SWISS REVIEW The magazine for the Swiss Abroad August 2016

History at the Gotthard – the opening of the base A cotton and plastic sandwich – the new CHF 50 banknote Keeping an eye on the surveillance – the Davos-born photographer Jules Spinatsch is mobile and Swiss Abroad may be found everywhere on Earth.

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SwissCommunity-Partner: Contents Editorial 3

Casting your vote – even if it is sometimes a chore

5 Mailbag Hand on heart, did you vote in June? If you did, on how many of the five federal proposals? I tried to form an 6 Focus opinion on all of the initiatives and referenda. I stu­ The tunnel-building nation died the voting documents, read newspapers, watched “Arena” on Swiss television and discussed the issues 10 Economy with family and friends. The new banknotes Admittedly, it was arduous at times: Just the doc­ uments themselves, which included two hefty book­ 12 Politics lets, various information sheets and the ballot papers, namely for the five fed­ Referendum results from 5 June eral proposals – pro public service, unconditional basic income, the milch Proposals for 25 September cow initiative, the amendment to the law on reproductive medicine and an Parmelin’s first few months on the amendment to the Asylum Act – plus, because I live in Baselland, six cantonal Federal Council proposals ranging from supplementary childcare to the “Cantonal parlia­ ment resolution on the implementation of the pension fund law reform for 17 Culture the pension scheme of the University of under the pension fund of the The alphorn in the modern age canton of Basel-Stadt – a partnership-based enterprise”. Finally, the envelope A profile of the photographer Spinatsch also contained three ballot papers from my commune of Schönenbuch. These concerned the re-election of members of the school board, the election office 20 Sport and the president of the communal parliament. That comes to 14 referenda Doping in Switzerland and votes in total. This is a lot. And when I think how the proposals at national level are 22 Literature series stacking up this year, I completely understand why some people opt out. The Hugo Loetscher – the global author of electorate is overburdened at times. Even politically-minded people can­ his generation not have a genuine view on everything. I nevertheless tried to, and voted on 5 June. I hope you did, too. Being able to vote in this way remains a privilege 23 OSA news that is only afforded to a few people. allows us as Swiss to actively participate in current affairs and politics. So, we must not shy away 25 news.admin.ch from the effort required, however great, and should even be grateful from time to time. MARKO LEHTINEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 28 Images Swiss art at the Kunsthaus Zürich 30 Books Charles Linsmayer 30 Sounds Seven 31 Echo

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IS is also recruiting in Switzerland. ment. Less can be more if the resources available are de- An interview with the expert Eser Davolio ployed properly. Local knowledge and in-depth analysis of the situation are critically important in this. The staff of the Thank you for this very interesting interview. The expert says implementing institutions who remain in the protected that the motivations of the Swiss jihadists “vary but are often microcosm of their offices and homes cannot identify the more ideological or political than religious. Religious factors causes from there and are not able to take effective deci- are overestimated. Those being recruited have a dichotomous sions or action. In my view such “investment” is counter- view of the world: On the one hand there is the productive and damaging and should therefore not simply Muslim world and on the other there is the West, be cut but thoroughly reviewed. whose values, which are deemed to be decadent, THOMAS ERWIN VON ARX, CENTRAL AFRICA have to be fought…” My question is: Is not their ideology a system of beliefs or theories based, in I have lived abroad since 1964 and have run a private and this case, on the religion of Islam? The prophet highly successful aid organisation for 23 years. I am of Islam, historically speaking, was a religious ashamed of my native country because the Swiss govern- leader but at the same time also a political and ment is mean-spirited and xenophobic citizens are annoyed military leader. The Quran says repeatedly that he is the exam- about millions of economic refugees wanting to come to ple every good Muslim must follow. In light of these facts, are Switzerland. Incidentally, we don’t need money from Swit- you not separating aspects here that need to be together? Do zerland as we are now self-supporting and sustainable. they not feed on each other? OSKAR, UNITED KINGDOM RENÉ SCHÄRER, BRAZIL

The new man from Valais in the top job. 100 years of the OSA: Mobility preferable to emigration. FIFA President Infantino under fire Profile of Annemarie Tromp

According to details in the press, the new FIFA president, Gi- The Swiss at home are not the only ones to be unaware of anni Infantino, does not appear any better than his predeces- the existence of the Council of the Swiss Abroad. The same sor. Let’s hope it is a short stay. KARL WICKI, THAILAND is true of 99 % of the Swiss Abroad. MICHÈLE ETTLIN MOLLATTE, Swiss development aid under pressure. Federal government wants to make savings

I am not sure how many people in the First World are aware that the global population will soon reach eight billion. How many of them urgently need help? Estimates indicate 10 % or perhaps even 20 %. The number who actually receive help is a drop in the ocean. I have lived abroad for most of my adult life and have witnessed terri- ble misery. What about people helping themselves? That’s all well and good, but the whole infrastructure costs a great deal. I am in favour of aid abroad if it can help stem the tide of refugees. However, congratulates the these people will come in any case. ERNST RÜTIMANN , THAILAND Organisation of the Swiss I’ve lived in Central Africa for 11 years by the Congo River. In Abroad on their anniversary! my personal experience and view, providing humanitarian de- velopment aid in disaster and crisis areas is the most effective and beneficial way of showing our solidarity with the people concerned. I believe cutting this would adversely affect our rep- utation. However, I would question direct financial aid from our own country and the international community as it disap- pears into the pockets of officials and those in high office. They get rich while preventing and sabotaging economic develop-

Swiss Review / August 2016 / No. 4 6 Focus

Switzerland bores underground The opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel this year is just one example of Swiss tunnel mania. Transport routes are being systematically constructed underground in Switzerland.

JÜRG MÜLLER ment but also by German Chancellor It is a surreal story. A young man sits Angela Merkel, French President on a that races through a short François Hollande and Italian Prime tunnel for an unusually long length of Minister Matteo Renzi as well as 300 time – faster and faster into the dark media representatives from all over abyss. Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s night- the world. marish story entitled “The Tunnel” could almost be called prophetic if The mountain laden with ­interpreted loosely. The tunnel near symbolism Burgdorf, which the writer used as a model for his 1952 story, was the only The spotlight once again falls on the major breakthrough on the Berne- Gotthard, a mountain laden with railway line at the time. Today, symbolism like no other in Switzer- there is tunnel after tunnel – and they land. It has shaped national self-iden- don’t lead headlong into an abyss but tity in various ways. The history of instead into Switzerland’s railway the Gotthard and its stories have be- future.­ come part of national folklore and a For some time now have collective point of reference. It has not just been constructed in the ­occupied the thoughts not just of and for reasons of geography but also writers and intellectuals, but also of in the relatively flat Central Plateau politicians, military strategists and, ­region to save time and as less and less above all, engineers. Switzerland’s self-perception enormously. No other space is available on the surface. The tunnelling history also began at the construction project changed the na- prime example is the high-speed rail- Gotthard. Pietro Morettini, a con- tion to the same degree – in terms of way line between Mattstetten near struction engineer from , foreign policy, economics, home af- Berne and Rothrist close to Olten that blasted the 64-metre-long Urnerloch fairs and psychologically,” writes Hel- A romanticised was completed in 2004. This reduced tunnel from rock in the Schöllenen mut Stalder, author of the new book portrayal of the journey times between the major Gorge in 1707–08, creating the first Urnerloch, the first “Gotthard – der Pass und sein Mythos”. hubs of Zurich, Berne and Basel to be- road tunnel through the Alps. road tunnel through In his book “Das Kalb vor der Got- low an hour. Nowhere are the two opposite the Alps. thardpost”, the literary scholar Peter One of the most spectacular chap- sides of Swiss self-identity more ters in Swiss railway history is being poignantly illustrated than at the written this year with the opening of Gotthard – defensive positioning and the Gotthard Base Tunnel. The tun- openness. As the heart of the réduit nel will officially go into operation strategy, the Gotthard was until with the change of timetable on 11 De- ­recently home to the most powerful cember 2016, although leading Euro- military fortifications in the Alps. At pean and Swiss politicians inau­ the same time, it has always been one gurated the world-record railway of the most important north-south tunnel on 1 June 2016. The lavish state axes in Europe. The Gotthard railway event was attended not only by the and the tunnel built in 1882 “influ- entire Federal Council and Parlia- enced the role of Switzerland and its

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 7

von Matt remarks: “There is extraor- conducted under the leadership of An historic moment: Objections were also made to the sec- dinary logic to the fact that the new the Federal Office for Spatial Devel- The first train ond ahead of the leaves the north railway tunnel through the Gotthard opment, the new alpine tunnel will referendum on 28 February. However, portal of the new is the greatest national symbol today. hardly relieve any pressure on the Gotthard Base Tun- they failed to convince voters. The Origin and progress are once again roads but instead create new rail traf- nel on 1 June 2016. proposal was approved by 57 %. fused in this technically outstanding fic, as the newspaper “Der Bund” re- Photo Keystone Amongst other things, this result un- project, also releasing powerful emo- ports. After the opening of the derlines the fact that the Gotthard tions on this occasion.” Lötschberg Base Tunnel in 2007, the Base Tunnel does not represent the increase in rail passengers was not end of development. On the contrary, From road to rail due to transfer but instead newly tunnel-building is very much in fash- generated traffic, primarily due to ion. The Gotthard Base Tunnel is a key el- much shorter journey times. In the Three further spectacular tunnel ement of Swiss transport policy, case of the Gotthard, this will proba- projects had been announced even seeking to shift traffic from road to bly apply “to an even greater extent, before the opening of the Gotthard rail – especially freight and passen- as the planned construction of the Base Tunnel. The idea of unmanned ger transport through the Alps. The second Gotthard road tunnel makes underground freight has Swiss people have backed this policy the journey into Ticino and back emerged from business circles – the in several referenda. However, more attractive – even if only one Cargo Sous Terrain (CST) project is an whether this transfer policy really lane of both road tunnels can be used automated total logistics system. It ­offers any environmental benefits is as currently planned,” says“Der aims to relieve pressure on the road contentious. According to a study Bund”. and railway networks at particularly

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 8 Focus

critical points: “A first sub-section in from the Grimsel to the underground the central Swiss Plateau region may tunnel. Four records at the Gotthard provide a link between the Härkin- Another project is in the offing at Almost everything is on a gigantic scale at the new Gotthard Base Tunnel. Cost- gen/Niederbipp area and Zurich city Lötschberg. In addition to the base ing over CHF 12 billion, the tunnel, between the north portal in (Uri) ­­­ centre from 2030. At a later stage, an tunnel, a second, 14-kilometre-long, and the south portal in (Ticino), is Switzerland’s most expensive single entire network between Lake Con- unused tunnel is awaiting comple- construction project ever. The overall cost of the “New Railway Link through the stance and Lake Geneva is planned tion there. Though, whether that will Alps” (NRLA) – with the Lötschberg, Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels – with branch routes to Basel and Lu- ever materialise is uncertain. The amounts to over CHF 23 billion. cerne,” says the CST homepage. On complete expansion of the Lötsch- A number of world records have been set at the Gotthard in terms of the other hand, an older project berg is nevertheless at the top of the transport engineering. The Gotthard railway tunnel of 1882 was the longest in called the Swissmetro, an under- list of projects envisaged by “FABI”, the world at the time, covering 15 kilometres. The 16.9-kilometre Gotthard ground magnetic levitation railway the railway funding bill adopted by road tunnel was also the world’s longest for motor traffic when it opened in system that was to link the major cen- the Swiss people two years ago. The 1980. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, which opened in 2016, is again the world’s tres in the Central Plateau region, has railway company BLS has in any event longest railway tunnel covering 57 kilometres. With a rock overburden of up been put on the back-burner. now published a tender notice for to 2,300 metres, it is also the deepest tunnel on the planet. A committee from the cantons of ­design work. Berne and Valais is preparing a treat Key facts about the Gotthard Base Tunnel: for tourists, recently presenting a Tunnel boom began back in 1950 ■■ Construction took 17 years. trains through the Alps no longer feasibility study for a Grimsel rail- ■■ At peak times, around 2,400 require banking engines; longer way line. A railway tunnel between The Swiss tunnel boom is not a new people worked on the tunnel con- trains (750 metres, with special au- Meiringen and Oberwald would link phenomenon, even if particularly am- struction sites, mainly foreigners. thorisation even 1,500 metres) car- the narrow-gauge lines of the central bitious projects have emerged in re- ■■ The total length of the two main rying greater weight can be de- Swiss railway and the Matter- cent times. Things really took off after tunnels and the safety, ventilation ployed and journey times are horn-Gotthard railway, providing the Second World War from 1950. and cross-passages is 152 kilo- reduced. even better access to tourist destina- ­Initially it was primarily drainage metres. ■■ Up to 260 freight trains and tions in the cantons of Berne, Valais, tunnelling for power stations, then ■■ The two one-lane tunnels are 65 passenger trains a day can travel Uri and . This would create a there was a boom in road tunnel con- connected by cross-passages every through the base tunnel. narrow-gauge railway network in struction from 1980 and predomi- 325 metres. ■■ The maximum speed for freight the central alpine region covering nantly railway tunnels from 2000. ■■ 80 % of the driving of the main trains is 160 kmph and up to 850 kilometres – a world record. Also Over a tenth of both the Swiss railway tunnels was carried out by tun- 250 kmph for passenger trains. on board is the Swiss electricity net- and motorway networks run through nel-boring machines and just 20 % ■■ The time gain between Zurich work operator Swissgrid, which tunnels, which is also a world record. by blasting. There was 28.2 million and will be around 45 min- could transfer existing power lines Around 50 railway and some 55 road tons of excavated material. utes upon final completion in 2020. ■■ The flat trajectory through the Alps increases efficiency, reliability and transport capacity. Freight

Illustrious guests: The grand event to mark the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel was at- tended by French President François Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Swiss President Johann Schnei- der-Ammann (from left to right). Photo Keystone

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 9 The new Gotthard Base Tunnel The Gotthard Base Tunnel in the is the longest railway tunnel in the world. It allows the use of more and significantly longer trains than the old tunnel. They are also more rapid (reduction in journey time after final expansion in 2020: 50 minutes between Zurich and Lugano).

tunnels are over 2,000 metres long, Route profile

and the number of kilometres under- North portal Piz South portal Access tunnel Access tunnel Access tunnel Erstfeld Vatgira Bodio ground is continually rising. One of 3,000 m Amsteg Sedrun the most astounding construction above sea level Öfital Leventina projects is currently taking place in 1,500 Main breakthrough point on 15 October 2010 the canton of Grisons. The Rhätische

Bahn is boring a second tunnel in par- 0 Kilometres of tunnel 57 km allel to the Albula tunnel which is just Location Construction of the tunnel under six kilometres in length. The Zurich At 57 km in length, the Gotthard Base Tunnel South portal is the world’s longest railway tunnel. project costing CHF 345 million is set It will be operated on a trial basis until December 2016. Zug for completion by 2022. Multifunctional station Faido SWITZERLAND However, tunnels are not just be- Multifunctional station Sedrun Waste air 20 km Emergency stop and ing constructed in the Alps. They are Access Altdorf change of possible originally planned as 850 m primarily being built in the Central Erstfeld Gotthard Base Tunnel an underground Plateau region. Last March, the Fed- railway station known Sedrun as “Porta Alpina” eral Office of Transport made a key Andermatt Emergency stop and change of track possible preliminary decision on what will Faido one day be Switzerland’s second-­ Integration into the European railway network Bodio longest railway tunnel: a 30-kilo- Y Access tunnel AL Frankfurt/Cologne/Rotterdam/ IT Amsteg metre tunnel between Zurich and North portal Paris Vienna Rupperswil is to relieve the biggest (under construction) Total length of access tunnels Basel bottleneck on the Swiss rail network Lugano and main tunnel: 151.8 km Paris Zurich between Aarau and Zurich. Also on Berne Cross-section Gotthard the wish list in the Zurich metropol- Geneva Ceneri 40 m Lötschberg itan area alone are the Brüttener tun- Venice nel between Bassersdorf and Winter- Turin Avignon Genoa thur and a second Zimmerberg SPAIN tunnel between Zurich and Zug. around 9,40 m Rom Base tunnel 11037

Source/graphics: AlpTransit Gotthard As at June 2016 © Globu s An article in the “Berner Zeitung” reveals that the motorway expansion – in addition to the Axen tunnel – pri- ­Zurich central station. Further un- endured tough living conditions back marily entails the planning of under- derground stations are planned in then. A strike was called in 1875. The ground sub-sections on urban motor- Zürich-Stadelhofen, Basel, Berne, Uri militia, unable to cope under the ways: a third route on the Gubrist ­Geneva and . pressure, fired shots into the crowd tunnel on the Zurich north bypass, a during the industrial dispute, killing tunnel in Basel, the Lucerne by- Dark chapter in tunnel-building four workers and leaving several seri- pass, a third route in the St. Gallen ously injured. Two federal committees Rosenberg tunnel, four tunnels on the So, are the Swiss a nation of tunnel examined the living conditions of the Biel west bypass and a deepening of builders? Not really, the heavy work is tunnel workers. An inspirational doc- the city of Berne’s Wankdorf-Muri usually done by foreigners. That has tor gave a candid account: “The misery section. always been the case since the first in the quarters built for the workers is Entire tunnel systems are also be- Gotthard railway tunnel opened in beyond words. There are rows of beds ing built around the railway stations 1882. Despite technical progress, tun- in small, dismal rooms – wretched, of major cities. In December 2015, a nel-building is still hard work today putrid straw mattresses.” So, the suc- further large underground station and often takes place under difficult cess story of Swiss tunnel-building went into operation in Zurich, pri- conditions. Nine workers lost their has included a few dark chapters in marily serving east-west long-dis- lives during the 17-year construction the past. tance traffic. The pressure from com- of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. muter traffic in the urban That figure was much higher on agglomeration – namely from Win- the first Gotthard tunnel where 199 terthur, Zug and Aarau – will lead to workers were killed during work last- JÜRG MÜLLER IS AN EDITOR more tunnels in the direction of ing ten years. The tunnel workers also WITH “SWISS REVIEW”.

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 10 Economy

Swiss banknotes become smaller – and more important It was a very difficult birth. But Switzerland’s new banknotes have now arrived. They also represent Switzerland’s tenacious commitment to cash.

MARC LETTAU Scrooge McDuck is a leading expert when it comes to The problem with Auguste Forel money. He is swimming in it. Ducats run through his ­fingers. The drake has a very sensual relationship with Only famous figures previously appeared on Swiss bank- money. The association may be far-fetched but it is strik- notes. The National Bank is now moving away from that ing how often notes are touched and scrutinised, in Swit- culture. It argues that the people depicted always created zerland, too, right now. How do the small green notes a link to the past. It is now looking for a “design identity” feel? Are they not too plastic? Do they feel solid or even in Switzerland’s present. The bad experience with Auguste board-like? Forel (1848–1931) may have contributed to the decision to The new CHF 50 note is a topic of everyday conver­ refrain from using figureheads. The researcher, psycholo- sation. It is the first in the new series of notes issued by­­­ gist, teetotaller and social reformer adorned the CHF the Swiss National Bank. It is being carefully scrutinised, 1,000 note issued in 1974. However, Forel’s work was dis- not least because of its late arrival. The new note was due credited after 1990. It came to light that Forel castrated to be issued in 2010. Organisational failures and techni- and sterilised mentally ill patients in order to “increase cal problems caused delays. It was not unveiled until April the number of good and useful people and to reduce the this year. number of bad and weak”. He also considered “good deaths” for “bad people”. Critics see him as a pioneer of The giant dandelion ­racial cleansing and euthanasia, a forerunner to the Nazis’ extermination programmes. The figure on the most valu- Money experts have since been raving about it. The new able note gave rise to a painful debate about values. From banknotes are deemed a technological milestone. The this perspective, the new series of banknotes presents the newly developed paper is a sandwich made of cotton and least possible risk. plastic that is difficult to counterfeit. A small plastic The fact that there are no faces on the notes has thrust ­window allows you to look through the note. It possesses that of Manuela Pfrunder into the spotlight. She is the a long list of sophisticated security features. The paying ­designer of the new series of banknotes. She was commis- layperson now knows that some of the finer points can sioned to design them in 2005 as a very young artist. That only be seen under a good magnifying glass. For example, was her good fortune. Owing to all the delays caused by the names of all major Swiss summits are listed on the new technical problems, she was obliged to work for over a note. But the micro-print cannot be seen by the naked eye. ­decade while maintaining confidentiality and not being The beautiful, large dandelion is visible, however. Dande- able to discuss her project with anyone. That was her mis- lion seeds are carried off, and a paraglider sails over moun- fortune. She has thus become a figure of public interest tain ranges. The elusive – the wind – is the predominant about whom most people only know one thing – she is motif. ­designing our currency of the future today. Pfrunder has However, the new note had barely been in circulation produced at least one other significant piece of work. before voluble criticism was voiced as the Swiss clearly In 2000, she created Neotopia, a “utopic-graphic at- scrutinise new legal tender very closely. The fact that the las of completed creation”. In this she presented an im- new note tends to break when folded lengthways was aginary new world order – a vision of radical justice. In ­bemoaned. It is not rub-proof either and runs when wet, Neotopia she distributed all wealth – and all adversity – people complained. It has since been established that the in equal measure to all people based on current statis- new note is at least as resistant as the old one in normal use. tics. The outcome is nightmarish. Neotopia gives every- The other new notes will now be gradually introduced one a plot of land of 290 by 290 metres. But because into circulation by 2019. The history of time is to be por- hardship as well as wealth is distributed equally we only trayed on the new CHF 10 note. That will be followed by drink coffee every 60 days. We only enjoy adequate pros- “light” (CHF 20), “water” (CHF 100), “matter” (CHF 200) and perity for a quarter of our lives. The rest of the time we “language” (CHF 1,000). are only able to meet our basic requirements – housing,

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 11

A transparent Swiss cross is located in the top left-hand corner.

A globe visible only under ultraviolet light is located in the top right-hand corner.

Tactile lines for the visually impaired are sit- uated lengthwise along the edges of the note. food and clothing – inadequately. It is a veritable “apo­ Here, there is a Swiss flag containing text in calypse of justice”. all four national languages.

The hand, the number 50 and the name of The earth has become a tranquil place. the national bank are included using intaglio Every human being has a personal piece of property printing. which is absolutely identical to all other pieces of property. And all the people can be absolutely certain A shimmering globe is depicted in the middle of the note. that there is nothing left anywhere that they do not already own. Here, the Swiss cross is printed in such a Because everything that was already distributable has been way that it can only be seen from a equitably distributed. particular angle.

A perforated Swiss cross is New CHF 1,000 note is counter-trend situated here. The announcement that Switzerland would also be bring­ A security strip is located in the lower half of ing a new CHF 1,000 note into circulation caused a stir. the note. ­According to SNB chairman Thomas Jordan, Switzerland is An incomplete Swiss cross is printed in the hereby pledging a “commitment to cash”. That goes against lower half of the note. the trend. Cash payments are being restricted across ­Europe. The European Central Bank is considering abolish­ Here, two watermarks are incorporated into ing the EUR 500 note. The German federal government is the note, depicting the Swiss flag and a globe. weighing up an upper limit of EUR 5,000 for cash payments. All are seeking to counteract money laundering and the funding of terrorist activities. Swiss faith in cash nevertheless remains intact. The amount of cash circulating in the nation is increasing. Some financial experts predict that cash will become the future means of “storing value”. The Zug SVP politicians A triangle is printed below the number 50. A glittering security thread can be seen Philipp C. Brunner and Manuel Brandenberger are calling inside. for the introduction of a CHF 5,000 note. Their demand is not realistic but they have their fingers on the pulse. If the An identical number, consisting of one letter trend towards negative interest continues, more savers and nine digits, is printed in two places on may decide to keep a share of their assets in the form of the note. banknotes. An incomplete Swiss cross is printed in the The research institute Capital Economics has worked lower half of the note. out the best currency for savers to tuck away a billion ­dollars in. Their verdict is that Swiss francs are easiest. Because the new Swiss notes are now becoming smaller Infrared-absorbing elements can be found a billion dollars stowed away would take up less space. on both sides of the note. The new CHF 50 note is made of cotton and plastic. Source: www.snb.ch

MARC LETTAU IS AN EDITOR WITH “SWISS REVIEW”.

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 12 Politics

Federal Council riding on wave of success Three popular initiatives and two referendum proposals were defeated at the ballot box on 5 June. The majority of voters followed the Federal Council and Parliament.

JÜRG MÜLLER tiative. According to the opinion polls, reduction of services and universal National government and the parlia- the proposal launched by consumer service being jeopardised in outlying mentary majority are pushing magazines stood a good chance. The areas. However, the initiative did have through more proposals than ever initiative’s authors actually thought some impact. There are already pro- before. 5 June was the sixth popular they were over the line, which meant posals pending in Parliament target- vote weekend in a row without defeat they were brought down to earth ing executive salaries at the quasi-­ for the governing councils. Some 20 with a bang. The initiative was over- state utilities. proposals have been put to the vote whelmingly defeated with 67.6 % op- since September 2014, and the Swiss posing it. Basic income attracts great people have voted in line with the Its text called for quasi-state enti- attention Federal Council and Parliament each ties – the Swiss Post Office, Swisscom time. and the – not The popular initiative calling for un- to seek to turn a profit in universal conditional basic income caused a stir, Public service remains as before ­service, not to return profit to the state, not least abroad. Almost all leading and to reduce executive salaries. Con- international media followed the The popular vote of 5 June marked the siderable discontent with the public ­debate on this major socio-political – perhaps somewhat deceptive – re- utilities emerged during the debate on issue. While 76.9 % voted ‘no’, almost turn to the Swiss status quo. Initia- the initiative. Reduced services, such a quarter of voters backed this rather tives trigger broad debate on key is- as post office closures, were bemoaned, revolutionary idea. Introducing basic sues ahead of the vote but typically as were SBB price increases and late income for all Swiss residents would Swiss pragmatism ultimately tri- trains. The opposition’s arguments have equated to a complete restruc- umphs, very much in keeping with nonetheless ultimately won the day. It turing of the welfare state. For this the notion of ‘please, no experiments’. warned of the catastrophic conse- reason, those on the left also largely This was most clearly expressed in quences of preventing profit and rejected the proposal, especially as the “Pro public service” popular ini- cross-subsidisation, including further some ultra-liberals flirted with this

Some of the popular vote issues on 5 June were fiercely debated. All the results were never- theless clearly de- cided in the end. Photo: Keystone

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 13

instrument to radically cut back the continually called for – namely an various tailored social security sys- Voting results ­accelerated asylum procedure. This tems by means of a low basic income. from 5 June will only take a few months in future.

Federal asylum centres where all

The “milch cow” fails to 32.4% YES 67.6% NO players will work closely together deliver on fuel will be created to achieve this objec- tive. This procedure was successfully The “For fair financing of transport” trialled in a pilot operation in Zurich. popular initiative – labelled the “milch Pro public service To ensure this shortened procedure cow initiative” for marketing pur- is fair, asylum seekers will receive poses – also came up short by a sur- 23.1% YES 76.9% NO free legal aid. The SVP was up in arms prisingly clear margin. The initiative’s about these “free lawyers”. But their authors sought to present motorists as argument did not have the desired ef- the nation’s dairy cow being milked fect. This was not least because the dry. The proposal’s objective was for Unconditional basic income new procedure came about as the petroleum tax on fuels only to be used ­result of many years of preparation for expenditure on the roads. Half of 29.2% YES 70.8% NO in close cooperation between federal the proceeds are currently used on the government, the cantons and the roads and the other half for other fed- communes. eral spending. The initiative failed The success of Simonetta Somma­ miserably, with 70.8 % voting against Fair financing of transport ruga (SP), the justice minister who it. This was a devastating result for the played the leading role in this pro- motorist lobby, which is in fact re- 66,8% YES 33,2% NO posal, is nevertheless deceptive. In garded as a powerful, well-organised light of the uncertain global situation, interest group usually able to mobilise the refugee crisis could quickly be- its support effectively. come more acute again. Calls for fur- The large-scale reallocation exer- Revision of the Asylum Act ther tightening of the asylum system cise would have left a huge hole in the were already being made by the con- federal coffers. Federal government 62.4% YES 27.6% NO servative parties on the evening of the would have faced a deficit of around popular vote Sunday. CHF 1.5 billion. This clearly also made some dyed-in-the-wool motorists stop PGD for the second time and think. The fact that a kind of indi- Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis rect counter-proposal is already on the The electorate voted on pre-implan- political agenda – the Motorways and tation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for the Urban Transport Fund (NAF) – may second time within a year. Last year also have contributed to the defeat. vision of the Asylum Act, suffered a the vote was about the constitutional Something similar already exists for shattering blow. The proposal was article and on 5 June the correspond- the railways with the “fund for the fi- clearly adopted, with 66.8 % in favour. ing law. It received overwhelming nancing and expansion of the railway The resounding defeat was exacer- approval, with 62.4 % voting in fa- infrastructure”. To provide a solid bated for the SVP because its imple- vour. Embryos produced through ­financial basis for road projects as well, menting initiative on the expulsion of ­artificial insemination can therefore a permanent fund, the NAF, would be foreign criminals had already failed in be genetically examined subject to created for the motorways and urban February. Both proposals concerned rigorous stipulations. Such examina- transport. This would be enshrined at foreigner policy issues, which are SVP tions aim to prevent the transfer of constitutional level. Road and rail priorities. The Asylum Act has been serious genetic illnesses from par- would then be treated in the same way. amended ten times over the past 25 ents to the child. This is an ethically years, and the SVP has always been on contentious area. However, the ma- SVP backs the wrong horse the winning side to date. jority of voters did not share the fears The SVP’s defeat is primarily ex- that this narrowly restricted law The Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which plained by the fact that the proposal would open the door to artificial se- called the referendum against the re- contains precisely what the party has lection and eugenics.

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 14 Politics

The intelligence service, old-age and survivors’ insurance (AHV) and the green economy Security is at the heart of three proposals at the popular vote to be held on 25 September – national security, social security and securing the natural environment.

JÜRG MÜLLER Albeit in three different areas, the three proposals deal with fundamen- tal security issues. How far should or must the state go to identify and avert threats to national security? What funds should be used to ensure a good old-age pension? And how should we manage our economy in future to safe- guard the natural environment, pro- tect resources and reduce environ- mental pollution? Behind such questions lie the new Intelligence Ser- vice Act, the “AHV plus” popular initi- ative and the “Green economy” popu- lar initiative, which will be put to the vote on 25 September.

Bolstering the intelligence service

The Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) is also to be permitted to infiltrate How far should the internal and external security appro- internet through keyword searches computers, listen in to telephone state go in surveil- priate to the threat situation”. ­regardless of whether there is cause for­ lance of suspicious calls and bug private property in fu- The majority of MPs share this view. suspicion,” they contend. The Office of persons? This is ture, according to the new Intelli- one of the issues to Some left-wing politicians nevertheless the Attorney General of Switzerland gence Service Act. This governs the be decided upon voiced criticism of the proposal during and the cantonal police authorities are duties but also the limits on and con- by the Swiss people consultations. Paul Rechsteiner, the SP already responsible for investigating trol of the FIS. It provides for new in September. Council of States member from St. Gal- terrorist activities and organised crime, Photo: Keystone measures for obtaining information len, declared that Switzerland is facing and that is sufficient, they say. – such as monitoring the postal and a fundamental decision about whether The Social Democrats officially telecommunications systems – in the to provide the FIS with all means of sur- support the referendum and therefore fields of terrorism, illegal intelligence veillance. An “alliance against the oppose the law. It is noteworthy that activities and attacks on critical infra- snooping state” – consisting primarily resistance is also emerging in some structure. The FIS is subject to four- of small, left-wing parties and youth conservative circles and in the busi- fold control by the bodies of Parlia- parties – called the referendum against ness community. Above all, criticism ment, the administration and the the Intelligence Service Act. Opponents has been voiced by the IT and telecom- Federal Council. “The fundamental point to the end of privacy: “Everyone munications sectors. rights and individual freedom of is under surveillance, not just criminals Swiss citizens are protected by the as is often claimed. Mass surveillance 10 % more old-age and survivors’ new law and the sphere of privacy re- can be carried out through the tapping insurance (AHV)? mains untouched as far as possible,” of telephone calls, reading of emails, maintains the Swiss government. The Facebook, WhatsApp and SMS mes- The popular initiative “AHV plus”, law also ensures a “strengthening of sages as well as the monitoring of the launched by the Swiss Federation of

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 15

Trade Unions, calls for a 10 % increase flexible structuring of pensions, re- Swiss economy is already green in AHV pensions. Each single person duction in the minimum conversion enough. He warns against “senseless would receive CHF 200 more a month rate in occupational pensions and ad- and excessive regulation”. The Federal and each married couple CHF 350 ditional funding of the AHV by in- Council also rejects the initiative but more. Those behind the initiative are creasing VAT. put forward an indirect counter-pro- seeking to give state old-age pension posal because it at least supports the and survivors’ insurance (AHV) more One planet instead of three… general thrust. It tabled an amend- weight in relation to the pension ment to the Environmental Protection funds. They argue that the pension The Greens are raising a topic that is Act with the aim of protecting re- fund benefits will continue to de- central to them with their “for a green sources and using them more effi- crease in future. Reductions of up to economy” initiative. The popular in- ciently. Federal Councillor Doris 20 % are not uncommon owing to the itiative seeks to reduce Switzerland’s Leuthard used similar wording to the financial market crisis. “Pension environmental footprint to a sus­ Greens during the parliamentary losses need to be rebalanced. The tainable level of one planet by 2050. ­debate: “We must move from a throw- most effective and economical way of If the whole world behaved like Swit- away society towards a circular econ- achieving this is by increasing AHV zerland, three planets would be omy.” Switzerland produces the great- pensions by 10 %. This issue is even needed. The authors believe switch- est amount of refuse per capita in more pressing because AHV pensions ing to a green economy would tackle Europe, she said. However, the Federal have not risen significantly for dec- environmental issues, such as climate Councillor’s warning went unheeded. ades and increasingly lag behind change, rainforest clearance and Even an amendment to the Environ- wage trends the more time goes on,” write the initiative’s authors on their The “for a green homepage. economy” initiative aims to reduce An increase of 10 % in pensions Switzerland’s envi- would see AHV expenditure climb by ronmental footprint four billion Swiss francs a year. The to a sustainable initiative does not reveal how the level by 2050. pension increase would be funded. SP Photo: Keystone National Councillor Silvia Schenker does not see money as an issue. The pension increase “would cost the em- ployer and employee 0.4 % of salary each”, she says. That is feasible be- cause salary contributions have not risen for 40 years. Conservative pol- iticians take a different view. Urs Schwaller, a former CVP Council of States member from Fribourg, de- clared that the pension increase called for is “simply not financially ­viable”. The funding of old-age pen- sions is a major challenge even with- overfishing, and ensure the sustain- mental Protection Act of 1983 was a out this initiative, he says. able use of natural resources. “The step too far for Parliament. The Swiss The Federal Council does not be- throw-away economy has to become people will now decide solely on the lieve there is any financial leeway for a circular one, focussing on long-life Greens’ initiative on 25 September increasing AHV benefits. It stands by products and the recycling of waste without a counter-proposal. its “old-age pension 2020” reform pro- as raw materials,” they say. ject. This is currently undergoing par- The initiative stood no chance in liamentary consultation. This is a Parliament where it was not deemed comprehensive package that contains business-friendly enough. The the following points: the same pen- Bernese FDP National Councillor sion age of 65 for men and women, Christian Wasserfallen believes the

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 16 Politics

The Parmelin effect has failed to materialise The new SVP Federal Councillor called a halt to his predecessor’s strategic arms deal in his first few months in office. He also created a political furore of his own. However, the election of a second SVP representative has not led to a significant shift to the right on the Federal Council so far.

MARKUS BROTSCHI internal reasons for Blattmann’s early retirement in March 2017. appeared to have handed over a Federal Department of ­However, an appearance by Blattmann in front of the general staff Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) in good shape to his suc- officers revealed that nerves were on edge in the army leadership. cessor and party colleague Guy Parmelin. The future development of Blattmann branded the army member who had passed the docu- the armed forces was to a large degree approved by Parliament back ments on the ground-to-air missile project evaluation to the TV pro- in 2015. Sufficient financial resources have also been secured. The gramme “Rundschau” as a “traitor”. He hoped the person respon- ­conservative majority in the two chambers have made it clear several sible would be “strung up”, in the figurative sense. times that the army will receive CHF 5 billion a year and that fighter jets will soon return to the shopping list despite a referendum defeat. Tax break as stumbling block Yet, the honeymoon period of the 56-year-old from the canton of Vaud did not last long. It soon became apparent that Parmelin However, Parmelin was also guilty of a faux pas in his first few months. would have to address a number of self-made problems in the army. The former wine grower supported tax breaks on the sale of agricul- At the end of March, the new defence minister surprisingly called a tural land in the Federal Council at a time when he himself still owned halt to his predecessor’s “ground-based air defence” weapons pro- such a plot of development land. Shortly afterwards he assigned the ject costing billions. This involved the acquisition of anti-aircraft land to his brother. When “Blick” made the affair public, Parmelin did missiles. Addressing the media, Parmelin justified the abandonment not initially see any reason why he should have excluded himself from of the project by indicating that the renewal of the anti-aircraft decision-making in the Federal Council over tax breaks on develop- ­systems had to be better aligned with the purchase of new fighter ment land in agricultural areas. Parmelin, who came in for heavy jets. However, the decisive factor may have been that both of the ­public criticism, later conceded that while his conduct was above ­defence systems evaluated have shortcomings but the project com- board legally he had made a mistake politically. While the Ger- mittee responsible wanted to buy a first tranche of ground-to-air man-speaking Swiss media predominantly conveyed the view that missiles anyway with the next armaments programme. Parmelin had shown a lack of awareness, the media in French-spea- king Switzerland perceived a conspiracy against “their” Federal Coun- Maurer versus Parmelin cillor. They felt that the criticism revealed the condescending attitude of German-speaking Swiss towards French-speaking Switzerland. Intriguingly, the two SVP Federal Councillors publicly contradicted The election of a second SVP representative in place of BDP Fe- one another, an unusual occurrence in Swiss government conven- deral Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf has not led to a notice- tion. Responding to the media, Maurer remarked that he could not able shift to the right thus far on the Federal Council. The SVP’s dual understand why Parmelin had applied the emergency brake as ever- representation is most likely to result in a more conservative ything was “going well” with the ground-to-air defence project. Par- ­approach to finance policy. The SVP nevertheless faces being over- melin took a different view and ordered an administrative investi- ridden in national government over its key strategic issues of policy gation. The head of the DDPS sought to establish not only what had on Europe and asylum even with a second representative. The two gone wrong with the project but also which officers had leaked SVP politicians are fighting a losing battle over policy on Europe in ­information leading to details about the missile deal ending up in particular as both FDP Federal Councillors, the CVP representative the public domain. and the two SP representatives are focussed on main- Parmelin may not have been acting solely on his own initiative taining the bilateral treaties and wish to avoid a break with the EU but also under pressure from his party. Parmelin now had to de- at all costs. The additional Federal Council member has also so far monstrate the leadership strength that the SVP had previously failed to enable the SVP to make ground over asylum policy. The two ­lacked with Defence Minister Maurer. The fact that the new defence SVP politicians were rebuffed with a call for tighter surveillance of minister announced, a day after putting a stop to the ground-to-air the southern border by the army to intercept refugees. A change in missile project, that he was parting company with the head of the the Federal Council’s position cannot be ruled out though if an emer- army, André Blattmann, would appear to fit in with this notion. Blatt- gency asylum situation arises over the summer months. mann had fallen foul of the SVP as he had been working on reform of the armed forces with a further reduction of troops under Mau- MARKUS BROTSCHI IS THE FEDERAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS EDITOR ON THE “BUND” ­­ rer. As is customary in such situations, Parmelin denied there were AND “TAGES-ANZEIGER”

Swiss Review / August 2016 / No. 4 Culture 17

Alphorn with a pop and jazz twist The traditional alphorn attracts modern musicians from a wide spectrum. Its soft, gliding tone and Alpine sound lend it special appeal.

STÉPHANE HERZOG end of the day. The alphorn that we see a series of nozzles added to make it It’s a strikingly simple instrument. “A today – and that the Japanese love and easier to play. The group is currently pipe with a conical horn that widens play – was developed in the 19th cen­ recording its fourth CD, on which the out,” as musician and artist Balthasar tury, when nationalists promoted traditional alphorn will feature Streiff succinctly describes it. Origi­ folklore for political reasons.” strongly. The musician from Sonalp nally from Glarus but now living in also enthuses about the “strong iden­ Basel, he performs on an array of wind “Smoke on the Water” played on tity of the sound, which is associated instruments, from the büchel – a the alphorn with Switzerland”, while at the same coiled horn – to the simple cow horn. time admitting that it is difficult to He has been touring for many years, Be that as it may, the sound of the play the alphorn given the instru­ playing the alphorn as a member of ­alphorn “evokes images of the Alps”, ment’s natural limitations. the Hornroh Modern Alp Quartet, a according to Laurent Aubert, direc­ group mixing jazz, traditional music tor of the Ateliers d’ethnomusicolo­gie “The alphorn is a voice and contemporary music. He also in Geneva. “When you hear it, you can without words” fuses the alphorn with electronic mu­ imagine that you are in the Rütli sic in his Alpin Project, with a DJ add­ Meadow, and all Swiss people, even In fact, it is the alphorn’s boundaries ing drum and bass beats. Genevans, associate it with the Alps.” that make it such a powerful and fas­ Yet Balthasar Streiff does not en­ A number of musicians play on this cinating instrument, according to tirely go along with the idea of the alp­ emotional bond. Among them is Balthasar Streiff. “It’s a simple instru­ horn’s ‘Swissness’. “Ninety-nine per Eliana Burki, who can be found in the ment that requires a lot of inventive­ archives of Swiss broadcaster RTS per­ ness. It’s unlike anything else we forming “Smoke on the Water” in know.” Streiff, who has adopted Basel Grindelwald. The musician from Sol­ as his home town, praises the alphorn othurn has toured the world with her for its sonorous sound, while playing alphorn, which is modified in the style down the – some would say, kitsch – of a trumpet. She began playing the image of the instrument. “The alphorn ­alphorn at the age of six and said that has a beautiful resonance in streets of she hated performing in traditional towns and cities. If you play it in the costume. She is now on the US record forest, people are attracted – and even label Surf Dog. She plays in a band animals come to listen. The alphorn is whose name reflects the attachment a vehicle for many emotions and to the myth: I Alpinisti. “The sound of works like a voice without words.” the alphorn is unique in the world,” Hans Kennel, a jazz trumpet player Eliana Burki plays cent of people who play the alphorn she says. from central Switzerland, was the first her alphorn in a are not shepherds or farmers: they are In Château-d’Oex, the musicians to use the alphorn in a modern reper­ modern style – ­and city-dwellers,” he laughs, suggesting who make up the band Sonalp, formed toire. At the time, it was revolutionary, hates performing in traditional perhaps that there is little substance in 1999, have also introduced the al­ remembers the musicologist Laurent costume… to the popular myth. He reinforces his phorn into their repertoire, after Aubert, who in 2013 invited the two Photo: Eva Müller point with a reminder that most com­ starting out playing a new genre, musicians to play at an event dedi­ positions for the instrument date from Swiss world music. At the beginning, cated to the music of the Alps and to the second half of the 20th century. the band included a didgeridoo among the new directions it is taking. “Two hundred years ago, the ancestor its instruments. “It was a way for us to of the alphorn was played throughout bring Oceania into our music,” ex­ the world. Farmers blew on a stem or plains violinist Guillaume Wahli. STÉPHANE HERZOG IS A JOURNALIST WITH THE a horn to call in the livestock at the Next came a customised alphorn, with “SWISS REVIEW”.

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 18 Culture

From the "Asynchronous series, nuclear technology episodes I-X 2013", "Asynchronous I, Red mirage (1958)". Galerie Luciano Fasciati, Chur

Jules Spinatsch, the photographer who mistrusts clichés The photographer from Grisons devotes his career to questioning the way images are produced and interpreted. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, he turned his camera on those carrying out the surveillance. In the Alps, he confronted the Alpine myth in the age of the theme park. A portrait.

STÉPHANE HERZOG tion to decorate the long, oblique hall tography. In his work, he marries the Don’t let yourself be made into an in- below the corridor of the lobby – where precision of an engineer with the scep- strument by the pictures – and don’t elected representatives, lobbyists and tical, analytical approach of a journal- manipulate the person looking at a journalists meet. “It is the first time that ist. In “Temporary Discomfort”, which photo. This could be one of the mottoes contemporary art has been admitted won the award for best documentary of Jules Spinatsch, the photographer within the walls of the Federal Palace,” photography book at Arles in 2005, Ju- from Grisons, for whom the quality of says the photographer brightly, and les Spinatsch explores politics from the a photograph can be measured by its takes the opportunity to poke fun at an point of view of surveillance. To carry ambiguity. “I don’t want to be told ex- incident in which palm trees were out this vast study, he went first to the actly what I should see in an image, or ­removed from the lobby at the request G8 summits in Genoa and Evian, then even what I should not see, because of some members of parliament – from to the 2002 World Economic Forum – that would be an insult,” says the artist. the Swiss People’s Party, he says – be- moved that year from Davos to New We find him on the terrace of the cause they are not Swiss plants. York in honour of the victims of the at- Fédéral restaurant, just opposite the tacks on 11 September 2001 – and finally palace of the same name. It is May, and Irony and distance to the 2003 Davos forum. the photographer, who has adopted Zu- The section of this photographic rich as his home town, has come to Irony and perspective: these are two of essay devoted to the Alps takes place to take part in the launch of a competi- the principles of Jules Spinatsch’s pho- in Davos at a time when the town was

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 19

protected from the alter-globalists ac- ing a field of vision for hours on end to other subject of the series is the ico- cording to a plan put in place by Peter capture continuous images for a photo nography that has developed around Arbenz, former Delegate for Refugee series is a technique that the pho- Mirages, the jets that the Swiss Air Affairs, who advocated spaces where a tographer has used in many places, Force wanted to see equipped to dialogue could be held with the an- ­beginning with the Davos forum. In carry nuclear bombs to Moscow. The ti-WEF protesters. Jules Spinatsch zig- one of these panoramic pictures, 1,740 artist’s pictures are aimed at “disin- zagged between the five palaces of the images were recorded between 1.56 terpreting the original didactic ma- mountain town and snapped drivers p.m. and 5.15 p.m. on 25 January 2003. terial, comprising photographs and and bodyguards. From a vantage point Calm prevails throughout. He admits presentations, used to promote nu- on the slopes of the resort and using a that on the afternoon in question, this clear technology”. 1200mm lens, he photographed the space should have been the scene of a In “Snow Management Complex”, Davos Congress Centre, which lies at demonstration by the alter-globalists. which appeared in 2014, the Swiss art- the epicentre of the forum. In other In fact, the majority of them had been ist explores the mountains lit up by ­instances, he took mid-range shots, detained at Küblis train station. In one snow groomers and shows the land- using a tripod to capture elements of of the photographs, a solitary man scape changed by the artificial lakes the town. “These pictures are no truer brandishes a banner. needed for snow cannons. In the pic- than others, but they offer three per- tures, the Alps are transformed into a spectives, that is to say three views of 10,008 pictures to capture the theme park. In the same book, the the same thing. That brings depth and Opera Ball in Vienna photographer presents a selection of makes it possible to avoid being an postcards printed from 1897 onwards, ­instrument of the police or of the What does this panorama say? It the year which saw the birth of winter ­alter-globalists,” says the artist. would only have needed this demon- sports and the use of cards to promote strator to have passed a few seconds these destinations. Is it nostalgic? “I “A picture is nothing without its later for the scene to be entirely devoid don’t wish to judge,” is the trenchant context” of any protesters. “The camera has its own rhythm. It’s a mixture of con- In the night-time shots of the resort, trolling and not controlling what is areas lit up by spotlights are revealed, happening. Each picture is documen- including chalets, cross-country ski tary and precise, but what happens is trails and the Davos Congress Centre. the result of chance. So attempting to In this context of surveillance, the interpret a picture involves some light makes the most anodyne ele- speculation,” explains Spinatsch. The ments seem suspect. “A picture by photographer revisited this idea to Jules Spinatsch was born in Davos in 1964. He studied at the ICP in ­itself is nothing. You need a context, capture a highlight of the Viennese New York from 1993 to 1994. His documentary photography book an audience, a caption,” insists the ­social calendar: the Opera Ball. The “Temporary Discomfort” won a prize at Arles in 2005. Ten years later, 52-year-old artist, who cites the fa- ­result was 71 pictures – from the in 2015, he was given seven exhibition spaces at the Fotofestival mous shots by Robert Capa taken dur- 10,008 taken between the evening and Mannheim-Ludwigsburg- Heidelberg. ing the Normandy landings as an the morning – made more beautiful by ­example. “There is no way to access their arbitrary nature. the negative. So, if you realised that Another long-term project is the response. When he was young, Jules you had more or less the same image ten-part series devoted to nuclear Spinatsch lived high up at 2,590 me- three times on the film, there would ­energy, entitled “Asynchronous I-X”. tres above sea level, in the panoramic no longer be a decisive moment. The One of the sections deals with the Jakobshorn restaurant managed by moment when the photographer Zwentendorf nuclear power plant in his parents. “At night, I pressed my pressed the shutter,” says Spinatsch. . The start-up of the plant was nose up against the windows of the From his years spent as an appren- halted in 1978, when it was ready to restaurant. I watched the lights of tice at a radio and TV repair business begin operating. The artist spent ex- Davos glittering in the night,” he re- in Davos and at an engineering school actly 20 minutes lowering a camera calls. It was perhaps during those mo- in Buchs, Spinatsch has retained a into the reactor, resulting in an image ments of solitude that the boy devel- keen taste for technology, which he showing what would have been the oped his taste for this photographic uses to question photography. Sweep- path taken by the nuclear fuel. An- vision, characterised by distance.

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 20 Sport

“Why should people here be any different to those in Russia?” In the run-up to the Olympic Games, doping is in the spotlight once again. Russian athletes in particular are in the spotlight. But what’s the situation in Switzerland? Are we clean? We spoke to Marco Steiner, Deputy Director of Antidoping Switzerland.

INTERVIEW: BENJAMIN STEFFEN otherwise it is unlikely any state there is a broad-based political will to “Swiss Review”: Mr Steiner, on a scale of ­ prosecutor will support us. Secondly, create the conditions that have arisen 1 to 6 – with 6 being the most serious – how the state prosecutor may have an- in Russia. bad is the doping problem in Switzerland? other 300 files on the desk at once –­­ Marco Steiner: I can’t say exactly, but many of which are at least as impor- Who is tested in Switzerland? if I were to guess, I’d say “4”. tant. Tests are only carried out on athletes who have a licence, are members of a Why is that? There is evidence of systematic doping club or take part in competitions. It’s a fact that we carry out too few on a grand scale in Russian athletics. We’re not generally interested in checks to be able to make any conclu- Would something like that be possible in bodybuilders at fitness centres who sive statements on the matter. With a Switzerland too? may have pumped themselves full of budget of just under CHF 5 million, we I think we must differentiate between forbidden substances. After that it’s a carry out about 2,000 checks each two elements. Of course it would be question of level: theoretically, even a year. Just take a look at football: ten Su- possible for laboratories in Switzer- footballer in the fifth division could be per League teams with an average of land to collude with sports federa- tested. But it’s only those in the first 25 players each makes 250 people. tions to promote doping, for athletes division and up who can definitely ex- Two thousand divided by 250 would to attempt to bribe people or for a club pect to be tested now and then. In the make eight checks per player per year; or federation to undermine the work Super League, we try to carry out tests too few for a conclusive assessment. of the supervisory bodies. Why not? in a targeted manner. The same ap- And that’s if no other athletes were Why should people here be any dif- plies to all sports: the better the ath- checked, only footballers. In the best- ferent to those in Russia? But I think lete, the more likely it is that they will case scenario, we’re discouraging peo- we must probably draw the line at be tested. ple from doping. state involvement. I believe that de- mocracy and the rule of law are so How are tests distributed across the At present, 14 sportsmen and one sports- firmly established here in Switzer- various sports? woman have been banned in Switzerland, land that we can hope the intelli- We have a catalogue with several cri- none of them famous-name athletes. gence services would not get involved teria such as “inherent doping risk”, Do you assume that all the celebrity in manipulating samples – and that major events and physiological risk. athletes are clean? the Swiss Federal Office of Sport We also use popularity surveys. We I don’t assume that, but my instincts would not be working against us. Af- then make a rather complicated cal- aren’t enough. We have a relatively ter all, sport doesn’t have such high culation that stipulates a specific large number of pending cases that importance in Switzerland. number of tests per federation per also include athletes who are reason- year. ably well-known. And we have a new In principle, though, even you could system. Positive analysis results will be involved and nobody would know, But these criteria mean that athletes in be handled by a state prosecutor to am I right? more rarely-tested sports can train in begin with. We press charges and When I mention federations, I don’t relative tranquillity with a minimal chance hope that a house search will be car- exclude myself or Antidoping Switzer- of getting caught. ried out or the person’s calls are land. Yes, why not me too? Why not a That’s right. For every test we carry monitored. The process means two laboratory? Why not another em- out, say on a professional cyclist, there things for us: First of all, the matter ployee of Antidoping Switzerland? It’s is one less check being conducted else- must be kept strictly confidential, entirely possible. But I don’t think where. However, the organisations

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 21

that fund us expect us to get a more- backers may be more or less inclined And how credible do you find the Olympic or-less global impression of top-level to actually pay us or even pay us Games in terms of doping? sport in Switzerland. more. Complete independence is The competitions are likely to be rela- therefore utopian. It would be pos- tively clean. The training leading up to Where do you get the money for all this? sible only with so much foundation them is a completely different story. Just under two-thirds comes from the capital that it covers its own costs But even here I could be wrong be- Swiss Federal Office of Sport. A third through interest earned. cause when the International Olym- is from Swiss Olympic, in other words, pic Committee actually carries out fol- indirectly from the federations we How can you be sure there aren’t all kinds low-up tests after the Games many of check. But that’s another story. The of doping methods that are still undiscov- these yield positive results. The blan- rest we generate ourselves through ered and that you aren’t two steps behind? ket statement that nobody would be tests we sell to events that wouldn’t I am pretty sure that we definitely are stupid enough to compete while using otherwise conduct any. We also bene- two steps behind. We know what forbidden substances therefore prob- fit from administrative fees for pack- these methods are, too, but simply ably isn’t true. ages intercepted at customs. can’t prove it. Then there are many “cool” substances that are not forbid- What do you think: will various rankings What is this other story? That there should den, as well as substances that are have to be redistributed after the Summer be greater independence? known to be difficult to prove, such Olympics in Rio de Janeiro? Yes. We’re a foundation and thus as growth hormones. Yes, but it already looks like many bound by articles of incorporation countries have a less systematic ap- that state what we can and should do. So you wouldn’t rule out the possibility proach to doping than Russia. The Federal Office of Sport and that a relatively high percentage of cyclists, Swiss Olympic can only pin condi- for example, are still doping? Where, for example? tions to their payments to a very I would maybe even say it more point- The US has a similarly large number limited extent because our inde- edly, and it would not grieve me to do of athletes as Russia, and at least dur- pendence is enshrined in our arti- so. But I’ll stick with what I said: that ing the Cold War it also had a similar cles of association. But our financial we simply do not know. attitude about the importance of sporting success. But if we look at In Switzerland, what Usada, the US anti-doping or- 14 sportsmen and ganisation, is doing, if we look at its one sportswoman positive cases and its ruthlessness are currently banned for doping. even in relatively harmless doping cases – even if we know that the US conducts too few tests, there is hope that countries that work well will have an excellent deterrent effect. In spite of my concerns, I would also count Switzerland as one of these countries.

www.antidoping.ch

BENJAMIN STEFFEN IS THE SPORTS EDITOR AT THE “NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG”

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 22 Books and literary figures among the Swiss Abroad

Zurich as a gateway to the world With his productive literary stays in Paris, Portugal, Brazil and Los Angeles, Hugo Loetscher was the only genuine global author of his generation.

CHARLES LINSMAYER ited 13 times in total for long and short stays. Here, he also He actually wanted to become a missionary. The Catholic produced the reportages that are still relevant today, working-class family from Zurich into which Hugo Loet- which were published in 2016 in the posthumous volume scher was born on 22 December 1929 originated in Escholz- “Das Entdecken erfinden”. He found inspiration for books matt in Lucerne, a region where, as he later once wrote, “the such as the 1979 novella “Wunderwelt” in which a little women have the body temperature of a cow and it is cus- girl found dead is given the gift of a life not lived through tomary for them to lose their maidenhood in a barn”. How- literary means. Loetscher had a strong interest in poor, ever, this second-generation ‘immigrant’ in Zurich did not working-class and rural Brazil and much less in the glitz become a farmer or a missionary. Instead, from the work- of Rio de Janeiro. However, he created a monument to an ing-class district of Aussersihl, he went on to grammar urban metropolis with another text in the giddying school and university and then conquered sophisticated America novel “Herbst in der Grossen Orange” produced Zurich, which regarded him right through to to his later during his time as a poetics lecturer in Los Angeles in volume of essays “Lesen statt Klettern” as a brilliant nov- 1979/80. “War meine Zeit meine Zeit” was published a few elist and essayist with a penchant for the grotesque and days after his death on 18 August 2009. This is a book in self-irony. which Loetscher recounts his life This style is evident even in his first novel “Abwässer” on the rivers of the world in elo- from 1963, in which he carries out a kind of exorcism with quent, virtuoso fashion, once Zurich. Condensed into an anonymous Kafkaesque system, again powerfully documenting Photo: Yvonne Böhler the city becomes a place of ideological posturing which has the brilliant way in which the long since lost any relation to elementary reality. If much-travelled Swiss was the “Abwässer” is an ecological book ahead of its time, “Die only genuine global author of his Kranzflechterin” from 1964, an unsentimental portrayal of generation. a working-class woman from Zurich, anticipates key ele- ments of female emancipation literature. “Noah” in 1967 turns euphoria over prosperity into the flood, and “Der Im- BIBLIOGRAPHY: Hugo Loetscher’s works are “I lived in an age when one mune” from 1975 shows – through the example of the main available in German from Diogenes, Zurich. became aware that we would protagonist – what immunisation strategies an enlightened have to ensure we had enough intellectual had to develop to come through the second air to breathe. The climate is not third of the 20th century unscathed. something that simply exists but

“I have no roots” is instead determined by us. I learned about the gastric-brood- When asked where his roots lay, Loetscher remarked: “I ing frog when it died out, and I have no roots. I have feet to walk away.” This means that am apparently partly responsible he always saw home as the base and point of departure to set off from into the world. His stay in Paris in 1950/51 for whether rhinos live in the where he studied Valéry, Gide, Sartre, Camus, but also rivers in Sumatra... Am I as a Zola and Voltaire as a doctoral student had a major influ- prehistorian to become a ence. “France awoke my sensibilities,” he noted in 1963, co-creator of a world that we are and the Parisian school was evident in the elegant, sophis- creating by saving it?” ticated writer with the mandatory cigarette right to the end. (Taken from “War meine Zeit Via Portugal, where he became a persona non grata meine Zeit”, Diogenes, Zurich after a film about the dictator Salazar, in 1965 he reached CHARLES LINSMAYER IS A LITERARY SCHOLAR 2009) Brazil which became his true great love and which he vis- AND JOURNALIST IN ZURICH

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 OSA news 23

Winter camp for children Anyone wishing to take part in the ski camp for young people (Juskila) must be able to speak at least one of Switzerland’s national languages aged 8 to 14 (German, French or Italian). The camp places will be awarded through a prize draw, with the prize being participation in the camp includ- Whether skiers or snowboarders, novices or at an advanced level, 8 to ing winter sports lessons, food and accommodation. Parents are re- 14-year-old Swiss children abroad will have a great time at our win- sponsible for organising and funding the outbound and return jour- ter camp. neys. The 25 Swiss Abroad who have won a place will be announced at the end of September. Winter camp in Sedrun (Grisons): Date: Wednesday, 28 December 2016 until Friday, 6 January 2017 Number of participants: 42 Coupon for the draw: JUSKILA Lenk (1 to 8 January 2017) Cost: CHF 900 camp fee Ski or snowboard hire: around CHF 150 Please complete in clearly legible block letters. Registration deadline: 15 October 2016 First name: Surname: Registration Street: The exact details of the winter camp and the registration form can be Postcode: Place: found from 15 September 2016 at http://sjas.ch/en/camps/. Reduced Country: Date of birth: contribution rates will be granted in justified cases. The form required Name of parent/legal guardian: can be requested on the registration form. We would also be pleased Girl Boy to post you our information brochure on request. Commune of origin in Switzerland (see passport/ID): Information: Email address of parents: Foundation for Young Swiss Abroad (FYSA) Tel. no. of parents: Alpenstrasse 26 3006 Berne, SWITZERLAND Type of sport: Alpine skiing Cross-country skiing Snowboarding Tel. +41 31 356 61 16 Only tick one! The type of sport cannot be changed once the draw has taken place. Fax +41 31 356 61 01 Language of child: German French Italian Email: [email protected] www.sjas.ch Signature of parent/legal guardian:

Free participation in young people’s ski camp! Signature of child: Six hundred children aged 13 and 14 will enjoy a winter sports week free of charge from 1 to 8 January 2017 in Lenk in the Bernese Ober- Send the coupon and a copy of the Swiss passport of one parent or the child by land for the 76th time. The 600 draw winners will include 25 Swiss 15 September 2016 (date of receipt) to: Abroad. Foundation for Young Swiss Abroad (FYSA), Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Berne, SWITZERLAND A further chapter in the history of ski camps for young people (Juskila) will begin on 1 January 2017 when 600 girls and boys aged 13 Information: and 14 will travel from all over Switzerland by special train to Lenk in Foundation for Young Swiss Abroad (FYSA) Simmental. For the 76th time Swiss-Ski and its partners are holding tel. +41 31 356 61 16, fax +41 31 356 61 01 Switzerland’s largest winter sports camp. This time it is the turn of [email protected], www.sjas.ch children born in 2002 and 2003.

IMPRINT: are fully responsible for the content of “news.admin.ch”, Relations with the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, All Swiss Abroad who are registered CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please advise “Swiss Review”, the magazine for the advertisements and promotional inserts. Swiss Abroad, FDFA, 3003 Berne, 3006 Berne, Tel.: +41313566110, with a Swiss representation receive your local embassy or consulate. Do not Swiss Abroad, is in its 42nd year of This content does not necessarily Switzerland Fax: +41313566101, Postal account the magazine free of charge. write to the editorial office in Berne. publication and is published in German, represent the opinion of either the TRANSLATION: CLS Communication AG (Swiss National Giro): 30-6768-9. Anyone else can subscribe to the French, Italian, English and Spanish in editorial office or the publisher. LAYOUT: Joseph Haas, Zürich Email: [email protected] magazine for an annual fee 14 regional editions. It has a total EDITORS: Marko Lehtinen (LEH), PRINT: Vogt-Schild Druck AG, (Switzerland: CHF 30 / abroad: CHF 50). circulation of 400,000, including 165,000 Editor-in-Chief; Stéphane Herzog (SH); 4552 Derendingen COPY DEADLINE for this edition: Subscribers are sent the magazine electronic copies. Regional news appears Marc Lettau (MUL); Jürg Müller (JM); POSTAL ADDRESS: Publisher, editorial 15.06.2016 direct from Berne. four times a year. The ordering parties Peter Zimmerli (PZ), responsible for office, advertising: Organisation of the www.revue.ch

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 24 OSA news

Dual education – an appren- Youth Service ticeship in Switzerland offers

Johann Schneider-Ammann, President of the Swiss Confederation, Federal Youth Session in Berne, 10/11 to 13/11/2016 continually highlights the success of Switzerland’s dual education This year’s Youth Session for 200 young people will take place from ­system: “Its focus on application and freedom of choice provides young 10/11 to 13/11/2016. Several places are reserved for the Swiss Abroad. people with high-quality training and makes a major contribution to During our workshops we ensure participants are well prepared, pro- the low level of youth unemployment in Switzerland. Vocational train- viding information about Swiss politics, political processes and op- ing based on the voluntary participation of companies is increasingly portunities for participation. attracting interest internationally.” Professional apprenticeships, known as dual education, take New Year’s ski camp for young people in Valbella (Grisons), place at two places of learning – at the company and at a vocational 27/12/2016 to 6/1/2017 college – and generally take three to four years. Similar systems of A programme rich in variety in the mountains of Grisons. Skiing or vocational education exist in and Austria. Professional snowboard lessons in small groups, a varied fringe programme and ­apprenticeships are the most common form of training in Switzer- the chance to make new friends. Supervision by a well-trained team land after compulsory education. Around two thirds of all young of leaders. This offer is aimed at young people aged 15 to 18. people undertake an apprenticeship. They can choose between 200 apprentice careers recognised by the State Secretariat for Education, Winter sports camp for adults in Grächen (Valais), Research and Innovation (SERI) and acquire the knowledge required 27/12/2016 to 6/1/2017 for a specific career. The youngsters are equipped for the world of We are organising a camp for adults over the New Year period for the work after completing the training and passing the final examina- first time. Young and young-at-heart Swiss Abroad (aged 18 and over) tion that leads to the Federal VET Diploma. There are various op- will enjoy a winter camp in Grächen, Valais. tions for education and training, such as the vocational baccalaure- ate and a subsequent university degree at a university of applied sciences. Admission to traditional universities is also an option with German course in Berne, 9/1 to 20/1/2017 additional qualifications. Four lessons in the morning, activities in the afternoon and accom- The biggest hurdle is at the beginning. Young people have to modation with a host family. Improve your knowledge of one of Swit- ­determine where their interests lie and which vocational training they zerland’s four national languages. There is also an opportunity to learn are best suited to. They must then apply independently for an appren- basic Swiss German at a workshop. ticeship. This is not always easy for young Swiss Abroad. The appren- tices receive a small salary during their training. Grants may be Subsidy ­applied for in the case of difficult financial circumstances where Funding is available to the Youth Service to provide support for finan- ­parents are not able to pay for the training. Young Swiss Abroad who cially disadvantaged participants. The application form can be ob- undertake their training in Switzerland and therefore live away from tained by email from [email protected]. their parents’ home and face higher costs also sometimes depend on such financial support from their home cantons. Registration start date educationsuisse provides apprentices and students with support Registration for the winter sports offers begins on 15 September 2016. in filing grant applications. educationsuisse also provides advisory Further information on the offers and registration can be found on consultations in cooperation with the Berne-Mittelland BIZ careers our websites: and study advisory centre. www.aso.ch und www.swisscommunity.org. For further information on grants, careers advice and any ques- tions about education and training in Switzerland, please contact the staff at educationsuisse at [email protected]. RUTH VON GUNTEN, EDUCATIONSUISSE

Offers from partners: Schweizer Jugend Forscht (Swiss Youth in Science): http://sjf.ch/nationaler-wettbewerb/nationaler-wettbewerb-2017/ Easyvote popular votes in September 2016): https://www.easyvote.ch www.educationsuisse.ch

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 news.admin.ch 25

Automatic exchange of information (AEI): the new world of fiscal transparency

Switzerland has committed to implementing the global standard for the The two models for AEOI implementation automatic exchange of information (AEOI). As a result, the Swiss Abroad Model 1 Model 2 face greater fiscal transparency. Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance Bilateral treaty Country X MCAA

About 100 countries have already committed to implementing the AEOI Act AEOI Act AEOI standard. The aim of the new regulations, which Switzerland AEOI standard (OECD) AEOI standard Bilateral activation of the AEOI by helped draw up, is to prevent cross-border tax evasion. The Organ- means of notification to the secretariat of the coordinating body isation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ap- proved the global AEOI standard back in 2014. The AEOI is due to be Country Y Country Z introduced in Switzerland from 2017 onwards so that the first data can be exchanged with selected jurisdictions in 2018. AEOI with partner countries The AEI will have no impact on domestic banking secrecy. How- ever, it will affect Swiss citizens who live abroad and have bank To date, Switzerland has signed declarations with Australia, Jersey, ­accounts in Switzerland. Swiss tax authorities will therefore be Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Iceland, Norway, Japan, Canada and South obliged to report relevant information to the respective tax author- Korea on the basis of the MCAA (model 2). The Swiss parliament has ities abroad. If, for instance, a Swiss citizen living in Paris has an already approved the introduction of the AEOI with Australia. The ­account at a Swiss bank in Zurich, the bank will report information agreements with the other countries will be put to the Federal As- about his financial accounts to the Federal Tax Administration, sembly for approval later this year. which will then pass this information on to the French tax authori­ In May 2015, Switzerland and the EU signed an agreement to in- ties. The diagram below clarifies the way in which the AEOI works. troduce the AEOI. This applies to all 28 EU Member States and ­replaces the agreement with the EU on the taxation of savings in- come, which has been applied since 2005. This corresponds to model How the automatic exchange of information works 1 (cf. diagram). Parliament has approved this agreement. Just as with Country A Country B This information is exchanged: the AEOI agreements mentioned above, Switzerland and the EU Taxpayer in country A has a ­intend to start collecting account details in 2017 and exchange bank account in country B • Account number ­information from 2018 onwards. Switzerland also plans to imple- • name, address, date of birth Authorities in country A Bank in country B ment the AEOI with other countries. can examine foreign discloses financial • Tax identification number financial account data account data to • Interest, dividends authorities in country B • Receipts from certain insurance policies Special situation with regard to the US • Credit balances on accounts • Proceeds from the Swiss citizens living in the United States will be subject not to the sale of financial assets Authorities in country B automatically AEOI but to the FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) agree- forward information to authorities in country A ment between Switzerland and the US. This agreement stipulates that financial institutions in Switzerland must report account in- formation directly to the US tax authorities with the relevant cus- Two forms of implementation tomer’s consent. Last year, the Swiss State Secretariat for Interna- tional Financial Matters (SIF) began negotiating a new FATCA The first group of countries (the “early adopters”) will start ex- agreement with the US on reciprocal data exchange. changing data from 2017. Switzerland, which starts in 2018, be- longs to the second group. There are basically two models for im- Regularisation of the past plementing the AEOI: either bilateral national agreements are concluded to define implementation or the Multilateral Compe- To enable their taxpayers to make a smooth transition into the AEOI, tent Authority Agreement (MCAA) is applied. This is based on the many countries offer them an opportunity to make a voluntary Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, self-declaration. This enables them to regularise previously untaxed signed by the Council of Europe and the OECD. The MCAA is de- assets and prevent or reduce potential fines. Further information on signed to ensure that its signatories implement the AEOI bilater- this can be obtained from the responsible tax authorities in your coun- ally (cf. diagram) try of residence. STATE SECRETARIAT FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MATTERS (SIF)

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 26 news.admin.ch

The single point of contact: your first port of call for questions and concerns The FDFA has expanded its services for the Swiss Abroad and now has a central information office. This “single point of contact” enables Swiss citizens as well as institutions and companies abroad to obtain information and advice quickly and competently.

PETER ZIMMERLI FDFA has tailored specifically to its range of issues that have a direct link The canton of Neuchâtel pioneered target audience’s needs to provide the to their home country Switzerland – this type of service. For the past 11 best possible public service. It runs a from AHV to education and training, years, it has successfully operated a hotline that is operational 24 hours a military service, tax and voting to single point of contact, or Guichet day, 365 days a year. It has also taken their marital status. Often enough, Unique, which is greatly appreciated over responsibility for welfare issues only specialists can answer these by the general public because it helps for the Swiss Abroad from the Federal questions properly. However, it is people meet their administrative ob- Office of Justice and the emigration hard to access these specialists from ligations. The canton’s idea of offer- advice service from the State Secre- abroad, often simply because of the ing its services in a completely paper- tariat for Migration. time difference. What’s more, it is less form appealed to the majority of its inhabitants, even though the use of the central point of contact is not CD Swiss nationals living abroad Diplomatic Consular Authorities, institutions, obligatory. It is therefore hoped that and Swiss businesses and and Consular Directorate businesses and Swiss the FDFA’s single point of contact institutions Representations citizens in Switzerland KMZ will be equally popular with the Crisis Swiss Abroad, even though their dif- Management ferent needs mean that the service Centre has a completely different structure Helpline as well as additional aims to those of +41 0800 24-7-365 +41 58 465 33 33 Neuchâtel. That is to say, the focus is not only on offering paperless ser- Guichet unique vices but also on facilitating access to information. Because of rapidly increasing mo- Through the combination of foreign not always obviously immediately bility and the growing complexity of representations, the helpline and who is responsible for what. various issues, the Federal Govern- the Consular Directorate, the FDFA This is where the single point of ment has realised that the various ad- has created a platform that provides contact can help. The Swiss Abroad ministrative bodies need to work to- Swiss citizens at home and abroad as can direct their concerns to either gether more closely. That’s why the well as authorities at the local, can- the Swiss representation responsible FDFA created the Consular Directo- tonal and federal level with expert for their place of residence or the rate (CD) in 2011. This body unites key advice on various issues relating to FDFA helpline. And they can do so ei- agencies that provide services exclu- the Swiss Abroad. These also include ther by telephone or in writing by sively to the Swiss Abroad and their topics that are not part of the CD’s post or email. Most questions are an- institutions. The CD thus brings to- remit. After all, our compatriots swered directly by staff at the rep- gether the consular services that the abroad have to deal with a broad resentation or helpline. More com-

Plan well. Travel advice Travel well. ✆ from Switzerland +41 800 24 7 365 www.eda.admin.ch/reisehinweise Online registration for Swiss citizens App available for free for iOS and ✆ from abroad +41 58 465 33 33 ✆ from Switzerland +41 800 24 7 365 travelling abroad Android E-Mail: [email protected] ✆ from abroad +41 58 465 33 33 www.fdfa.admin.ch/itineris Skype: helpline-eda www.twitter.com/travel_edadfae

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4

27

plex questions are transferred to specialist agencies. The single point Publications of contact thus acts as the central first Politorbis 62 and 63 port of call. The single point of contact plays an There are two major anniversaries ples that have always served emigrat- important role in ensuring that we in 2016: firstly, the OSA celebrates its ing Swiss citizens themselves as a leit- have a coherent and comprehensive centenary. Secondly, it was 50 years motif: personal responsibility and policy for the Swiss Abroad, and pro- ago that the Federal Government solidarity. vides services that meet the needs of was given a constitutional mandate Politorbis number 62 and the as- this group of people. It makes it easier to strengthen ties both among the sociated online dossier number 63 for Swiss citizens as well as companies Swiss Abroad and to their home consider the profile of the Swiss and institutions abroad to contact country. That’s reason enough for community abroad today from var- Swiss authorities on all issues. By set- the FDFA to dedicate an entire pub- ious perspectives, covering the en- ting up this central first port of call, lication to issues relating to the tire range of the Federal Govern- the Federal Government is taking ac- Swiss Abroad. ment’s activities for the benefit of the Swiss count of increasing mobility and re- With the aid of long-term partnerships with Abroad. acting to the special needs of Swiss cit- private institutions, the Swiss Federal Govern- The publication can be downloaded free of izens living abroad. ment has gradually taken on the role it currently charge at the following addresses: www.eda.­ Although they put the Federal has, a role which was enshrined in the 2015 Swiss admin.ch/publikationen. Printed copies of num- Government in a good position to Abroad Act. The Federal Government’s activities ber 62 can also be ordered by writing to: meet current demands, the new in- are guided by two tried-and-tested basic princi- [email protected]. struments will have to be consoli- dated and expanded in the coming years. The introduction of an online counter, which we reported on in our Important notice April issue, takes the Federal Govern- ment a step closer to providing a pa- Please notify your Swiss representation of your email Federal referenda perless consulate. Through the single address(es) and mobile telephone Voting proposals are determined by the Federal Council at least four months before the point of contact and the online coun- number(s) and/or any changes to ter, the FDFA offers modern tools that these and register at www. voting date. enable Swiss citizens to get access to swissabroad.ch to ensure you do Further voting date: 27 November 2016. information and services more easily. not miss any communications All information on the proposals (voting pamphlets, committees, recommendations Even so, this doesn’t mean that inter- (“Swiss Review”, newsletter from of Parliament and the Federal Council, electronic voting, etc.) can be found at your representation, etc.). personal contact will be scrapped en- www.admin.ch/votes. The latest issue of “Swiss Review” tirely. Our staff abroad will still be and previous issues can be read pleased to meet and assist you at your and/or printed out at any time at Popular initiatives embassy or consulate general. www.revue.ch. “Swiss Review” (or “Gazzetta Svizzera” in ) is The following new federal popular initiatives had been launched at the time of going to sent free of charge to all press (deadline for the collection of signatures in brackets): households of Swiss Abroad who ■■ “For a reasonable paternity leave – for the benefit of the whole family” (24.11.2017) are registered with an embassy or The list of pending popular initiatives can be found at consulate general, either in printed format or electronically www.bk.admin.ch under Aktuell > Wahlen und Abstimmungen > Hängige PETER ZIMMERLI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RELATIONS (via email or as an iOS/Android Volksinitiativen. WITH THE SWISS ABROAD app).

Responsible for the FDFA official communications: Peter Zimmerli, Relations with the Swiss Abroad Bundesgasse 32, 3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. +41 800 24 7 365 or +41 58 465 33 33 www.eda.admin.ch, email: [email protected]

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 28 Images

Ferdinand Hodler: “Evening over the Lake of Geneva” (1895).

From Falstaff to systematic colour series The Kunsthaus Zürich houses one of Switzerland’s most significant collections of art. It extends from the 15th century to the present and includes around 4,000 exhibits, among them Swiss art from various periods. LEH www.kunsthaus.ch

Heinrich Füssli: “Falstaff in the Laundry Basket” (1792). Franz Gertsch: “Franz and Luciano” (1973).

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 29 Photos from Kunsthaus Zürich Photos from

Albert Anker: “Two Girls Sleeping by the Stove” (1895).

Félix Vallotton: “Bathers on a Summer Evening” (1892).

Cuno Amiet: “Sunspots” (1904).

Richard Paul Lohse: “Complementary Groups Formed by Six Horizontal Systematic Colour Series” (1950). Arnold Böcklin: “Putto and Butterfly” (1895).

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 30 Books Sounds

150 Swiss portraits Soul for newcomers

Who is familiar with names like Lore Berger His soft but equally cool look is familiar to or Jonas Fränkel? Probably only a few peo- the Swiss, as is his passionate but controlled ple in the know or bookworms. It is a dif- voice. Seven has been influential in Swiss ferent story with Robert Walser or Max soul music for years, an equally impressive Frisch, names probably all of us have heard and contradictory figure, always likeable but at some point in our lives, and whose works somehow unapproachable and impenetrable. we may well also have read if we went to For some his brand of soul is movingly SEVEN: school in Switzerland. “BEST OF 2002–2016”, ­beautiful, for others it is too clean-cut and A book has now been published contain- SONY MUSIC simply too Swiss. ing 150 brief profiles of figures on the Swiss In any event, the 37-year-old singer from CHARLES LINSMAYER: “Gesichter der Schweizer literary scene from all four language regions Wohlen is celebrating 14 years of major Literatur”. from the 19th century to the present day. ­success at home. He has released ten studio albums to date, which, Elfundzehn Verlag, 2015; 311 pages; CHF 43.90 Charles Linsmayer puts the authors in al­ from the second album onwards, have all made the charts. His lat- phabetical order and dedicates two pages to est ­release “Back Funk Love Soul” even topped the Swiss charts in each of them. All the entries are structured 2015. He has also produced three live albums over the years, which in the same way. In concise terms, Linsmayer outlines their literary highlight Seven’s incredible on-stage qualities. works and provides a brief overview with short biographical details His ability is plain to see, and the artist is taking stock of his and distinctive features. He has an excellent understanding of how achievements for the first time with a “Best Of” album. It contains to put works into their historical and literary context. With origi- 19 tracks from 2002 to 2016, including the stand-out singles from nal inserts, Linsmayer also allows readers to explore the texts “Synthetic Soul” to “Walking With You” as well as two intriguing ­directly. A concise bibliography completes each profile. ­duets with Omar and Talib Kweli as well as a less appealing collab- The book is a reference work, but also a lucky bag of Swiss litera- oration with Stefanie Heinzmann. For dyed-in-the-wool fans, the ture. It includes poets and writers who have long since been forgot- album is also available as a double CD with 16 bonus tracks, some of ten and whose works are out of print. However, it also features con- which are live or unplugged. temporary authors, such as Melinda Nadj Abonji, whose novel “Tauben The new “Best Of” album is a coherent compilation for anyone fliegen auf” (Falcons without Falconers) won the German and Swiss who has only just discovered Seven or who would like to, and there Book Prizes in 2010, and Adolf Muschg, one of the greatest writers and have probably been quite a few in that category lately. Last spring, thinkers in modern-day Switzerland. the performer appeared on the German programme “Sing meinen About Werner Renfer, who died in 1936, Linsmayer writes: “What Song – das Tauschkonzert”. In the show, which aired on Vox, sing- a subtle writer and great, incredibly modern poet he is.” This imme- ers from different genres met at a remote location to interpret the diately provides inspiration to read his poems. The same goes for ­ songs of the others artists in their own way – with a backing band Anita Siegfried, born in 1948. Of her novels Linsmayer notes: “She but no audience. achieved a further peak in her writing in 2007 with ‘Die Schatten This enabled Seven to attract major attention beyond Switzer- ferner Jahre’.” land for the first time. His recent albums were released in Germany, The profiles are wonderfully complemented by photos taken ­ but the public has only really become aware of him now. In light of at the Hottingen literature debates by Manfred Utzinger and author this, the timing of the release of the “Best Of” album is surely no photographs by Yvonne Böhler. The book is highly recommended for ­coincidence. It is probably intended to open up the German market anyone who is or would like to be inspired by Swiss literature. and could ultimately mark the beginning of a new chapter in Sev- Charles Linsmayer, born in 1945, lives in Zurich and is a leading en’s career. MARKO LEHTINEN Swiss literary scholar. After studying in Zurich and Berlin, he worked as a grammar school teacher, publishing editor and journalist. Still an active literary critic, publicist and cultural mediator, he also writes regularly for “Swiss Review”. RUTH VON GUNTEN

Swiss Review / August 2015 / No. 4 Echo Quotes 31

Developments in energy policy “A triumph of art and science, a monument to work In future, renewable energies like solar and wind power and diligence! The barrier which divided nations and new hydroelectric power plants won’t be the only has fallen, the Swiss Alps have been breached. ­projects that will qualify for subsidies in Switzerland. Fol­ Countries have moved closer to each other, the world lowing a decision by the Council of States in its summer session, so too will existing major hydroelectric power market is open.” plants. Hydroelectric power plants receive a “market pre­ SWISS PRESIDENT SIMEON BAVIER, SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION mium” for any electricity that they must sell at below pro­ OF THE GOTTHARD RAILWAY TUNNEL IN 1882 duction cost. The National Council will reconsider the en­ tire Energy Strategy 2050 in its autumn session. The “Today is an historic day for our country: electorate will then be asked to vote on the popular ini­ the completion of the Gotthard Base Tunnel marks tiative “For an ordered withdrawal from nuclear power” the end of a Herculean task.” on 27 November. SWISS PRESIDENT JOHANN SCHNEIDER-AMMANN AT THE OPENING Cutting corporate taxes OF THE GOTTHARD BASE TUNNEL ON 1 JUNE 2016 After much debate, the National Council and the Council of States finally approved the Corporate Tax Reform III “The new tunnel is more than a transport route, more Giulia bill in their summer session. The reforms are designed to than a great engineering achievement. It is a symbol of Steingruber cut ­corporate taxes to ensure that Switzerland remains openness and progress because we are connecting The 22-year-old Swiss an ­attractive location for companies. The Social Demo­ people from the to the Mediterranean.” crats have already announced their intention to launch a gymnast Giulia Stein- referendum opposing the reforms. The people will there­ gruber dominated the FEDERAL COUNCILLOR DORIS LEUTHARD fore have the last word on this controversial issue. The women’s European previous bill, Corporate Tax Reform II, which was voted Artistic Gymnastics “At a time when some people want to build walls, on in 2008, met with considerable public discontent. An­ Championships, which Switzerland has dug a tunnel that sends an important nouncing the referendum, then Federal Councillor and were held in Berne in message.” MATTEO RENZI, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz had failed to inform early June. She picked voters properly that the reforms would cut tax revenues up no fewer than two by billions, an omission condemned by the Federal Su­ gold medals; the first “A marvel of technology.” ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR preme Court. in her favourite event, the vault – which she Fewer asylum applications than in 2015 had also won at the “Such constructions are built by people who are The number of applications for asylum in Switzerland has 2013 and 2014 Europe- willing to travel down a long and arduous road. risen for the first time in five months. A total of 1885 peo­ an Championships – ­­ Political affinities play no part in this.” ple sought asylum in May, 137 more than in April. Never­ and then with a fabu- FORMER FEDERAL COUNCILLOR OF THE SVP – theless, the rise is smaller than it was last May, when lous performance in BEFORE HUGGING FORMER FEDERAL COUNCILLOR ­asylum applications leapt by 60 % to more than 2200. the floor exercises. MORITZ LEUENBERGER OF THE SP

“Here comes the national anthem. Now if only we knew the words!” SWISS PRESIDENT JOHANN SCHNEIDER-AMMANN

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