switzerland over the past 50 years than virtually any other government activity. But Swiss solidarity now faces an acid test. By Marc Lettau

A filigree suspension bridge sways in wants to do what it can to help solve global tally improve the framework conditions”. the wind at a dizzying height above the problems. Or, in other words, “the focus was on the melting Trift glacier in the Bernese Ober- activities in the beginning, whereas today land. Depending on the weather condi- No idealisation of the beginnings it is clearly on the impact”. The basic prin- tions, the crossing is not for the faint- However, the state moved less quickly ciples nevertheless remain the same: “Swit- hearted. This is just one of a whole series than many of its citizens, who set up civil zerland does not pursue any geostrategic of new suspension bridges providing and church-run aid organisations. Mod- interests with its aid. Instead, this is for thrills and adrenaline kicks in the ern-day Helvetas was founded in 1955. shaped by pragmatism. The strategy of alpine region. The fact that Swiss devel Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS) com- enabling people to help themselves is also opment aid workers have been building menced its work in 1956. It was not until a constant.” similar bridges in Nepal for over 1961 that state development aid embraced The retrospective assessment by Swiss 50 years is often forgotten. Around larger-scale activities. There have been non-governmental organisations is more 3,000 bridges have been built there but many “fundamental changes” since then, critical. According to Peter Niggli, Swit- never to provide adrenaline rushes. explains Martin Dahinden, Director of the zerland was initially reluctant to recognise The bridges connect people on one side Swiss Agency for Development and Coop- its shared responsibility for the nations of the valley with those on the other. eration (SDC) in an interview with “Swiss that had been granted independence. Nig- They shorten routes, foster exchange, en- Review”. Switzerland initially operated on gli is head of the development organisation able development and contribute to a local scale. It has since recognised “that Alliance Sud, which lobbies on behalf of greater prosperity. little can be achieved at local level if efforts the six major Swiss aid organisations. He are not made simultaneously to fundamen- also believes that it was too much a case of Expression of openness and compassion There is much talk in Switzerland this year of bridges that overcome great divides as the nation looks back on 50 years of development aid. However, this is more of an opportunity for reflection than celebration as global poverty has not been eradi- cated despite half a century of extensive aid efforts by wealthy industrial nations. That said, Switzerland’s decision in 1961 to provide development aid is a cause for celebration. The states granted independence in the southern regions of the world after the Sec- ond World War were heavily dependent on aid because they had previously been exploited by colonial powers that had impeded their development. But Switzerland was not a colonial power and therefore not plagued by a bad conscience. The decision to contribute to the rebuilding of shattered states was Development aid in therefore primarily an expression of general practice: a bamboo vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011 bridge in Nepal and two

No compassion and of the increasing openness employees of a company of the nation. It is not least thanks to its de- manufacturing hammocks in Nicaragua, velopment aid that Switzerland is today re- which is supported by swiss Review Photos: Keystone garded as an open, empathetic state that Switzerland 9

good intentions but poor implementation that aid trickles away ineffectively in must decide – doing so at a time of eco- in the early days. For example, for an elec- many places: “Development aid has failed nomic uncertainty. However, Martin Da- tricity station redevelopment in Mozam- in Africa especially.” More moderate hinden expects Parliament to pledge to bique, Switzerland simply delivered the critics say aid should at least not be granted continue providing aid at the envisaged entire project: “The order was placed with too altruistically: development aid could level. The bundling of the block credit Swiss companies. The money went from benefit both sides if, for example, it helped lines for the first time also has benefits. It Berne to Baden, thereby remaining in our to reduce migration to Switzerland. compels the proposal of an overall economy.” Development aid that involves Here Dahinden warns the idea that Swit- strategy. full order books for domestic industry is zerland could simply stop immigration neutrally termed “tied aid”. Critics call it through aid to a developing nation is Grave concerns about the climate “export promotion with a charitable coat- naive. Development aid may help reduce Niggli is less optimistic. He fears the great ing”. Niggli says: “Tied aid prevents devel- poverty, he says, but the practice of only financial challenges will see Parliament oping countries from learning and denies providing aid if a country took back its question the increase in development aid them economic benefits.” Switzerland has asylum seekers would “often be destined resolved at the start of the year (see box now abandoned tied aid. Niggli believes to fail”. on page 10) and possibly cause Switzerland this was one of the most important changes to renege on pledges made. He believes the ever in Swiss development aid. Martin Da- Great challenges and a major test current international consensus that poor hinden also feels it was “definitely a step Fierce debate over the purpose and extent countries must receive financial support in the right direction”. of development aid is expected in Parlia- in addition to development aid to over- ment in Berne next year. For the first time come the impact of climate change is in Not a united nation of philanthropists ever, Parliament will take a decision on all jeopardy. Switzerland may also succumb The southern regions of the world were the major multi-annual lines of credit for to the temptation find the funds required ravaged by poverty in 1961. In 2011, the foreign aid en bloc. These include block to contribute more to climate projects by picture is still one of poverty despite credits for assistance to countries of the cutting back on traditional means of fight- significant successes. The purpose of south, assistance for Eastern Europe, hu- ing poverty. Dahinden believes the focus development aid is therefore fundamen- manitarian aid (emergency aid in disaster on climate is essential because climate tally scrutinised on a regular basis in Swit- situations) and technical development co- change hits the weakest hardest. It is caus- zerland and even challenged. Right-wing operation by the State Secretariat for Eco- ing deserts to grow, flooding risks to in- conservative members of parliament in nomic Affairs (SECO). This amounts to a crease, harvests to shrink and the return particular, such as Christoph Mörgeli package of around 11 billion Swiss francs of diseases believed to have been eradi- of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), claim on which the newly elected Parliament cated, such as malaria. Yet Dahinden does not see this as a trade-off: “Climate adaptation projects are extremely closely linked to the fight against poverty in many cases.” Dahinden has concerns about regions where the political climate is unstable. He says: “Development aid has achieved great success worldwide but there is still major poverty and misery in unstable, fragile countries blighted by conflict.” Switzerland therefore plans to do more in such fragile states in future. Today, it is already active in Africa to the south of the Sahara “where instability is increasing”. Dahinden estimates that “we will primarily operate in such regions in five to ten years’ time”.

“Swissness” in development aid? Looking to the future, Dahinden is calling for “Swissness” in Swiss aid and more “innovation”. The general public may well be baf- fled by this and may wonder whether the fight against extreme poverty perhaps needs cash and food rather than Swissness and innovation. The SDC Director admits the 10 Focus

Mediocre Switzerland, exemplary canton of Geneva The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) regularly gives Switzer- land good marks for the quality of its aid but criticises the vol- ume of Swiss aid as being too small. It is average by international comparison but significantly below UN recommenda- tions. The UN recommends that wealthy industrial nations contribute at least 0.7% of their gross domestic product (GDP) to development aid because this is the only way of achieving the key goals in the fight against poverty. In 2010, Switzerland contributed “official development assistance” of 2.88 billion Swiss francs, which corresponds to 0.41% (2009: 0.45%). At the beginning of 2011, Parliament decided to increase aid gradually to 0.5% by 2015. concepts require definition but they have nocuousness – in other words, the general “Official development assis- also triggered “a constructive debate”. By cordiality of our state – is a much-appreci tance” includes the voluntary Swissness he means the ethos that Switzer ated characteristic in development aid.” Da contributions of communes land must deploy its comparative advantages hinden sees this as perfectly in line with how and cantons. Geneva is an anom- if it is to achieve maximum impact. It should Swiss aid views itself: “Our development aid aly here. Geneva’s cantonal par- focus on areas in which it possesses great is a major part of altruistic Switzerland and liament decided in 2001 that the credibility and expertise, such as health pro its humanitarian tradition.” canton would contribute at least motion, water management – water supply, So, is there any truth to the theory that 0.7% of its budget each year “to energy generation and sanitation – and the aid influences how Switzerland is seen in financing international solidar- promotion of democracy. “Innovation in de the world? Development aid is actually ity”. velopment aid” means “leveraging know currently restricted to 14 priority coun The popular belief that the ledge if we are to achieve a major impact with tries, while SECO’s economic develop Swiss contribute at least as much modest resources”. This kind of “knowledge- ment cooperation focuses on just seven aid as the state in total through based aid” requires that knowledge is con priority countries (see box on page 11). their donations to private aid veyed, developed and deployed to produce The visibility of Swiss efforts is therefore organisations is disproved by the tailored solutions. limited. It is further restricted by the fact statistics. The funds available that 40% of Swiss development aid does to the around 400 aid organisa- Steadfast? Altruistic? Idealistic? not go towards projects of its own but tions included in the statistics As a representative of Alliance Sud, Niggli rather large-scale, multilateral projects constitute around 0.07% of GDP. wants Switzerland to show steadfastness where Switzerland is but one of many do This means that 70 cents in above all. He says: “Pressure on development nor countries. Dahinden does not regard every 1,000 Swiss francs of in- aid is growing worldwide. Donor countries this as an issue since Switzerland is also come are donated to the south- are succumbing to the temptation to spend seen in multilateral organisations “as a ern regions of the world, which their money on the promotion of their own country with a strong voice; as a country is a modest amount by interna- economic and geopolitical interests.” Swit that does not act egoistically; as a country tional comparison. (MUL) zerland must resist this trend. It has not pre with a strong international network that viously exploited aid for the pursuit of its recognises that the wellbeing of others vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011 el No own interests: “Switzerland cannot turn up plays a major role in its own wellbeing”. 5 / No. November 2011

ng E with gunboats.” Not that he regrets the ab Switzerland also represents in the princi sence of martial pressure. Quite the oppo ple that “it is important to be involved, to Photo: Keystone swiss Review Photo: Barbara site: “Switzerland’s political and military in tackle problems and to help devise solu swiss Review 11

Health promotion in Mali (one of the SDC’s priority countries) and an electricity power plant in Khorog, Tajikistan, constructed with support from SECO

tions instead of simply handing out char- responsibility” sees development aid as a sumption”, she recently wrote in the SDC ity”. duty. She says: “Some people justify this ob- magazine “Eine Welt”. The consumer be- Niggli agrees: “When aid comes from ligation to provide aid by saying that it is haviour of Swiss citizens is also accelerating Switzerland, partners know that it is a firm morally reprehensible to allow people to climate change, for example, which in turn commitment because the aid workers do not starve when we could prevent this suffering. is having a negative impact on developing disappear at the first opportunity.” However, They focus on righteousness. They argue countries. it is not just government action that contrib- that it is unjust for people to go hungry and utes to Switzerland’s image as a humanitar- demand the redistribution of goods, in other ian country.The Swiss abroad also deter- words social justice. Others say we should mine how Switzerland is perceived: “Some forget all the fine talk about aid and redistri- Swiss people who have spent two or three bution. What is unjust is that we as wealth- years abroad set up small aid organisations ier people are contributing to this misery. upon their return to Switzerland.” These in- And because it is partly our fault we should dividual initiatives contribute “a great deal also bear responsibility.” The “justice not Focus on towards how the world sees our country” and charity” approach represents a paradigm priority countries make many of those supported feel that they shift that has been taking place over the last To achieve greater impact, have not been abandoned in their suffering. ten years, says Bleisch. Switzerland is focusing its aid But what obligations do individuals have on specific priority countries. Consumer behaviour is decisive to assume if they subscribe to the “justice not The SDC’s priority countries are Are aid providers all altruistic idealists? Is it charity” principle? Bleisch points to three currently Bangladesh, Benin, that the aura of doing good deeds simply duties: “The civic duty to support efforts Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, makes them feel good? There are various aimed at more global justice; the duty to help, Laos, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, motives for providing development aid, and in other words to contribute some of their Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Peru these are changing in Switzerland too. The own wealth – in the form of donations but and Tanzania. In addition, Zurich-based philosopher and ethicist Bar- also taxes; and, finally, the challenging duty special programmes also exist in bara Bleisch presents a contrasting perspec- of rethinking our purchasing decisions.” She other countries. The priority tive to the view that development aid is a also identifies a radical change here. “Until countries for SECO’s economic vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No “philanthropic concept” that turns aid pro- recently I would have said that we just development cooperation are

viders into moral heroes as their support is needed another form of consumption. But I Columbia, Egypt, Ghana, voluntary. The author of a doctoral thesis on am now convinced that this is not enough Indonesia, Peru, South Africa

swiss Review Photo: Keystone the subject of “global poverty and individual and that we actually need to limit our con- and Vietnam. (MUL) 12 politics

Swiss foreign policy is looking for a new figurehead consular service, resulting in a reduction in Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey is stepping services, particularly in Europe, and even the closure of some consulates (see also down at the end of the year after nine years. Her depar- page 27). The FDFA under Micheline ture is adding to the anticipation ahead of the Federal Calmy-Rey also cut the budget for “Swiss Council elections on 14 December. Review”. The Foreign Minister has twice served as By René Lenzin President of the Confederation, in 2007 and again this year. Her charm is well- “The unyielding patriot” – “Her ambition sion has ultimately remained ambiguous. received at public engagements. She has a was greater than the nation” – “Between Her opponents in Parliament reproach her good relationship with the people and was escapades and commitment” – “The for secretly pursuing a policy of rapproche- one of the most popular members of na- achievements of an iridescent sphinx” – ment that would inevitably end in accession. tional government until recently. Immedi- “Micheline Calmy-Rey, an unconventional They also level criticism at her often ill-con- ately after taking up office, she won public figure” – “Cruella, the Swiss queen of sidered activism in the world that does approval by positioning herself as an oppo- Brussels”. These are just some of the head- Switzerland more harm than good. In con- nent of the Iraq war. However, her repu- lines used by the Swiss media to report trast, Calmy-Rey’s supporters praise her tation suffered during the Swiss hostage Micheline Calmy-Rey’s decision to stand pragmatic approach to policy on Europe. situation in Libya, though the entire down. They show that the Geneva politi- They say she also recognised that Switzer- national government and particularly the cian born in Valais is a colourful yet contro- land could only pursue and protect its then President, Hans-Rudolf Merz, versial figure. She will remain in charge of interests through a greater international emerged from this with a tarnished image. the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs presence. Internally, Calmy-Rey is regarded as a de- (FDFA), which she took over after her elec- The Swiss abroad also see Calmy-Rey as manding and capricious head who expects tion to the Federal Council, until the end a controversial figure. In order to imple- absolute loyalty from her staff. “That’s of the year. ment her foreign policy priorities while at what I want!” is a turn of phrase she is said Social Democrat Calmy-Rey was elected the same time meeting restrictive financial to often use. At the start of her term of of- as the successor to Ruth Dreifuss by the targets, she reorganised the diplomatic and fice, in particular, there was a high turnover Federal Assembly in December 2002. in her inner circles. She then had to take over the FDFA against her wishes. Nevertheless, she First grandmother made every effort to raise Switzer- on the Federal Council land’s and her own profile interna- Micheline Calmy-Rey grew up in tionally and to give Swiss foreign Valais but studied for her degree and politics a new image. With the con- started her political career in Geneva. cept of “active neutrality” she at- After several years on the Great tempted to give a new dimension to Council, the Geneva electorate a traditional value popular with the voted her into the cantonal govern- majority of Swiss people. Her goal ment in 1997, where she was in was an “active foreign policy focus- charge of the finance department ing on the promotion of peace, inter- until her election to the Federal national law, human rights and the Council. fight against poverty”, as she put it The promotion of women is a key herself. Her greatest achievements, issue for Calmy-Rey both inside she says, include the UN Human and outside her department. The Rights Council, which Switzerland mother-of-two was the first grand- played a major role in establishing, mother on the Federal Council. At and mediation in the conflicts be- the age of 66, she will now find more tween Russia and Georgia and be- time to devote to her three grand- tween Turkey and Armenia. children. She is also said to harbour ambitions of a role with an inter- Ambiguous position on the EU national organisation. Parliament In Brussels, Calmy-Rey was a dedi- must first decide on her successor – cated representative of Swiss inter- the favourites for the post are all vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No ests vis-à-vis the European Union. men. Her retirement has created

Despite her repeated pledges of added anticipation ahead of the com-

Review commitment to the bilateral route, plete re-election of the Federal ss

Swi Photo: Keystone her position on possible EU acces- Council on 14 December. ELECTIONS 13

Politics is set to become more issue-based, but also more complicated The trend towards political polarisation came to a halt in the National Council elections. The electorate boosted the numbers of the solution- oriented centre, but also fragmented it. By René Lenzin

lost seats. The Swiss People’s Party nevertheless remains “by far the strongest force”, as Toni Brunner stated. The loss of seats compared to the 2007 election is partly explained by the departure of four party members to the BDP during the last legislature. n FDP.The Liberals (FDP) continued its decline, a trend that has endured in parallel to the rise of the SVP since 1987. However, Fulvio Pelli said that the losses were lower than predicted, and he stressed that the FDP remains the third-strongest party with a 15.1% share of the vote. n The Christian Democratic People’s Party (CVP) is following a negative course similar to that of the FDP, winning 12.3% of the vote. Sunday, 23 October in the television studio: Martin Bäumle (left), President of the Green Liberals, and Hans Christophe Darbellay was consoled by the Grunder, Conservative Democratic Party (BDP) President, are delighted with their parties’ good results. fact that the losses were at the hands of the BDP and Green Liberals, centre parties with “Who has reason to celebrate?” the TV pre- rise from 5 to 9. (The BDP stood for elec- which solution-oriented policies can be senter asked the assembled party presidents, tion for the first time after breaking away sought. none of whom were women, in the evening from the SVP during the previous legisla- n After two successful elections, the Greens on election day, 23 October. Three of the ture.) suffered a setback. Their share of the vote seven immediately raised a hand, providing n Christian Levrat of the Social Democratic stands at 8.4%. Ueli Leuenberger spoke of a reasonably good indication of the mood. Party (SP). Like all the traditional parties, his party’s misfortune under proportional The following are entitled to see themselves the SP’s share of the vote declined (now representation and the appeal of the young as winners in the National Council elections: 18.7%), but it gained three seats, mainly Green Liberals. n Martin Bäumle of the Green Liberals, thanks to its success in French-speaking whose number of seats increased from 3 to Switzerland. Victory for the “new centre” 12 with their share of the vote standing at The other four party presidents had to ex- The gains by the BDP and Green Liberals 5.4%. plain losses but, of course, attempted to put were hailed as a victory for the “new centre” n Hans Grunder of the Conservative Dem- their setbacks into perspective: in the media. In terms of policy and agenda, ocratic Party (BDP), which also won a 5.4% n The SVP’s share of the vote fell for the both small parties in fact belong to the poli- share of the vote and saw its number of seats first time since 1987 (now 26.6%) and it also tical faction between the poles that generally

Record participation A total of 3,458 candidates from the 20 cantons with proportional from 35.2% in 2007 to 32.7%. There were 365 electoral lists altogether presentation stood for 200 National Council seats, according to the and numerous list and sub-list combinations. Federal Chancellery after the expiry of the registration deadline in The number of candidates from the Swiss community abroad in- September. As only one seat is allocated to each of the six cantons or creased enormously. There were 75 this year, compared with 44 in half-cantons of Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Uri, Appenzell Ausser- 2007 and just 17 in 2003. The exact election results for the candidates rhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden, there is no proportional presenta- from the Swiss community abroad were not known at the time of going tion here and therefore no obligation to register with the Federal to press for this edition of “Swiss Review”. However, they are pub- vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No Chancellery. A total of 14 people had officially put their names forward lished on the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad’s website. This also w ie in these cantons, according to the Swiss Press Agency. That adds up to contains details of the voting behaviour of Swiss citizens abroad v e

R a total of 3,472 – a 10.7% increase on 2007. Of the registered candi- where the cantons release this information. www.aso.ch iss w s Photo: Keystone dates, 1,132 were women and 2,326 men. The proportion of women fell All results are updated on the following website - www.ch.ch. (BE) 14 ELECTIONS

seeks solutions acceptable to a majority of clear power, on which the FDP holds a dif- the people. One example is an issue that ferent view to the CVP, BDP and Green Switzerland will focus on intensively over Liberals, which all favour withdrawal. A the coming years: the BDP and Green Libe- centre-left alliance, which has been rals are unconditionally committed to the strengthened overall by the elections, will bilateral agreements with the EU and, above have a major bearing on this issue over the all, to the free movement of persons – ac- coming four years. In addition to energy complishments that EU opponents on the policy, Europe, old-age pension provision right and some advocates of EU accession and the future of the financial centre will be on the left call into question. among the big issues of the forthcoming leg- In the past, the FDP and CVP were the islature. Healthcare will also remain a key political forces that put their stamp on leg- project. Foreigners and immigration will islation with their solution-oriented, prag- continue to be topical, not least because of matic policies, sometimes cooperating with the SVP’s popular initiative in this area. It the left and sometimes with the right. Both remains to be seen whether majority sup- parties made up for their numerical inferi- port can be achieved for these issues, and in ority in the National Council with their what form. dominance in the Council of States. To- gether with direct democracy, the charac- The political poles retain the power to teristics of the Swiss bicameral system en- block proposals sure that radical proposals are hardly ever In light of the ongoing international finan- adopted. cial and economic crises, the new Parliament Now, the BDP and Green Liberals also will have to act quickly to deal with the belong to this consensus-oriented centre, strength of the Swiss franc and the problems A look at the National Council chamber: the new distrib ution of seats with numerous centre parties will not which has become broader overall. In com- this is causing many export companies. The make government easy. bination with the weakening of the poles, election results suggest that the electorate this strengthening of the centre should en- will seek concrete, implementable solutions with the planned reform of the old-age pen- sure more issue-based politics. However, at in this difficult situation rather than back sion system. the same time the centre is at risk of frag- parties with absolute demands. The trend menting, which may make the search for so- towards party-political polarisation, which The appeal of new, fresh parties lutions more difficult. Aside from personal had been ongoing since the 1990s, has come The question remains as to why two tradi- animosity between the party representatives, to a halt. The bottom line is that both the tional parties, the FDP and CVP, are con- different interests and priorities exist, which left-green camp and the SVP were losers on tinuing to decline while the “new centre” will be reflected in the Federal Council elec- 23 October. However, both political fac- gains ground. Certain shifts, such as from tions on 14 December (see page 16). tions continue to hold around 60 National the FDP to the Green Liberals, can be exp- There are issues for which common solu- Council seats each and can block projects lained by environmental reasons. But over- tions are not possible because differences together, albeit for different reasons. This all the differences are negligible. In some on policy are so great. These include nu- occurred during the previous legislature cantons the BDP is a kind of protestant

Distribution of seats in the National Council before and after the election on 23 October 2011 60 50 40 30 20

10 5 / No. vember 2011 No 5 / No. November 2011

0 59 54 35 30 41 46 28 28 20 15 5 12 5 9 7 6 Others Charts: HerzogDesign swiss Review Photo: Keystone swiss Review

0 15

Council of States: SVP offensive fails Only 27 of 46 Council of States seats were decided in the first round. However, it has already become apparent that the Swiss People’s Party is unlikely to be able to increase its number of seats. By René Lenzin

The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) put for- on a majority system rather than proportio- ward its top candidates to contest the seats nal representation, except in the cantons of on the Council of States, including former Jura and Neuchâtel. Candidates have to win Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher in over half of all votes cast to be elected in the Zurich, faction leader Caspar Baader in Ba- first round of voting. The hurdle of achie- selland, Party President Toni Brunner in St. ving an absolute majority is not removed un- Gallen and former Federal Council candi- til the second round. date Jean-François Rime in Fribourg. None Even before the second round of voting, it of the four was successful. Baader and Rime is evident that the Social Democratic Party have been eliminated, while Blocher and (SP) is one of the winners in the Council of Brunner must enter the second round of vot- States election. They have already won eight ing. As the SVP has lost its seat in Grisons seats, which is more than any other party. and is also in danger of losing the one in Aar- Former National Council President Pascale gau, it may actually end up with fewer seats Bruderer helped the SP to break the con- A look at the National Council chamber: the new distrib ution of seats with numerous centre parties will not in the smaller chamber than in the previous servative dominance over Aargau and to take make government easy. legislature. a Council of States seat there for the first The SVP refused to concede it had failed. time in 60 years. As the SP looks set to hold CVP, whereas in others it can hardly60 be dif- Party officials said that greater presence in its seat in the canton of Vaud, it should win ferentiated from the FDP in terms of policy. the Council of States was a long-term pro- nine seats in the smaller chamber. The Green Liberals previously50 belonged to ject. However, the fact remains that the The Christian Democratic People’s Party the CVP faction without any40 significant party struggles to get its candidates elected (CVP) will win 12 to 15 seats, and the FDP. conflicts arising. So, there can be only one in majority elections based on personality. The Liberals 10 to 13. Together the two par- conclusion: the winning parties30 are ap- ties are likely to continue to make up the ma- pealing particularly because they are new Second round of voting in 13 cantons jority. The CVP and FDP often represent and fresh. 20 The final result of the Council of States elec- the same positions, particularly on the issues Together, the BDP and Green Liberals tions and therefore the exact distribution of of finance, economics and social policy. The have almost an 11% share of the10 vote. That power in Parliament will not be known un- Greens and Green Liberals could win up to is significant, yet their success should0 be put til 4 December when the second round will five seats. A centre-left majority will there- into perspective. These parties started vir- have taken place in Solothurn. A second fore continue to exist in the Council of tually from zero, which makes the gains ap- round will be held in 13 cantons in all bet- States, above all on family and energy policy. pear large. Their success is also partially ex- ween 6 November and 4 December, when The definitive make-up of the smaller cham- plained by bold list combinations. New the electorate will decide on 19 of the 46 ber may also have a major impact on the parties that achieve astonishing short-term seats. This additional round is required be- complete re-election of the Federal Council success have often appeared in Switzerland. cause the Council of States election is based on 14 December (see page 16). For example, the Alliance of Independents (Landesring der Unabhängigen) won more 20 Distribution of seats in the Council of States before the election on than a 9% share of the vote and 16 seats in 23 October 2011 1967 – in the same area as the BDP and, above all, the Green Liberals today. 15 The Green Liberals and BDP are not yet established parties. They are still developing 10 structures and agendas. In some cases, they will be sending representatives with little or no political experience to Parliament. The 5 vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No next election and the one after that will show

whether they can set themselves apart from 7 12 8 16 2 0 1 0

Review the competition over the long term and con- 0 ss Others wi

s Charts: HerzogDesign solidate or even build on their success. 16 ELECTIONS

More candidates than seats in the Federal Council elections Vote out Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf or smash the concordance system and principle of proportionality – this is the choice facing Parliament on 14 December. The second option looks to be the more likely. By René Lenzin

On 5 December the newly elected members from enough for representation on the Fed- from a purely arithmetic point of view, as of the National Council and Council of eral Council. Widmer-Schlumpf can there- both the FDP themselves and the SVP do. States will commence their first session, and fore only remain in office if other criteria are According to their formula, the three strong- nine days later they will elect the new Fed- taken into account. est parties should each receive two seats, and eral Council. Six of the seven Federal Coun- the fourth strongest one seat. The other par- cillors are standing for re-election. These are, Two seats each for the right and left, three ties, however, are not so happy with this ap- in order of term of office: Doris Leuthard for the centre proach. Firstly, because the centre-right (CVP), Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (BDP), If the Federal Assembly abides by the rules block would then have a majority in govern- Ueli Maurer (SVP), Didier Burkhalter of the concordance system on 14 December ment despite holding only around 100 of the (FDP), Simonetta Sommaruga (SP) and Jo- and integrates the parties in line with the 246 seats in the Federal Assembly and sec- hann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann (FDP). number of votes they received at the Na- ondly, because the concordance system Micheline Calmy-Rey (SP) is stepping down tional Council elections, three things are needs to take content into account. at the end of the year, leaving a vacant seat clear: Based on all the statements of the party (see page 12). n Still by far the strongest fraction, the SVP representatives following the elections, the The fact that there are more claims to seats is entitled to two seats. starting position on 14 December is as fol- than there are seats makes the situation both n The left-green camp is also entitled to two lows: in principle, the entitlement to two tense and exciting. This has primarily to do seats. The Greens, however, decreased their seats by the far right and left, the SVP and with Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. The former share of the vote and lost seats, meaning that SP, is beyond dispute. That would leave finance director from the canton of Grisons they must bury their ambitions to partici- three seats for the parties in between, who forced Christoph Blocher out of office four pate in government for the time being. at the moment have four Federal Council- years ago. Because she accepted her election n FDP.The Liberals (FDP) continues to lors. This allows for three possible scenarios. against the will of her then party, the Swiss command a higher share of the vote than the The Federal Assembly can: People’s Party (SVP), she was expelled from Christian Democratic People’s Party (CVP) n replace Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf with a the SVP and subsequently joined the newly and therefore has a better claim to two seats. representative of the SVP. founded Conservative Democratic Party It is the last point that raises questions. Is n confirm the re-election of Widmer- (BDP). This party has now increased the the FDP’s reduced share of the vote at 15.1 Schlumpf and grant the SVP a second seat number of seats it holds on the National percent really enough for two Federal Coun- at the expense of the FDP or the SP. Council from five to nine. However, this is far cillors? Yes, if you interpret concordance n confirm the re-election of Widmer- Schlumpf and refuse to give a second seat to the SVP or SP. When this edition went to press directly after the elections on 23 October, there were signs indicating the likely re-election of Widmer-Schlumpf: The two election winners, the BDP and the Green Liberal Party, are in favour of Widmer-Schlumpf. Also, the CVP would like to join forces with Widmer-Schlumpf and the BDP – not least in order to inherit her seat one day on the Federal Council. Finally, Widmer- Schlumpf is one of the four Federal Coun- cillors to push through the decision in government to abandon nuclear power. As a result, she enjoys a great deal of goodwill among the SP and the Greens, who – to- vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No gether with the CVP – had helped her into ew i office four years ago. ev The Federal Council chamber: the future occupants of these seats will be decided on 14 December. Pictured are R ss

i Federal Councillors Simonetta Sommaruga, Doris Leuthard and Johann Schneider-Ammann; between them

sw Photo: Keystone are the Vice-Chancellor, the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Council spokesperson. sport 17

Cuche – the star of Swiss downhill skiing torn cruciate ligaments in his right knee The king of downhill has started his 16th World Cup season. and finished third in the overall rankings in the following season. The skier from Les At the age of 37, Didier Cuche has never been so strong. Bugnenets has since achieved many po- The spearhead of the Swiss ski team will defend two crystal dium finishes, 60 in all to date, including globes this winter. Will it be for the last time? Destiny 17 victories. When he won the legendary Kitzbühel downhill (Austria) for the will decide. fourth time, he equalled the record of the A profile by Alain Wey Austrian Franz Klammer, further enhanc- ing his status as a skiing legend. He clearly has some regrets about Olympic medals and he has yet to finish top of the overall rankings, but the speed king’s exploits are not over yet.

Adrenaline rushes and what else? What is he going to do after skiing? He is going to put his incredible drive to good use and is already looking towards the next chapter in his life. “I am already planning my post-skiing career with my brother and another person. We have contacts with sponsors and things are already in motion”, he revealed in March. He enjoyed his best season in 2011. What does he have in store for us this winter? Victories, podium finishes and adrenaline rushes – what else? There are also those last remaining challenges. Used to finishing in second place on several descents on the circuit, he will seek to finally emerge victorious in classic races such as Wengen, Val Gardena (Italy), Beaver Creek (USA) and Bormio (Italy). Will this definitely be his final season? In March he mused philosophi- cally: “I had great difficulty in deciding to Didier Cuche with the silver medal in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on 12 February 2011. continue for another year. We’ll see what happens next spring.” He has never let the side down. A warrior (1997 and 2005). The oldest champion in of the slopes, Didier Cuche has shown World Cup history is like a good wine – he incredible resilience to overcome some has improved with age and has achieved his Outstanding list of honours major setbacks. His maxim is: “Pick your- best results after the age of 32. self up and go again.” At the start of his Overall Ski World Cup rankings. 3rd in 2002, 16th season, the runner-up in the overall 60 podium finishes 5th in 2003, 3rd in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, 2011 World Cup rankings is in the twilight Adored by the public, the man with the 2nd in 2011. years of his career. Last March, after trademark end-over-end ski flip at the Crystal globes. Four in downhill (2007, 2008, lengthy consideration, he decided to con- finishing line has shown unbending 2010 and 2011) – only Austrian Franz tinue for another year. At the age of 37, the character over the years, refusing to be Klammer has won more with five globes be- Neuchâtel skier has won bowed by his critics. He tween 1975 and 1983. One in super-G practically all the most is a man of great tenacity, (2011) and one in giant slalom (2009). prestigious titles. But “A great champion is prone to the odd falling- World Championships. Bronze in the giant above all he has equalled emerging in him. His out and outburst. But it’s slalom in Are (Sweden) in 2007, gold in the achievements of one thanks to him that the the super-G and silver in the downhill at Val

vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011 character has shown

No of his idols, the legendary Swiss team is enjoying d’Isère (France) in 2009 and silver in

Austrian Hermann Maier, one vital thing – to be success once again. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) in 2011.

Review by returning to the top successful you must 2006, Didier Cuche came Olympic Games. Silver in Nagano (Japan) ss

Swi Photo: donated after two serious injuries have desire.” Lara Gut back from surgery on in 1998. 18 interview

“Switzerland is becoming more ignorant of world affairs” The Zurich-based media scientist Kurt Imhof has been carrying out research into the Swiss media landscape for years and is the co-editor of the yearbook “Qualität der Medien” (Quality of the Media). He is seeing an alarming fall in the quality of information journalism and is calling for free products to be eliminated. Interview by Manuel Gnos

“swiss review”: Mr Imhof, we live in an those who seek to conduct politics through information age. So, this begs the question: argumentation. The gentle force of a bet- What state is the Swiss media in? ter argument is being ousted by the culti- professor kurt imhof: It is much vation of outrage. Because they have lost worse than even 20 years ago. There has their own newspapers, the parties must been a tremendous increase in the share of work with the most sensational and provoc- soft news, of human interest and sport sto- ative messages possible. ries. There is also less structure to our journalism. Reporting has become more epi- What are the political consequences of this sodic, and current affairs are broken down for Switzerland? into individual events that are no longer Wherever there has been a sharp rise in connected to one another. The cause and free products, political populism has also effect process is neglected, and the forma- enjoyed paralleled success. The conse- tion of public opinion is restricted. Politi- quences of this are more serious in Switzer- cians with provocative messages today have land than in countries with a system of gov- far greater opportunity for inclusion in ed- ernment and opposition. The Swiss system itorial content than before. And, last but of concordance fares badly with a form of not least, there is also an ongoing decline public communication where brute force in the coverage of foreign issues. Switzer- rules over the presentation of superior land is becoming less outward-looking and argument. Democracy suffers when dra- more ignorant of world affairs. matic bloodletting in the press becomes the most important means of political commu- What reasons has your research identified nication. Kurt Imhof, born in 1956, studied history, sociology for this trend? and philosophy and is now a Professor of Journalism and Sociology. He has been head of the “Research Until the 1970s it was party newspapers This is the old chicken and egg conundrum – Institute for the Public Sphere and Society” at the Uni- that conveyed political messages. Party what changed first, the media approach or versity of Zurich since 1997. He has published newspapers are about political opinion; public interest? numerous books. “Die Krise der Öffentlichkeit – Kom- they do not focus primarily on sales. This No, this is not a chicken and egg situa- munikation und Medien als Faktoren des sozialen was followed by the heyday of the “forum tion. It is more a matter of civilisation and newspapers”, which took over from party culture versus barbarism. People have al- This was an extraordinary election cam- newspapers in communicating with the ways been able to sell trash, that’s nothing paign. Since the 1990s, the Swiss People’s public. The public were regarded as citi- new. In the days of the Ancien Régime, tens Party (SVP) has generally been able to as- zens first and foremost and not media con- of thousands of people went to public exe- sert itself through its campaigns, particu- sumers. This changed radically in the 1980s. cutions to satisfy their thirst for scandal, larly in 2007 when it focussed on criminal- gossip, bloodshed and violence. For democ- ity among foreign youths. This resulted in In what way? racy, an elite project, the youth criminality, in particular that caused A media system emerged general level of education by foreigners, taking first place in the GfS that focused on media con- Private and personal had to be raised to enable worry barometer prior to the elections, sumers and attempted to citizens to participate in together with the issue of immigration. win them through sensa- issues have become democratic public life us- This then led to the success that the SVP tional stories. Journalism relevant at the ing arguments. We are not enjoyed at the ballot box. became morally and emo- expense of matters of simply at the mercy of a tionally charged, which current trend. We are talk- Were things different this year? saw private and personal public concern. ing about a conscious deci- Yes, the parties’ campaigns were dis- vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No issues become relevant at sion. rupted by major events, such as Fukushima, 5 / No. November 2011

the expense of matters of public concern. the strong Swiss franc, the economic crisis Today, populist politicians from all parties How did you see the role of the media in the and, more recently, the latest UBS scandal. swiss Review Photo: donated have a greater presence in the media than recent election campaign? All of this diverted from the SVP’s swiss Review 19

campaigning on mass immigration. The There is even more soft news and less young adults. For example, it no longer real world still has an impact on the polit- structure in reporting. This is explained by matters in terms of social conventions ical and media systems, which is reassuring editorial redundancies whether someone reads at least. and the fact that jour- The gentle force of a bet- a quality newspaper or a nalists are leaving the free product. We need It is precisely these processes that you are re- media. Reporting is ter argument is being to target schools and de- searching at the “Research Institute for the therefore becoming ousted by the cultivation velop greater media Public Sphere and Society” at the University even more episodic. And of outrage. awareness. Secondly, we of Zurich. The second “Qualität der Medien” finally there has also should introduce a rat- been restructuring – the ing system to indicate number of foreign correspondents has been media quality. This would allow us to show reduced, with resources re-deployed to on an annual basis which media products cover stories like Kachelmann and are performing well in terms of diversity, Hirschmann. professionalism, topicality and relevance. And thirdly, the government needs to cre- In a special chapter, you examined the busi- ate conditions that enable quality journal- ness coverage of companies. You developed ism to remain financially viable. For this to a piece of plagiarism software for this pur- work, there needs to be fewer free products pose. because the public has almost zero cost Yes. This enabled us to demonstrate that awareness. an alarmingly high proportion of business reporting is simply PR. Newspapers take How would you achieve this? corporate press releases and sell these spe- We must eliminate free products at cific interest stories as general interest. We all costs. The relationship between found this in all print products but to var- advertising revenues and editorial content, ying degrees. The highest proportion was which has long sustained journalism, is found in the free newspapers. breaking down. Support measures are therefore needed, which may include Another chapter looks at how foreigners public funding. Media companies that have are presented as a problem. Why is this so free products in their portfolio and effective in Switzerland? therefore distort the market ought to be Kurt Imhof, born in 1956, studied history, sociology Wandels” (Campus, 2011) and the second “Qualität Switzerland has a strong tradition in this excluded. This would of course have to be and philosophy and is now a Professor of Journalism der Medien” yearbook (Schwabe, 2011) came out respect dating back to the 1960s. Using the done outside government control via a and Sociology. He has been head of the “Research recently. The yearbook can also be found online at Institute for the Public Sphere and Society” at the Uni- www.qualitaet-der-medien.ch. It is financed by expulsion and minaret initiatives, we were foundation awarding funding based on versity of Zurich since 1997. He has published the “Stiftung Öffentlichkeit und Gesellschaft” (Foun- able to illustrate how a campaign has to be clear quality criteria. Citizens would numerous books. “Die Krise der Öffentlichkeit – Kom- dation for the Public Sphere and Society). managed to produce as much editorial cov- have to dig deeper into their pockets as munikation und Medien als Faktoren des sozialen www.oeffentlichkeit.ch erage as possible. Money and a provocative there would be no other solution. It is message are required. The SVP spent 3.3 important here to recognise that journal- (Quality of the Media) yearbook was pub- million Swiss francs on the expulsion initi- ism is democracy’s most important public lished in Switzerland in October. How do ative in paid-for media, such as posters. By service, even more important than public the results differ from those of the previous comparison, the FDP only spent 180,000 transport. If public communication is left year? Swiss francs, the Christian Democratic exclusively to the market, we will lose the The use of all forms of information me- People’s Party (CVP) 45,000 and the So- cultural values that enlightenment brought dia has decreased compared to 2010. This cial Democratic Party (SP) 5,000. No us and we will move towards barbarism. has been the case for a while now with other country has the kind of wealthy, pop- subscription newspapers. There has also ulist, right-wing group found in Switzer- Is that politically feasible? been a particularly dramatic decline in ra- land. Thanks to its provocative message, There is no viable alternative. If, for dio and television information channels the SVP achieved the greatest response example, one of the major media compa- over the past 10 years. However, the fall and its presentation of foreigners as a prob- nies is sold abroad, Switzerland will lose its in the use of online news sites from 2009 lem was upheld by a majority. These fac- publishing infrastructure and the opportu- to 2010 is a new development. By contrast, tors go a long way towards explaining the nity to maintain and develop democracy. there has been an increase in the use of success of the initiatives. And it appears highly likely that a major other service portals, such as Bluewin and crisis is on the horizon. While crises are vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No GMX. terrible, they do always present the oppor- What has to change if the quality of public communications is to be improved? tunity to emphasise to people how impor- These are quantitative changes, but are there We need to focus on three areas: firstly, tant the quality of public debate is.

swiss Review also qualitative differences? the public and, above all, teenagers and 20 Culture

Quadrilingual or multilingual? Swiss literature and the world The Swiss literary scene is incredibly small on the global stage, but it is far from insignificant. However, the creation of literary works, with their division into linguistic regions, would hardly be feasible without the involvement of countries abroad that share the same language because the barriers within Switzerland are too high. By Barbara Villiger Heilig

Agota Kristof died in Neuchâtel at the end Through her new home, where she never Switzerland who passed away recently, of July. Her books were world literature in really settled, Agota Kristof found a also had his books published in Paris – and the truest sense of the term. They included unique form of literary expression with the was proud of the fact. In 1973, he received the trilogy of “The Notebook”, “The Proof” French language she struggled to learn. the Prix Goncourt, the most prestigious and “The Third Lie”, which was followed by The result was a sparse, minimalistic lan- prize in French literature, for his work the novel “Yesterday”. This was unfortu- guage whose apparent naivety concealed a “L’Ogre”. He was the first recipient from nately to be this great author’s last work. subtle art. Her four novels were all pub- outside France and remains the only Swiss Agota Kristof wrote in Switzerland, where lished by Le Seuil in Paris, one of the lead- winner. she lived since fleeing Hungary in 1956. Her ing publishing houses for fiction. France – work was influenced by the major impact and above all Paris – continues to exercise Ticino poetry for Italians this flight had on her life as the native Hun- great influence over literature written in Switzerland, with its four national lan- garian was existentially uprooted. The expe- French, even if it comes from French- guages, is also an anomaly in literature. rience of emigration accounted for the speaking Switzerland. French-speaking Each linguistic region – apart from Ro- power of her literature and took her far be- Swiss authors who do not make it in Paris mansh, an exception in this exceptional sit- yond the realm of the personal biography, face a tougher challenge. While they may uation – borders a neighbouring country making her universally relevant in a world well get their work published thanks to the that shares the same language: German- that has often been confronted with the phe- large number of Swiss publishing houses, speaking Switzerland has a border with nomenon of migration and will certainly it will usually only reach a domestic read- Germany and Austria; French-speaking continue to face it in the future. ership. Switzerland with France; Ticino and Ital- French literature from Switzerland only ian-speaking Grisons with Italy. Writers A godsend for Swiss literature reaches French bookshops to a very lim- from each of these linguistic regions natu- It comes as little surprise that Kristof’s work ited extent. This is explained by distribu- rally look beyond national borders to has now been translated into over 30 lan- tion, the workings of the press and, above where there are not only more publishing guages. This immigrant, an outstanding all, proverbial French chauvinism. Authors houses, but also, above all, a sizeable po- writer, has helped Swiss literature achieve who do manage to be published in France tential reading public. global prominence. Is this a paradox or a are also held in higher esteem and receive While this only opens up opportunities symptom? Probably neither. Switzerland is more attention at home. This is a well-es- to a limited extent for French-speaking tiny, and literature is an art. Really great tablished tradition – even Charles Ferdi- Swiss, as explained above, authors from Ti- works are extremely rare. In this respect, nand Ramuz, the grand old man of lettres cino do actually find their readership in more than anything, Hungarian-born Agota romandes, had to go via Paris to achieve neighbouring Italy. Ticino authors tend to Kristof was a godsend for the Swiss literary fame in Switzerland. Jacques Chessex, an- write poetry rather than novels, and the po- scene. other great author from French-speaking etry collections of leading Ticino writers are published by renowned Italian publishing houses. The Limmat publishing house in Zurich has shown an ambition for some time to make this literature accessible to a native German-speaking audience as well and continually publishes translations of poetry collections from Ticino. It is no secret that such works are not bestsellers. Even in its original language, poetry has to content itself with a readership of devotees. This is diluted even further when poetry is vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No transported across language barriers in a 5 / No. November 2011

iew Visitors in front of a wall v translated form. featuring portraits of Re It is well known that these barriers also ss writers at the Solothurn Photo: Keystone Swi Photo: Keystone “Literary Days” festival. exist within Switzerland despite manda- Swi ss Re v iew 21

tory language lessons in schools. The great divide between French-speaking and Ger- man-speaking Switzerland is as strong as ever. Attempts to overcome this language barrier have nevertheless been made recently in the literary world. A group of young writers have united under the slo- gan “Bern ist überall” (Berne is Every- where). They appear at festivals and even in schools with animated musical spoken- word performances in various formations and have received accolades from across the generations. The members of “Bern ist überall” come from Berne, Lausanne, Ge- neva, Zurich and Romansh Surselva. They speak in their local tongues confidently and successfully too: it is thanks to them that Swiss German is suddenly being seen as cool by youngsters in French-speaking Switzerland, much to the chagrin of their German teachers. Unpopular High Ger- man, as taught in schools, is still another Pedro Lenz, author story altogether. of “Der Goalie bin ig”, during a reading at the Solothurn Pro Helvetia finances translations “Literary Days” festival Noëlle Revaz from Valais belongs to “Bern on 5 June 2011. ist überall”. Her first novel “Von wegen den Tieren”, a shocking, raw portrayal of nated in 2010 for the Swiss Book Prize, a former Yugoslavia. Melinda Nadj Abonji the farming community depicted with lin- relatively new institution associated with will now become the first artist in residence guistic brutality, was a sensation in 2002. the “BuchBasel” book fair. However, last at the Swiss Institute in Rome – a newly cre- The book hit a nerve in our high-tech civ- year’s award went to Melinda Nadj Abonji ated position for promoting art and, in this ilisation. The fact that the agricultural with her second novel “Tauben fliegen auf” case, literature. world is currently in vogue is also high- (Falcons without Falconers). She had won Writers also have to make a living. Since lighted by another member of “Bern ist the German Book Prize with the same title 2006, many have earned some of their in- überall”, the young author Arno Came- just before, and this was celebrated as rec- come by lecturing at the Swiss Institute of nisch. He wrote his first novel “Sez Ner”, ognition and a shot in the arm for literature Literature in Biel, which, as a university, of- set in the Grisons Alps, in two languages, in German-speaking Switzerland. Gaining fers courses in literary writing in German Romansh and German. Published in 2009, a foothold in the German-speaking market and French. The list of lecturers there reads it has sold extremely well, with around as a whole is no mean feat for writers from like a who’s who of the newer generation of 6,000 copies purchased. It has already German-speaking Switzerland either, al- Swiss authors and includes Silvio Huonder, been translated into French, Italian and though it is easier to penetrate than the Francesco Micieli, Urs Richle, Ruth Sch- even Romanian, and other versions are French market. weikert, Michael Stauffer, Beat Sterchi, currently being produced. Top-quality Melinda Nadj Abonji was fantastically well Claire Genoux, Eugène Meiltz, Ilma Rakusa, translation is provided by the Swiss Arts received thanks to the two high-profile Peter Stamm and Raphael Urweider. But the Council Pro Helvetia. This not only sup- prizes. Her award-winning novel inter- lecturing staff is not restricted to Swiss tal- ports primary literary production, but also weaves autobiographical detail with contem- ent. There is intensive exchange and contact pays special attention to translation. Be- porary history and is set in both Serbia, her with literary figures abroad, particularly in sides seeing to the distribution of Swiss lit- country of origin, and Switzerland. She came German-speaking countries. In the theatri- erature abroad, it facilitates the transfer to Zurich as a child from rural, Hungarian- cal world, Lukas Bärfuss, Switzerland’s lead- from one national language to the others. speaking Vojvodina. Although, in contrast ing young dramatist, is popular in Germany Pro Helvetia has apparently even to Agota Kristof, she has developed a breezy, and Austria, where his works are often per- launched a “Der Goalie bin ig” project to poetic style, there are parallels between the formed and even premiere. And he is not translate the successful novel written in di- two writers. Alienation in a new environment alone. National patriotism is not a literary vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No alect by Bernese author Pedro Lenz, who is also pervades “Tauben fliegen auf” and at criterion. Thankfully. iew

v also a member of “Bern ist überall”, into times the almost gentle tone fails to conceal e R High German. That promises to be quite a the harsh experience of emigration which Barbara Villiger Heilig is editor of the “NZZ” ss review section and a critic on the “Literaturclub”

Swi Photo: Keystone challenge. “Der Goalie bin ig” was nomi- was given new resonance by the war in the programme on Swiss television. 22 CULTURE

Switzerland as seen by the travellers of bygone ages The popularity of the mountains owes much to the passion that travelling romantics, writers and artists, had for Switzerland. The “Viatimages” database contains more than 2,000 pictures illustrating accounts of journeys in Switzerland and the Alps from the Renaissance to the 19th century. An interview with Claude Reichler, professor at the University of Lausanne and head of the project. By Alain Wey

The “Viaticalpes” project with Was this infatuation with the were published every year in Europe in the its thousands of images of Swiss alpine region also linked second half of the 18th century. After the Na- Switzerland in bygone days to political thought? poleonic Wars, from 1815 until 1850, 40 invites us to discover the early The philosophers and think- works on travels in Switzerland sometimes stages of tourism in Switzer- ers of 18th-century Europe saw appeared in one year. This represented an land and the forgotten history models of fundamental de- extraordinary success for the period. of our mountains. The trave- mocracy in the small alpine logues reveal foreigners’ fasci- cantons with their local assem- What types of images appeared in these trav- nation with Switzerland since blies. These places and the elogues, which were very often illustrated? the 18th century. The wealth of images that peasants who lived there were seen as her- They were often engravings, which were illustrate them have been stored in the alding a new form of politics and popular later coloured, transforming watercolour “Viatimages” online database. This infatu- freedom that contrasted with the monar- engravings into a popular craft. Artists also ation with the Alps contributed to the aura chical Europe of the time. sold miniature watercolour pictures to of the alpine region that has become part wealthy travellers. These schools depict- of Swiss mythology. Which literary works marked this shift ing the Alps were called “the small Swiss Claude Reichler, head of the project and towards idealisation of the alpine landscape masters”. The most important of them was professor of French literature and cultural and unspoiled nature? Caspar Wolf. He worked outdoors and in history at the University of Lausanne, takes Two fundamentally important works his studio in winter. He also produced a journey back in time through the soaring played a major role: the poem “The Alps” larger-sized oil paintings. In the 19th cen- enthusiasm generated by our “unspoiled (1732) by Albrecht von Haller and “Julie, tury, painters turned depicting the Alps island”, which is richly illustrated in pictorial or the New Heloise” (1761) by Jean- into a profession, among them Alexandre and literary works. The remarkable appeal Jacques Rousseau. They were read by all Calame (1810-1864) from Geneva, who en- of the high mountains, where the Alpine Arc the European elites and possessed the joyed enormous success. His paintings can be traversed or crossed, has transformed quality of masterpieces that transform the were commissioned by the Russian court. the sphere of leisure activities from the time thinking of the time. In the 19th century, the Geneva landscape of the Renaissance. school was fond of portraying the Alps. And what about authors in the rest This continued until Ferdinand Hodler, “Swiss Review”: How did alpine travel of Europe? who devoted a lot of time to landscapes. become fashionable? There was great interest in the Alps, par- Professor Claude Reichler: There ticularly the Swiss Alps, in all European What developments can be identified in are various reasons but a key factor is the cultures. The great romantics came to the illustrations over the centuries? tradition among young English aristocrats Switzerland and wrote alpine works. The There were different fashions and sensi- of making an educational journey around English with George Gordon Byron, Wil- bilities over the ages. A distinction can be Europe known as the “Grand Tour”. In liam Wordsworth and Percy Bysshe Shel- made, for example, between the picturesque 18th-century England a new way of looking ley, the Germans with Johann Wolfgang style of the 18th century – which depicts at nature emerged, which spawned an aes- von Goethe and Friedrich Hölderlin, and scenes from rural life in the valleys – and the thetic ideal known as picturesque. Great the French with Alexandre Dumas, the style associated with the sublime nature of significance was attributed to unspoiled author of the “Three Musketeers”, Victor the very high mountains, with their glaciers, nature. At first, the flatlands, parks and Hugo and George Sand. rocks, precipices and great waterfalls, which gardens were all the rage. Then all of a sud- characterised the 19th century. den, adventure and vertical ascents took The “Viatimages” project is based on vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No centre stage. This interest spread from the 5 / No. November 2011 accounts of alpine journeys. How significant How did the passion for travel in UK to all European cultures, to the French is this literary trend? Switzerland develop?

Review and German, then to the Nordic cultures According to the British historian Gavin In the 18th century, these travellers were ss Photo: donated Swi Photo: donated with the Romantic Movement. de Beer, around five books on Switzerland the European urban elite from London, Swi ss Review 23

Paris and German cities as well as philosophers, painters and aristocrats. After the Napoleonic Wars, Europeans started to travel again and businessmen and merchants gradually joined the movement. They copied the behaviour of the aristocrats because it enhanced their status. The number of travellers increased when the transport revolution (steam trains and boats) got underway. Preindustrial forms of tourist accommo- dation were developed with the construction of large hotels on the shores of the lakes and even in the Alps. This was the beginning of tourism, with the Eng- lish travel agency Cook offering the first organised trips around 1860. The popularity of the Alps was also boosted in the 19th century by doctors treating tuber- culosis who advocated the quality of the pure alpine air and the benefits of the sun.

What do you mean by “unspoiled island” in relation to Switzerland? This is a major Swiss theme that is often covered by the press. It dates back to the 18th century when Switzerland made a name for itself outside historical trends with travellers who came here to see models of democracy at work. They saw these as a relic that had survived since time immemorial, but this was an error of judgement. The concept of unspoiled island was not invented by the Swiss but by people from elsewhere. The Swiss subsequently adopted it partly to justify their neutrality.

“Der Geltenbachfall im Wolf was a pioneer of the the Bernese publisher a gallery with almost 200 Winter” by Caspar Wolf painting of alpine scenery. Abraham Wagner, he pro- oil paintings of the Swiss (1735-1783). Under a commission from duced his magnum opus – Alps.

The “Viatimages” database A comprehensive encyclopaedia phies from 800 little-known books, with the corresponding texts who appreciate detail will enjoy of travel writing in the Swiss Alps, which are often confined to lib- (in French, German, English and this because they contain small “Viatimages” is a database contai- rary archives. Latin), artists, engravers and scenes that allow you to explore ning over 2,000 illustrations from These illustrations also pro- authors (with biographies). The the customs of the day, encapsu- travel literature on the Alps da- vide depictions of clothing, most enjoyable feature is lating the enthusiasm of travel- vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011 th th No ting from the 16 to the 19 cen- people, minerals, plant life, plans, geographical research. An interac- lers for alpine landscapes.

tury. Claude Reichler and the “Vi- maps, monuments and scenery. tive map enables images, which www.unil.ch/viatimages

Review aticalpes” project team have All the illustrations on the can be enlarged with a zoom ss

Swi Photo: donated reviewed over 10,000 iconogra- “Viatimages” website are linked function, to be localised. Those 24 ORGANISATION OF THE SWISS ABROAD

Experts then voiced their views on “democracy in an international context” in a discussion session. The debate focused on Switzerland’s relationship with the EU as well as on whether popular decision- making was always the right approach. Andreas Auer, a professor at the University of Zurich and head of the Centre for Democracy Studies in Aarau, forcefully put forward the argument that democracy and popular decision-making cannot take precedence over everything else. He explained: “Democracy cannot be above univer- sal values such as human rights.” The event highlight was Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard’s visit to Lugano. She spoke mainly about economic issues and vehemently Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Lugano defended the Federal Council’s policy on the strength of the Swiss franc. She described the Swiss abroad as ambassadors for the nation. This year’s Congress of the Swiss Abroad focused of course on the A gala dinner on the Saturday evening and various excursions and parliamentary elections of 23 October. The theme of the congress visits on the Sunday rounded off the programme. was “direct democracy in an international context”. There was BARBARA ENGEL much debate about how the Swiss abroad could obtain greater political influence.

Over 400 guests from all over the world took part in the 89th Con- gress of the Swiss Abroad. In keeping with tradition, the Congress, which was held at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano, began on the Friday with the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA). One of the most important issues discussed by the Council was the creation of a law governing the Swiss abroad designed to ensure that federal government adopts a strategy on all issues concerning the Swiss abroad. The free movement of persons, an issue put forward for debate by people on the right politically, was also on the agenda. The members of the CSA passed a motion by 65 votes to 3 calling for the po- The OSA executive board at the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad litical parties to work towards maintaining and extending the free movement of persons. This was not surprising since 420,000 of the 700,000 Swiss abroad live in a European Union country and are directly affected by the free movement of persons. This was also a key issue in the electoral manifesto drawn up by the CSA in spring.

Visit of the Federal Councillor A packed programme awaited visitors on the Saturday. In his wel- come address, Jacques-Simon Eggly, OSA President, once again emphasised that Swiss citizens abroad should have more weight politically. Electronic participation in elections and referenda plays a key role here. Both the CSA and OSA intend to place special em- phasis on this issue in future. Achille Casanova, former Vice-Chan- Enjoying good company over lunch on Saturday cellor and Federal Council spokesperson, then gave an extremely interesting speech on the challenges of direct democracy and concordance. He said that the Swiss system of concordance government was incomprehensible to most foreigners. However, he explained that there is a proud history of democracy and concordance in Switzerland “because our forefathers always rejected an excessive concentration of power”. This resulted in a “subtle distribution of power”, said Casanova. Another major benefit of direct democracy is that the people and government have to engage in constant dialogue. Casanova reminded the Swiss abroad of one factor in vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No particular that has made Switzerland strong – respect for 5 / No. November 2011 w e

vi others. He added: “This strength is measured by the wellbeing A e S of the weakest and respect for other cultures and religions. Unfortu- Agnes Parodi-Coray (aged 98), the oldest participant of the congress, together with OSA employees swiss R Photos: O nately, such values seem to be losing their relevance.” swiss R e vi w 25

OSA advice Young people from all over However, action-packed holidays can be the world combined wonderfully with learning. I am a Swiss citizen abroad and I have There are still places available on the lan- great difficulty communicating You too have Swiss roots. But do you know guage courses in Berne and Fribourg in with the Central Compensation Office Switzerland? Would you like to find out January 2012. You go to school in the promptly owing to the length of postal more about the land of your forefathers? morning, and in the afternoon you can en- delivery times. Wouldn’t it be easier We organise opportunities for you to joy a fringe programme, spend time with to communicate by e-mail? meet other Swiss abroad and come into your host family or explore Switzerland contact with local people. on your own by train. It is true that postal delivery times can Our “Training in Switzerland” offer pri- cause problems when communicating The coming together of different cultures marily aims to provide you with advice on with authorities in Switzerland and, in and backgrounds is one of the most excit- training and educational opportunities. Af- this Internet age, asking whether coming aspects of the Organisation of the ter your stay, you may decide to take a vo- munication by e-mail would be easier is Swiss Abroad’s offers for young people. cational training course in Switzerland, a legitimate question. We contacted the This year, 60 young people from 25 coun- spend a semester abroad at a Swiss univer- Central Compensation Office and tries will meet at the New Year Camp in sity or do a professional apprenticeship. learned that the situation is more com- Lantsch. A mishmash of languages while For this offer too you can stay with a host plicated than it may appear at first queuing at the chair lift; different experi- family from whom you will learn a great glance. In countries where delivery ences of weather conditions, of snow and deal and who can offer you a comfortable takes a long time and is less reliable, the of wearing sports equipment on their feet; home. Office works with the local Swiss repre- different temperaments, dietary habits Information on offers for young people can be sentations, which are given the task of and ways of life – all these come to light found under “Offers” at www.aso.ch. passing on mail to member organisa- during the ten days. Tolerance and a good tions. Anyone who wants to contact sense of humour are the key to having a Study grants – the Central Compensation Office by good time and getting on well together. e-mail can do so via its website at We know from experience that this is not harmonisation needed www.zas.admin.ch (under “The CCO” – only possible but also lots of fun. All par- The National Union of Students in “Addresses”). ticipants take home very special and valua- Switzerland (VSS) is launching an ini However, not all correspondence can ble experiences. tiative for the harmonisation of the be carried out by e-mail. For example, We would be delighted for you to take ad- grant system. this is not permitted by law for declara- vantage of one of our offers. There are tions of income and assets required for plenty of reasonably priced options available. Parents in Switzerland are obliged by law setting old age and survivors’ insurance/ to meet the costs of their children’s ini- disability insurance contributions, or for Sport offers tial education. If they do not have the supporting documentation and general Are you already a free rider, able to ski means to do so, they can apply to the au- benefit applications, etc. Furthermore, down slopes covered in fresh powder thorities for support in the form of the Central Compensation Office can- snow? Or do you not know what a stem grants. Swiss residing abroad from low- not systematically respond by e-mail in turn is yet? It doesn’t matter! The instruc- income families who are undertaking vo- all circumstances. Judgements, judicial tors on the OSA team will take your abili- cational training or a degree course in correspondence and income and asset ties and preferences into account and pro- Switzerland are also entitled to apply to declarations have to be sent to insured vide you with individual support. You will their canton of origin for a grant. Among persons by post. Upon the express re- of course also gain an insight into your the many Swiss abroad who take educa- quest of an insured person, copies of homeland. There are still places available tional courses in Switzerland, there are some documents can be sent by e-mail. for the following camps: some who would be unable to do so with- So, while some communication can be Winter sports week in Wengen from 25 out the financial support of their canton carried out by e-mail, postal communi- Feb to 3 March 2012 – a camp for Swiss of origin. cation is required in some circum- abroad aged 18 and over; Given that in Switzerland it is the can- stances for legal reasons. Easter camp in Fiesch (Valais) from 7 to tons that decide on the award of educa- Sarah Mastantuoni, 15 April 2012 – a unique camp with plenty tional assistance, grants are not issued ac- Head of the Legal DEPARTMENT of sports opportunities. Indoor halls, out- cording to uniform criteria. Both the

o. 5 door activities, summer sports, winter conditions for support and the amounts N sports and a fantastic group of people from differ. The National Union of Students in all over the world. Aged 13 and over. Switzerland has therefore launched an ini- ember 2011 / ember 2011 ov

N tiative for the harmonisation of the grant OSA’s Legal Department provides general information on Swiss law in areas which specifically con- Learning during your holidays system. It wants to transfer responsibility eview

R cern the Swiss abroad. It does not provide informa- OSA knows that young people enjoy expe- for educational grants in higher education ss tion on foreign law or intervene in disputes wi s between private parties. riencing new things during their holidays. to federal government. 26 ORGANISATION OF THE SWISS ABROAD

100,000 signatures need to be collected to understand and to underline the Registration by 20 January 2012. schools’ key role – the provision of Swiss Precise details on the winter camps and Further information on this issue and education. the registration form are available at the full text of the initiative can be found www.sjas.ch (“Our forthcoming activi- on the following website: www.stipendien- Swiss schools that provide ties”). Reduced contribution rates are initiative.ch education to Swiss standards can be available in justified cases. The form re- found in the following locations: quired can be requested on the registra- For information on educational opportunities tion form. We are also happy to post you in Switzerland: Brazil: São Paulo and Curitiba our information brochure on request. The AJAS – Association for the Promotion Chile: Santiago two winter camps in Arolla and Sedrun of Education for Young Swiss Abroad Columbia: Bogotá will be the only FYSA offers available dur- Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne Ghana: Accra ing the 2011/12 winter season. Tel. +41 31 356 61 04, Fax +41 31 356 61 01 Italy: Bergamo, Catania, Como, Milan E-mail: [email protected] and Rome Summer camps for children Mexico: Cuernavaca, Mexico City and Querétaro aged 8 to 14 Swiss schools abroad with Peru: Lima Registration for the summer camps will Singapore: Singapore begin in February 2012. quality seal Spain: Barcelona and Madrid Precise details on the various summer Thanks to their high educational stan Thailand: Bangkok camps in 2012 (dates, locations and age dards, Swiss schools abroad will be enti groups, etc.) and the registration form tled to carry a Swiss government quality will be available from February 2012 at seal in future. www.sjas.ch (“Our forthcoming activi- Winter camps for children ties”). If you would prefer to look through aged 8 to 14 our offers on paper, you can order a brochure from the office from February 2012.

Foundation for Young Swiss Abroad (FYSA) Swiss schools abroad provide education to Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne Swiss standards on four continents. This Tel. +41 31 356 61 16, Fax +41 31 356 61 01 high-quality education is now to receive E-mail: [email protected], www.sjas.ch an official quality seal. Only Swiss schools abroad recognised by federal government and evaluated by sponsor cantons may Organisation of the Swiss Abroad carry it in accordance with specially issued Our services: guidelines. The logo contains several sym- n Legal Department bols: the Swiss cross stands for official au- There are still some places left on our two n Youth Service thorisation from Switzerland, while the New Year ski camps in Arolla and Sedrun! n Association for the Promotion of Educa- red squares represent the school locations tion for Young Swiss Abroad (AJAS) abroad and their important relationship Winter camp in Arolla (Valais) n Committee for Swiss Schools with Switzerland. Winter camp in Sedrun (Grisons) abroad (CSSA), new: educationsuisse The office for the Swiss schools abroad Date: Tuesday, 27 December 2011 n Foundation for Young Swiss Abroad (FYSA) has also adapted its name and logo. The to Thursday, 5 January 2012 “Committee for Swiss Schools Abroad” is No. of participants: Arolla 36, Sedrun 48 Organisation of the Swiss Abroad now called “educationsuisse”. Cost: CHF 900 (contribution to Alpenstrasse 26, CH–3006 Berne The name highlights Switzerland’s lin- the camp) Phone +41 31 356 6100, Fax +41 31 356 6101, guistic diversity. It is intended to be easy Ski or snowboard hire: approx. CHF 150 [email protected], www.aso.ch

Advertisement vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011 No swiss Review NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT 27

New Consular Directorate office for the handling of demanding con- The new directorate contains sular tasks. This directorate provides three divisions: at the FDFA them with assistance, advice and relief n The Relations with the Swiss Abroad The Federal Council approved the revised with all matters concerning consular af- division, which is run by the FDFA Dele- FDFA Organisational Ordinance in fairs. The bundling of consular activities gate for Relations with the Swiss Abroad. spring 2011, establishing the legal basis also facilitates contact between citizens This division serves to represent the in- for the foundation of a new Consular and the department, whereby all parties terests of the Swiss community abroad Directorate (CD). concerned should benefit from a signifi- within the federal administration. In ad- cant improvement in public service. dition to supporting and promoting these The creation of the new FDFA directorate is the last step in a long process. It officially began its activities on 16 May 2011 Schengen representations established under the management of Ambassador Gerhard Brügger. A highly motivated team Member State (MS) Switzerland Switzerland is has since been endeavouring to ensure constant improvement in public service in represents MS in represented by MS in the field of consular affairs. The new Austria Santo Domingo “FDFA Helpline”, which handles over (Dom. Rep) 1,000 enquiries from citizens every month Pristina (Kosovo) and which has been available seven days a week since October 2011, plays a key role Tiflis (Georgia) Sofia in the improvement of services for Swiss (Bulgaria) people at home and abroad. The next step Tirana is to upgrade the helpline to a 24-hour operation over the next few months. (Albania) Consular services have always been one Zagreb of the FDFA’s key mandates. The require- (Croatia) ments that Swiss representations abroad Hungary Bogotá Minsk have to meet in the field of consular affairs (Columbia) (Belarus) as a whole have increased significantly over Kuala Lumpur Chisinau recent years. This is explained, in particu- (Malaysia) (Moldova) lar, by the growing mobility of the Swiss. This trend is confirmed not just by travel Santiago de Chile statistics but also by the constant growth (Chile) in the Swiss community abroad, which will São Paulo soon reach the 700,000 mark. In order to (Brazil) meet future challenges, the FDFA has Sydney been focusing intensively over the past two (Australia) years on bringing consular services into Sweden Manila line with the requirements, travel behaviour and lifestyles of the Swiss in the 21st (Philippines) century. Belgium Accra Two divisions at the FDFA, from the (Ghana) Directorate for Resources (DR) and the France Pristina Kingston Directorate of Political Affairs, managed (Kosovo) (Jamaica) consular services previously. However, Slovenia Quito the distribution of responsibilities to vari- (Ecuador) ous organisational units proved increas- Montevideo ingly disadvantageous. This is why Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey decided (Uruguay) to transfer the former divisions to a new Dar es Salaam directorate, thus strengthening consular (Tanzania) services and making better use of synergies. Estonia Ramallah vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No Thanks to this reorganisation, which has (Palestine) now been completed, the Swiss represen- Norway Antananarivo tations abroad receive support from a sin- (Madagascar) swiss Review gle, highly efficient directorate at head 28 NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT

interests, the delegate’s responsibilities This division is also responsible for the The FDFA Helpline is available 7 days include implementing the policy of com- development and provision of tools to a week, 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 6 prehensive information on issues specific enable Swiss representations abroad to p.m. Intense efforts are being made to to the Swiss abroad. The delegate and his perform consular services for Swiss citi- provide a 24-hour operation. team work closely with institutional play- zens abroad, travellers and foreign cus- The FDFA Helpline is the central ers – such as the Organisation of the tomers worldwide. The division devises point of contact for all matters relating Swiss Abroad (OSA) and the Solidarity solutions for the modernisation and to consular services. However, the em- Fund for Swiss Nationals Abroad optimisation of consular services and bassies and general consulates remain the (Soliswiss) – which deal with matters represents consular interests in major first point of contact for the Swiss concerning the Swiss abroad. He is also projects at federal and cantonal level, abroad. responsible for helping to shape and to particularly vis-à-vis the Federal Office implement policy on the Swiss abroad for Migration with regard to Schengen, that ensures a good balance between the visas, entry and borders. Federal Council announce- interests of all Swiss people. The man- The division is also responsible for en- agement of legislative projects and par- suring a regular exchange of information ment on 07.09.2011 liamentary business relating to issues and experiences between Switzerland and concerning the retirement concerning the Swiss abroad and the vi- the other Schengen Member States, and of Swiss President sion of a single point of contact at federal it develops and concludes cooperation level for all matters relating to the Swiss agreements with selected partners. Such Micheline Calmy-Rey abroad should be mentioned in this agreements represent a priority for the respect. division as well as for the Consular Di- On Wednesday, 7 September 2011, the Federal Council acknowledged the deci- n The Citizens’ Service Centre, which rectorate. The legal basis of the Schen- supports the network of Swiss represen- gen agreement enables Member States to sion by Federal Councillor Micheline tations abroad with all consular matters. represent one another in the issuing of Calmy-Rey to step down from the Federal It provides efficient consular services Schengen visas. Switzerland has so far Council at the end of this year. The Pre- and ensures coordination between repre- concluded such agreements with eight sident of the Confederation informed sentations abroad and organisations, au- Member States (see table on page 27) the Federal Council of her decision not to thorities and individuals in Switzerland. and is in negotiation with others. Swit- stand at the complete re-election of the It contains the two sections Consular zerland currently represents other government on 14 December. Protection and Citizens’ Service and Schengen states in 16 countries while it is Since her election to the Federal Council Representation Support. While the ex- itself represented in six cases. Further on 4 December 2002, Micheline Calmy- perts at the Consular Protection section Schengen representation agreements are Rey has held the office of head of the provide support for Swiss citizens abroad to be concluded in the future, primarily Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in emergency situations, the Citizens’ for locations where Switzerland has no for nine years. Service and Representation Support sec- representation or places and countries During this period, Ms Calmy-Rey has tion operates the new FDFA Helpline, where Switzerland is no longer repre- shown tremendous commitment to Swit- the central point of contact for all mat- sented as a result of the reorganisation of zerland, its people and its institutions. ters and information concerning the the representation network. She has conducted Swiss diplomacy with consular services. This key service can The employees of the Consular Direc- great tenacity and dedication. She has be contacted on telephone number torate, in cooperation with the entire made great efforts to raise Switzerland’s +41 (0)800 24 7 365, via the e-mail FDFA, look forward to tackling interest- profile on the international stage. She has address [email protected] or by ing challenges on behalf of their fellow also focused heavily on ensuring that post. citizens travelling or living abroad and Switzerland actively participates in polit- n The Consular Strategies, Development will endeavour to provide outstanding ical dialogue and in the search for solu- and Agreements division, which deals service on a daily basis. tions to the great challenges of our age. with the expansion of eGovernment solu- She has always regarded international co- tions, among other issues. The setup of +41 (0)800 24-7-365 operation as a priority. At the same time, an online contact point through which Ms Calmy-Rey has strengthened Swit- the Swiss abroad will, in the future, be zerland’s relations with the international able to process various consular transac- community. tions independently (ID cards, changes In domestic politics, Ms Calmy-Rey has of address, changes of marital status, etc.) implemented important reforms in her is one key project. This will meet the de- department, assisting greatly with the work vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No mand from citizens for simplification in on government reform. 5 / No. November 2011

their dealings with Switzerland’s repre- During her two years as President of sentations abroad and the administration the Confederation in 2007 and 2011,

swiss Review within the country. Ms Calmy-Rey has placed much empha- swiss Review 29

sis on the importance of the principle of Should you receive fraudulent e-mails, start of 2011 to mark its 50th anniversary. collegiality and the constant search for please report this to the FTA and for- It can be ordered via the SDC website. compromise. She has always defended our ward the e-mails to the following address: The SDC’s full list of publications can be nation’s institutions and democratic values. [email protected] found under the following link: The Federal Council will remember Thank you. http://www.deza.admin.ch/de/Home/ Micheline Calmy-Rey as an extremely Dokumentation/Publikationen dedicated politician and a much-valued colleague. It would like to take this op- Publications portunity to express its gratitude to her and to wish her and her family well for the future. Elections and referenda The next date for a federal referendum will be 11 March 2012. The Federal Warning issued by Council will decide later which proposals will be put to the people on this date. the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA): Phishing

Fraudsters try on various occasions to Video: 50 Years SDC – More than aid Important: obtain information concerning accounts Since it was established in 1961, Swiss de- Please do not forget to inform your and credit cards, as well as copies of tax- velopment cooperation has experienced Swiss representation of your current payers’ passports, by sending e-mails. many changes and has been forced to tackle postal and e-mail address. We also rec- These e-mails use false sender addresses. new challenges on the thematic, methodo- ommend that you notify the embassy or Consequently, the Federal Tax Adminis- logical and geographical levels (see pages 8 consulate of your mobile telephone num- tration (FTA) has been improperly listed to 11). Using interviews with contemporar- ber in countries exposed to natural disas- as the sender in several of these e-mails. ies and archive material, this film recounts ters or political instability. The FTA is now issuing a warning not to the history of the Swiss Agency for Devel- Please register at www.swissabroad.ch respond to these e-mails or ones of a sim- opment and Cooperation (SDC) from its to ensure you do not miss any communi- ilar nature. early days to the present. cations (“Swiss Review”, newsletter, etc.) Any FTA claims are sent to taxpayers See video: http://www.deza.admin.ch/ from your representation. solely by letter and indicate the dossier en/Dossiers/50_years_SDC/History/ The current edition of “Swiss Review” number. The FTA never makes enquiries Videos as well as previous editions can be read about taxpayers’ confidential informa- The SDC also published a special edi- and/or printed out at www.revue.ch. tion via e-mail. tion of its magazine “Eine Welt” at the

Popular initiatives: FDFA OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: By the time of going to press, the following popular initia- JEAN-FRANÇOIS LICHTENSTERN, RELATIONS WITH THE SWISS ABROAD tives had been launched since the last edition of “Swiss Review” BUNDESGASSE 32, CH-3003 BERNe (deadlines for the collection of signatures in brackets): TELEPHONE: +41 800 24 7 365 WWW.EDA.ADMIN.CH, MAIL: [email protected]

n Federal popular initiative “Kernkraftwerke sind abzuschalten” Inserat (Decommission nuclear power stations) (19.01.2013) n “Millionen-Erbschaften besteuern für unsere AHV” (Tax on inherited millions to fund old age and survivors’ insurance) vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No (inheritance tax reform) (16.02.2013) The complete list can be found in German on the Federal eview

R Chancellery’s website, www.bk.admin.ch, under

swiss Themen > Politische Rechte > Volksinitiativen. 30 TREASURES

Swiss celebrities reminisce Kübler is sure to awaken very personal endar is now available again in its tradi- memories. tional format, linen-bound with a The Chief Prosecutor of the Interna- pencil inserted and full of information “erlebt&erinnert” audio book series, swissandfamous tional Criminal Court in The Hague, one verlag, Zurich. including details of children’s rights, of Switzerland’s best-known TV pre- Order CDs: www.erlebtunderinnert.ch card tricks, world religions and the senters, a world record holder and pioneer Download as MP3 files: www.audible.de and Olympic Games. www.apple.com/itunes in aviation, a teller of fairy tales and Sales: StämpfliV erlag, Wölflistrase 1, CH-3001 Berne a cycling legend: five famous Swiss peo- Price: CHF 15.80 excluding delivery costs ple provide an insight into their lives http://www.buchstaempfli.com in the “erlebt&erinnert” series of audio It’s back books. These prominent figures recall The Pestalozzi Calendar, the popular anecdotes, talk about their childhood and information-packed Swiss school memories and reveal key moments and pupils’ organiser is now available again. major highpoints in their lives. There are More than 100,000 calendars were tales about life under police protec- sold each year between 1930 and 1950. tion, being parents and role models, hyp- The little linen-bound book, with the nosis as a secret weapon, being one of “little treasure chest” as an added bonus Switzerland’s first female politicians and for many years, was on the wish list overall victory in the Tour de France. of generations of Swiss school children Listening to the voices of Carla year in year out. New sizes and formats del Ponte, Bernard Thurnheer, Bertrand were experimented with in the 1980s Piccard, Trudi Gerster and Ferdy but without success. The Pestalozzi Cal-

“Born on 7 February 1971” They are 40 this year. They were born on 7 February 1971, an his- toric day in Swiss politics when the vote for women was approved by a two-thirds majority. Around a hundred girls came into the world in Switzerland on this date. They are now entering middle age at a time when voting and political participation are taken for granted. “Geboren am 7.2.1971” (Born on 7.2.1971) is the title of a book in this anniversary year edited by Barbara Ritschard, who worked as an advisor to Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger for many years. Seventeen of the women born on 7 February 1971 have their say individually, in dialogue or in a three-way conversation with their mothers and the next generation. Two are Swiss citizens The other Bürgenstock living abroad: Christa Cantieni Cunin, who grew up in Schamser- berg in Grisons and is now a lawyer in Brussels and a mother of Villa Honegg on the Bürgen- fully furnished rooms, confer- three children with whom she still speaks Romansh (Sutsilvan), and stock has awoken from a deep ence rooms with all the neces- Catherine Heinzelmann from Ludwigsburg, an HR consultant slumber. The small hotel, sary technical facilities, a large and mother-of-two who was born in Berne and grew up in Geneva. situated on the southern slope spa area and an excellent res- Her twin sister Laurence, who also features in the book, still lives of the mountain and not in taurant where the chef has a there today. the gigantic resort above Lu- fondness for Lebanese cuisine. The accounts are illustrated with numerous photographs cerne, offers tranquillity and, However, hotel manager Peter and, as an additional feature, interspersed with information on above all, magnificent views Durrer is also keen to maintain referenda over the past 40 years where

of Lake Lucerne and the its old tradition as an inn for Swiss women have voted differently to Geboren am mountains. The renovation of tourists and hikers with chil- men. The outcome is an extraordinary 7.2.1971 the building, which was con- dren. Anyone who can afford anniversary publication, which is structed in 1905 in the Belle to can also hire out the hotel engaging, touching, insightful, carefully Époque style, took three years exclusively for themselves and produced and without the usual to complete. The hotel has their family or for a corporate retrospective views of leading vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No been welcoming guests again event. The price: 24,000 Swiss politicians.

since the summer. It offers francs a day. Die Mütter und Töchter des “Geboren am 7.2.1971”; edited by Barbara Ritschard; Frauenstimmrechts everything you would expect hep verlag Berne, 180 pages, paperback; CHF 29; swiss Review Photos: donated from a 5-star hotel: 23 taste- www.villa-honegg.ch Order: [email protected] ECHO 31

n After 15 victories and one “In times of adversity, it is vital that we stand together. That is what I The bottom of the dam is 200 defeat, boxer Aniya Seki from am appealing for in the spirit of our forefathers who stood together in metres thick – twice the length Köniz near Berne fought her 1291 – back then it was against the Habsburgs, the challenge today is the of a football pitch. firstworld title fight in exchange rate.” Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann It narrows as it rises such that the super-flyweight division the top of the dam wall meas- and defeated her opponent “Switzerland is set to become German finance minister Wolfgang Schäu- ures just 15 metres. If the reser- from Germany, Natascha ble’s largest tax collection agency.” voir is full, the top of the dam Peter Bodenmann, former President of the Swiss Social Democratic Party on the tax Guthier, on 20 August. Seki, agreement between Switzerland and Germany signed on 21 September moves by 11 centimetres under aged 32, who has a Japanese the pressure. A fifth of the father and a Swiss mother, was “After the many issues we had to iron out, this agreement represents stored energy generated in clearly technically superior a major achievement.” Switzerland is produced by the to her opponent and scored a Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf on the same topic Grande Dixence plant. The unanimous points victory “Life is unjust, particularly when it comes to major banks that have been storage power station provides (100:91, 100:90, 98:92). the target of public outrage for years with no sign of punishment.” around 400,000 households Roger Köppel, editor-in-chief of “Weltwoche” after the revelation with electricity. that a UBS employee lost 2.3 billion US dollars through speculation n At the end of 2010, Switzer- “If you’re asking whether I feel to blame, then the answer is no.” land’s population stood at n The performance of Swiss Oswald Grübel, former CEO of UBS on the machinations at his bank 7,870,100 according to the re- industry in the second quarter sults of the latest census pub- “This group of morons says we should cut the tax rate for all companies.” of this year was excellent, ac- lished by the Federal Statistical Christophe Darbellay, President of the Christian Democratic People’s Party (CVP), cording to the Federal Statisti- Office. This meant an increase on the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) cal Office. Production was of 84,300 people or 1.1% com- 2.3% higher and revenues even “Federal councillors should not conduct election campaigns. This would pared to the previous year. 3.1% up on the same period in be disastrous for the institution of the Federal Council. I believe it is of In 2008, there had been a 1.4% the previous year. There was greater benefit to my FDP party if I just do my job well.” increase. The number of for- also a significant increase in or- Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter before the elections eign nationals permanently re- ders. siding in Switzerland totalled “In the current line-up I too may face de-selection. But that wouldn’t 1,766,300 million. This is 22.4% bother me.” Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer or 52,300 people more than on the Federal Council election of 14 December n Switzerland has introduced in 2009. Of the foreign resi- a new award for the best “‘I’ is often more important than ‘we’. ‘More and more’ overrides ‘I have dent population, 62.4% came schnapps distilleries in the enough’.” Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard from EU or EFTA member in her speech on the Day of Prayer and Repentance country. They will be known states. The place of birth of as “Gold Distillers” according persons residing in Switzerland to an announcement by the was also recorded for the first Swiss federal authorities. A time: 73.6% were born in Swit- jury under the supervision of zerland; of these 93.6% are Destisuisse, the research insti- Swiss citizens. tute Agroscope Changings- Wädenswil and the Swiss Alcohol Board has presented n The “Grande Dixence” dam the first awards. The following in Valais celebrated its 50th methods were applied: the sen- anniversary on 22 September. sory consensus method for the Standing at 285 metres, the description of the schnapps “Grande Dixence” is the world’s and the internationally recog- second-highest dam, after the nised 100-point system for Nurek dam (300 metres) in colour, fragrance, aroma, taste Tajikistan. It holds back and harmony. The experts Beating the favourites to be crowned champion – Daniel Bösch won the legendary 400 million cubic metres of Unspunnen wrestling tournament in Interlaken on 4 September. “I am a quiet but tasted 410 varieties of spirit on water and weighs around 15 ambitious person who can be uncompromisingly tough sometimes”, is how the 9 and 10 June. With an eight- million tons. Over 3,000 con- butcher from Sirnach in the canton of St. Gallen, who is 193 cm tall and weighs 125 hour working day, the judges struction workers, geologists, kg, describes himself. had to assess a different vember 2011 / No. 5 / No. vember 2011

No hydrologists and engineers Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga was also thrilled by Bösch. At the schnapps every two and a half ew i spent 15 years working at the Unspunnen festival she explained that all seven Federal Councillors had wanted minutes on both days. Five dis- ev R building site at an altitude of to travel to Interlaken before in the end agreeing to “send someone nice from the tilleries may now use the title ss i sw Photo: donated 2,400 metres above sea level. left to see some rough action”. “Gold Distiller 2011”. (BE) Chetzeron, Crans-Montana, Valais

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126_11e_04_publi_schweizer_revue_5.indd 1 17.10.11 09:11