THE MAGAZINE FOR THE SWISS ABROAD

JANUARY 2011 / NO. 1

Switzerland is dependent on foreigners

Is the Federal Council in need of better organisation?

Ice hockey: a passion that goes back 100 years Kronenhof, Pontresina, Grisons

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Election year and farewell is an election year , so it heralds a day of reckoning for Swiss 5 parliamentarians. The National Council and Council of States Mailbag 2011will be re-elected on 23 October. Some parties are already gear- ing up for the election campaign. The Social Democrats (SPS) plan to move more to the 5 At the cinema: Sennentuntschi left and attempt to overcome capitalism, as was decided at the delegates’ conference. The Free Democrats (FDP) want to ward off the European Union, and the Swiss People’s 7 Party (SVP) is also focusing on the issue of EU accession as well as on education and im- The tradition of the “Silvesterchläuse” in Urnäsch migration. This suggests that a long and uncompromising electoral campaign awaits us. Come what may, the SVP wants a member of its own choice on the Federal Council in- 8 stead of Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. As you will recall, Widmer-Schlumpf was elected Immigration creates prosperity but also to national government in 2007 in place of Christoph Blocher and was punished with ex- brings new problems pulsion from the party. She now belongs to the Conservative Democratic Party of Swit- 12 zerland (BDP), which broke away from the SVP after Widmer-Schlumpf’s expulsion CERN: Research centre near Geneva and today has fi ve National Councillors and one member of the Council of States. “Swiss 15 Review” will provide in-depth coverage of the federal elections and will present the par- Notes from Parliament ties standing for election together with their manifestos in a special edition in Septem- Regional news ber. When the right to a postal vote was introduced for the Swiss residing abroad in 1992, 13,000 people initially cast a vote. At the 2007 federal elections, 111,250 Swiss abroad 18 Does Switzerland need government reform? were entered on an electoral roll, and this fi gure reached 130,017 by the end of 2009. The No, says political scientist Leonhard Neidhart. numbers should be even higher as the votes of the Swiss abroad are important and much sought after. We have therefore enclosed an electoral roll fl yer with this edition for an- 20 Switzerland has the world’s longest railway yone who has not yet registered. Take advantage of this opportunity, send the form to tunnel your representation and play an active part in Swiss political life. You will give more weight to the valid concerns of the Swiss abroad 22 and will help ensure they are resolved successfully. OSA news After six years and 32 editions of “Swiss Review”, I would like 24 to say farewell to you in this editorial as I am now of an age when Voting: Initiatives on deportation and taxation it is time to open a new chapter in my life with new challenges. Since 25 November 2004, I, together with my editorial team, have kept you Politics up to date with political, economic and social developments in 26 Heinz Eckert Switzerland and have attempted to produce a magazine worth read- Ice hockey has a 100-year history in Switzerland ing. Judging by the incredibly positive response we have received from all over the world, 28 I can only assume that you have found our work of interest. Whether by letter, e-mail or Carlos Leal – a Swiss actor in Hollywood telephone, dialogue with you has always been positive and constructive. I would like to 30 thank you most sincerely for your great interest, for the goodwill you have shown to- Swiss banks infuriate the Swiss abroad wards our work and for your many valuable suggestions. I wish my successor, the experienced Bernese journalist Barbara Engel, every suc- 31 Echo cess and satisfaction as the new editor-in-chief. And I wish you, dear readers of “Swiss Review”, good fortune and happiness in the New Year. HEINZ ECKERT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cover photo: How would the Swiss football team fare without second-generation immigrants? Xherdan Shaqiri, who has Kosovan origins, plays for FC Basel and Switzerland. Photo: Swiss Football Association

IMPRINT: “Swiss Review”, the magazine for the Swiss abroad, is in its 38th year of publication and is published in German, French, Italian, English and Spanish in 14 regional editions. It has a total circulation of 395 000. Regional news appears four times a year. ■ EDITORS: Heinz Eckert (EC), Editor-in-Chief; Rolf Ribi (RR); René Lenzin (RL); Alain Wey (AW); Jean-François Lichtenstern (JFL), responsible for “Notes from Parliament”, Service for January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 the Swiss Abroad, DFA, CH-3003 Berne Translation: CLS Communication AG ■ L AYOUT: Herzog Design, Zurich ■ POSTAL ADDRESS: Publisher, editorial offi ce, advertising: Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne, Tel.: +41313566110, Fax: +41313566101, Postal account (Swiss National Giro): 30-6768-9. Internet: www.revue.ch ■ E-MAIL: [email protected] ■ PRINT: Swissprinters St.Gallen AG, CH-9001 St.Gallen. ■ CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please advise your local embassy or consulate. Do not write to Berne. ■ All Swiss abroad who are regis- tered with a Swiss representation receive the magazine free of charge. Anyone else can subscribe to the magazine for an annual fee (Switzerland: CHF 30 / abroad: CHF 50). Subscribers are sent

SWISS REVIEW the magazine direct from Berne. Copy deadline for this edition: 15.11.10 Vorsorgen in Schweizer Franken.

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Cinematic projects Whitewashing THE MAGAZINE FOR THE SWISS ABROAD representing. Self- sometimes have to surmount many I am a reader of interest, narcissism obstacles before reaching the big screen. The fantastical your magazine by OCTOBER 2010 / NO. 4 and a general de- thriller “Sennentuntschi” and its director Michael being married to tachment from the Steiner (“Grounding: The Last Days of Swissair”, “My my wife who is a people (without ex- Name is Eugen”) had to overcome some tremendous hur- Swiss citizen. The ception) have been dles. This feature fi lm is about a Swiss legend – the Sen- article “Clean prevalent for a long nentuntschi (the herdsmen’s doll) – widely known money” by Lukas time in the Federal throughout the entire German-speaking alpine region. World Ski Championships: Lara Gut is back

Swiss fi nancial centre Hässig is a great needs clean money Council. The abili- The author Hansjörg Schneider’s play on the subject

Thomas Maissen’s new piece of whitewash- history of Switzerland ties of Federal (1972) provoked outrage and condemnation when it was ing typical of the fi nancial Councillors may be evident, broadcast on Swiss-German television in 1981, with its world at present. Maybe this but so too are their egos. The storyline telling of how three herdsmen in the Alps make kind of blinkered view will al- media, primarily driven by sales a straw doll to satisfy their sexual urges but the doll ways happen when specialists fi gures, are, of course, only too comes to life and takes revenge on its tormentors.

write about their own narrow willing to satisfy the desire of “Sennentuntschi” – the story behind fi With a budget of 5.5 million Swiss francs, the Swiss section of knowledge but it is the people, who are tired of blockbuster initially appeared set for completion without any not hard nowadays to stand politicians, for sensationalism. hitches. But, after having completed fi lming in October 2008, back from this situation to see From abroad, you can only Michael Steiner’s Kontraproduktion company announced we have entered a period long look at this “kindergarten” and that it had run out of money. Actors and production staff had expected by anyone who read shake your head in disbelief. If not received their wages. The lab fees had not been paid “The limits to growth” when we carry on like this, we will and the Bernese company Schwarz Film was holding the nega- it was published in 1972. To be end up with a situation like in tive. An estimated 2.8 million Swiss francs was needed to com- brief: We have reached Peak the USA. No thanks! plete the fi lm. The accountants confi rmed a shortfall of one Oil, therefore the age of cheap H. BLOCH, CALGARY, CANADA million. Protracted negotiations between the Federal Offi ce of energy is over and our indus- Culture, the Swiss state broadcaster and the Zurich Cinema trial system cannot function Like a mirror Foundation came to nothing. Unable to fi nd any potential in- without this input. Neither can I just read your article “Poor vestors in France, Avventura Films, the French subsidiary of the fi nancial world work with- Colleagues” and heartily agree Vega Film, withdrew. As a result, only two countries (Switzer- out the pyramid system of per- with you. It is one of the best land and Austria) were now involved in the production of the petual growth. S. ALLIN, IRELAND articles in a long time. There fi lm, and Eurimages, the Council of Europe’s cinema support are times it feels to me as though fund, blocked its promised funding. The Federal Offi ce of Account with BEKB this is like a virus circling the Culture also considered a request for the restitution of its I would like to thank Mr world; most governments seem million-franc contribution. Industry professionals and the Crabtree-Ruggli for writing a to suffer from the same person- general public looked on with dismay. letter to the mailbag on CS’s ality cult rather than working In February 2010, after more than a year of uncertainty over charges. I was equally annoyed together for the good of the investment, the Swiss subsidiary of the with CS and their treatment of country. This, as you probably German company Constantin Film decided Swiss clients abroad. I have know, is especially true for to save the sinking ship and ensured the now closed my CS account and the U.S. fi lm’s completion and release. It injected opened one with the Berner Thank you for this insightful an initial 1.6 million Swiss francs to cover Kantonalbank. I have received article. Let us hope the Federal the payment of wages and the Kontrapro- service to my full satisfaction Councillors read it and work to duktion debt. In return, it secured the col- and can fully recommend this fi nd common ground. laboration of Michael Steiner and his team bank to Swiss abroad disap- S. SHIMAZU-WEIBEL, WASHINGTON, USA for one fi lm a year. “Sennentuntschi” was pointed with CS and who just fi nally presented at the opening of the Zu- want a straightforward Swiss Many thanks rich Film Festival on 23 September. The critics loved it, and account. Many thanks for your editorial the fi lm has been running in cinemas in German-speaking Swit- V. BADER, HAMBURG, GERMANY “Poor Colleagues” in “Swiss zerland since 14 October, drawing over 100,000 people to see Review”. You said exactly what it by early November. The accursed fi lm has won acclaim with Kindergarten needed saying. an accursed Swiss myth. Mr Eckert really hit the nail on T. WALLACE, TEXAS, USA ALAIN WEY the head. His article should be hung on the walls of the corri-

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 dors in the Federal Palace as a “refl ection” to remind the poli- ticians WHO and WHAT they

SWISS REVIEW are actually supposed to be 6 MAILBAG

”AUF UND DAVON“ – new homelands for a year. The six-part documentary series “Auf NEW ADVENTURES OF SWISS EMIGRANTS und davon” (Up and Away) shows the everyday situations the emigrants encounter and the highs and lows of their new lives. The second series of the hit documentary programme on Swiss emi- The series soundtrack and theme tune are provided by “Gölä grants starts on SF1 on Friday, 7 January 2011 at 8.55 p.m. The six- und Band”, among others. part series was produced by the “Redaktion DOK” team. The series reveals the balancing act between adventure and a “Up and away” – another four Swiss families and couples dare secure existence. The emigrants are faced with the challenges of to set off on an adventure abroad by emigrating. Christine and everyday life in a foreign environment. The stars of the “Auf und Hermann Schönbächler are moving to Canada with their chil- davon – Die Auswanderer” series have to contend with the un- dren. Ali and Jennifer Wettstein hope to fi nd a better life in Peru familiar customs of their new homeland while managing their with their young son, Sven. Anja Kinsky and Claude Wegmann own fi nancial resources. are building themselves an “agriturismo” in Italy. And Anni Kuhn and Orlando Stamm have plans for a holiday resort in Bali. The DOK cameras followed the emigrants in Switzerland and their The series can also be watched online at: www.sf.tv

Wrong or right? in Switzerland who occasion- Swiss francs in one account This “holiday” is costing us 712 I keep old issues of your Re- ally visit or call tell me that and 1000 in the other. We have Swiss francs. view, I hoard them and trea- “everything has changed” or used them during our visits to We are extremely disap- sure them and once in a while I “you wouldn’t like it anymore”. Switzerland to avoid currency pointed in CS and hope it browse through an old issue. I I’m still homesick for the exchange charges and to save comes to appreciate its small just glanced through one dat- land of my childhood that I money. savers again. ing back to 2006 – relatively have not seen since 1985. I feel We have booked a fl ight and T. N. & H. HAVRAN, AUSTRIA new to my collection. There very nostalgic but I do not feel a hotel to close the accounts. was a kind of jubilation in one qualifi ed to vote – because I Advertisement article about the prospect of just don’t know what’s up!! more and more Swiss abroad Call me “Globi in der Verban- voting in Swiss elections. nung” (since January 1947). I can’t decide whether or not R. H. TUCKER, HAWAII, USA this is a good thing. I can’t quite imagine people living in Mailbag contribution on Credit Switzerland voting on issues of Suisse concern here in Honolulu!! We too received this letter What do you know about our from CS. After contacting CS street potholes, our overfl ow- by telephone, its contents were ing prisons with excess num- simply confi rmed. Without bers exported to the mainland? any interest in continuing the A shameful thing. business relationship, account How can people who do not closure was acknowledged as pay taxes in Switzerland and the appropriate solution. How- do not know conditions fi rst- ever, this can only be done in hand make really informed de- person at a CS branch. cisions on what is right and We have two “savings ac- what is wrong for the coun- counts” – my wife has had hers try??? I certainly would not for around 30 years as it was want to vote with my very lim- opened by her father. The ited knowledge. People living most recent balances were 600 January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 SWISS REVIEW IMAGES 7

Silvesterchlausen. In recent decades, the tradition of the “Silvesterchläuse” in Urnäsch, which dates back over 200 years, has developed from going door-to-door wearing simple costumes into a much more elaborate affair. Today the “Chläuse” wear costumes and masks that require a great deal of effort to make. Silvesterchlausen is held in a similar format on two days, New Year’s Eve and 13 January. When Pope Gregory XIII introduced his calendar reform, various reformed cantons refused to acknowledge this papal innovation and continued using the old calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar by 13 days, until the 18th century. Some popular calendars printed

both systems alongside one another and the “Chläuse” appeared on both New Year’s Eves. EC January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 SWISS REVIEW Photos: Rolf A. Stähli, Winterthur 8 SWITZERLAND – A NATION OF IMMIGRATION

Immigration creates prosperity – and brings new concerns difference between immigration and emigra- Switzerland has been a nation of immigration for more than a tion. In 2009, there were 160,600 immi- grants compared to 86,000 emigrants, pro- hundred years. After the watershed year of 2002, immigration ducing a positive migration balance of 74,600. from the rest of Europe increased dramatically. The new immi- 79,000 foreigners came to Switzerland as grants are contributing to Switzerland’s prosperity. However, new permanent residents (in the previous year, the fi gure was as high as 103,000, which new problems and concerns have emerged – in the housing mar- is equal to the population of the town of ket, on the labour market, in social welfare and, last but not Winterthur). The migration balance of the least, in terms of social integration. By Rolf Ribi foreign resident population has been posi- tive ever since 1979. Among Swiss citizens, 4,400 more people There is a major problem in the magnifi cent immigration. “Alongside France, Switzer- emigrated abroad last year than returned Swiss Alps. When the cattle are led onto the land is the country with the longest tradition home. The migration balance for the Swiss alpine pastures in early summer, there is a of immigration in Europe”, according to has been negative since 1992. In 2009, 22,400 shortage of milkers, shepherds and herds- former Swiss ambassador Alfred Defago. Swiss abroad returned to their homeland, men. The work in the solitary mountain en- primarily for economic reasons (at the end vironment is hard, with of last year, 684,974 long days and modest Swiss citizens were liv- pay. Consequently, last ing abroad, 76.5% of summer, there were not them in western Europe enough men lending a and North America). hand in some alpine ar- eas. The people were de- Migration trend lighted to see Germans, A review of recent Austrians, Italians and decades reveals the fol- Poles supporting local lowing time-lapse pic- alpine farmers. Farming ture thanks to Swiss mi- in the Swiss Alps would gration policy: from the not be possible without end of the Second workers from abroad. World War to the 1960s, The situation in the strong economic output local alpine economy es- resulted in a shortage of sentially refl ects that of labour. Seasonal work- the economy as a whole. ers, primarily from It- Foreigners have made a aly, came to Switzer- huge contribution to land for nine months at Switzerland as a busi- a time in large numbers. ness location and centre At the end of the 1950s, of learning for more it was made easier to than a century. Large bring family members. numbers of Italian work- The proportion of the ers helped build the Young immigrant worker from Italy in the early 1960s. foreign resident popu- large tunnels through lation rose from 6% in the Alps at the end of the 19th century and Figures on migration 1950 to 13.6% in 1963. Growing fears of for- numerous German workers, industrialists Key fi gures on migration in Switzerland: eign domination emerged and the Schwarzen- and artists helped shape cultural and eco- at the end of 2009, Switzerland’s permanent bach initiative “against superalienation” was nomic life in the new Swiss federal state from resident population was 7.78 million people, only narrowly rejected in 1970. From then 1850 (including Heinrich Nestlé, Georg of whom 1.71 million, or around 22%, were until the 1990s, immigration was mainly Wander, Walter Boveri, Rudolf Diesel, foreigners. This was a total of 84,000 people managed with quotas. However, the propor- Georg Büchner and Richard Wagner). Swit- or 1.1% more than in the previous year (fol- tion of foreigners continued to rise (seasonal zerland was traditionally a nation of emigra- lowing an increase of no less than 1.4% in workers were given one-year residency and tion until the end of the 19th century. Thou- 2008). These are signifi cantly higher growth it was made easier for family members to join

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 sands of young Swiss emigrated back then, rates than in the rest of Europe. They rep- them). primarily to North and South America. The resent a projected doubling of the size of the Migration policy changed course at the be- population census of 1880 revealed a turna- population every 50 to 60 years. The key in- ginning of the 1990s with the three-circle SWISS REVIEW Photo: „Il lungo addio – Der lange Abschied“,Photo: „Il lungo addio – Der lange edit. Dieter Bachmann, Zurich, Limmat Verlag, 2003 round: Switzerland had become a nation of dicator is the migration balance, i.e. the model. The origin of the immigrants became 9

the decisive factor: the inner circle contained “in the event of an excessive increase in immi- ity. In the past, it was immigrants from the citizens from the European Union (EU) and gration” which would allow new quotas. And south doing the jobs that were unpopular the European Free Trade Association the regulation that only those who have an among the Swiss (in construction, agricul- (EFTA), the second circle embraced citizens employment contract with a Swiss company ture, industry and hospitality). Today, it is from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and can stay in Switzerland continues to apply to well educated new immigrants from the the USA, and the third circle encompassed all EU and EFTA citizens. north and west occupying top jobs in busi- citizens from all other countries. The aim One fundamental change resulting from ness and science. “If we want to maintain our was to favour infl ux from the fi rst and, if the introduction of the free movement of per- economic performance, then we will need need be, the second circle at the expense of sons in Europe is that 70% of migrants today even more foreign workers in future”, said the third. At the end of the 1990s, migration come from the European Union. And 60% of Francis Matthey, former Social Democrat policy was changed to the dual system still in all new immigrants hold a university degree (SP) politician and incumbent president of place today: the Bilateral Agreements I with (that is twice as many as among the Swiss the Swiss Federal Commission for Migration the European Union brought the free move- themselves). This new trend is confi rmed by Issues. “Switzerland is dependent on immi- ment of persons with the European area of the Federal Offi ce for Migration: “Since 2002, gration from the European Union given the that time (15 EU states, EFTA countries), the majority of immigrants to Switzerland are birth rate, demographic trends and the together with restricted immigration from well to very well qualifi ed workers.” Immigra- shortage of specialist workers”, explained all other countries. The new migration pol- tion is high among the academic professions Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard. icy aimed to attract “Switzerland as a busi- qualified workers to ness location requires Switzerland based on expertise and ideas. economic requirements. Thanks to immigration, In 2005, the Swiss peo- the country has achieved ple approved the exten- a level of performance sion of the agreement that would not have to ten new EU Member been possible with its States. Then in 2009, own human resources”, the Swiss people voted writes the specialist pub- in favour of the contin- lication “Der Arbeits- uation of the free move- markt”. Boris Zürcher, ment of persons with of the neo-liberal think- the EU and its exten- tank Avenir Suisse, be- sion to Bulgaria and lieves that Switzerland is Rumania. one of the most glo- balised nations in the Watershed in immi- world. He says: “Thanks gration to its open approach to In retrospect, 2002 the production factors marked a real water- of labour and capital, it shed. From this point has achieved a level of on, immigration from performance that could the rest of Europe in- not be sustained with creased sharply and the Swiss labour alone.” infl ux from other coun- Lebanese-born businessman Nicolas Hayek saved the Swiss watch industry. Beat Hotz-Hart, a tries fell accordingly. university professor 6,000 EU citizens have migrated to Switzer- (scientists, doctors, university lecturers), tech- from Zurich, holds the view that Switzerland land on average each month since 2006, even nicians and engineers, and among company today boasts an “extremely high degree of in- during the economic downturn. “Switzer- managers in general. “Immigration is shifting ternationalisation” in university lecturing, in land has lost control of its external borders. towards the highly qualifi ed, which meets the research and development, and in manage- It is now powerless with regard to immigra- requirements of the economy” (according to ment and on boards of directors in the busi- tion policy”, wrote the editor-in-chief of a Credit Suisse study). ness world. The global network that comes “Weltwoche”. Is this statement correct? with this provides an “enormous advantage There were quotas for the 15 “old” EU states Contribution to prosperity in international competition”. The high level until mid-2007 and such restrictions will ap- In the general debate on immigration from of internationalisation in top management

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 ply to the eight “new” EU states until 2011 abroad, opinion-makers on the left and right, positions at Swiss companies is confi rmed by (and even longer for Bulgaria and Rumania). from progressive and conservative parties, a study carried out by specialist Guido Schill- Swiss diplomats have also negotiated a spe- agree that foreign labour has made a signifi - ing AG among the 121 companies with the SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone cial protective clause with Brussels until 2014 cant contribution to Switzerland’s prosper- highest number of employees: 44% of top 10 SWITZERLAND – A NATION OF IMMIGRATION

managers in Switzerland are foreigners – of crease in unemployment as a result of immi- former price regulator, Rudolf Strahm, be- these 31% come from Germany (43% in fact gration. Immigration does not just bring la- lieves the main reason for these social pay- at CEO level), followed by increasing num- bour into the country, but also consumers ments are “the shortcomings in the integra- bers of US and British citizens. and tenants, boosting the economy and cre- tion of foreigners and vocational training”. ating new jobs. He says that a lack of vocational training gen- New problems, new concerns And what about the impact on wages? The erally results in unemployment and a need Immigration creates prosperity but also verdict of the State Secretariat concerned to claim social benefi ts and insurance. brings with it new problems and concerns. In within the Federal Palace is that there is no The current social burden also has an his- the housing market, strong immigration is evidence of a resulting fall in wages for em- torical background. The seasonal workers impacting on the issue of limited space with ployees on low and average incomes. In the who arrived from southern Europe, and later repercussions for the price of property own- case of highly qualifi ed workers, immigration from the Balkans, up until 2002 were largely ership and rent. Immigration of foreign has subdued wages, but signifi cantly more so uneducated. Switzerland brought them in as workers has been the major reason for the among foreigners than for the Swiss. Greater cheap labour. Alain du Bois-Reymond, Di- construction of residential accommodation pressure on wages has been avoided thanks rector of the Federal Offi ce for Migration, over the past four years, according to the to “accompanying measures” that go with confi rms this: “The high proportion of for- property consultancy Wüest & Partner. the freedom of movement of persons in Eu- eigners on unemployment and invalidity in- They say: “The market is going through the rope. These ensure that Swiss salaries and surance benefi ts is an historical burden from roof in some hotspots the days of the seasonal in the Geneva and Zu- worker law.” Francis rich areas.” This is re- Matthey, from the Com- sulting in prices “no mission for Migration Is- longer in touch with re- sues, identifi es additional ality”, particularly for reasons: the foreign pop- luxury properties. ulation is younger and However, while the lo- less well educated, many cal construction indus- migrants work in sectors try and estate agents with a high invalidity risk are happy, the trend is and in industries that de- having an effect on lo- pend heavily on eco- cal residents. “Housing nomic conditions. shortages and price However, migration rises are increasing the also benefi ts the social economic pressure on welfare system: “The im- the socially disadvan- migration of predomi- taged classes, causing a nantly younger employ- greater risk of poverty ees will improve the ratio in the major cities”, ac- between active members cording to the study of old-age and invalidity “Immigration 2030” by insurance schemes and the Zürcher Kantonal- pensioners. Immigrants bank. are contributing to the Is the predominantly financing of these well qualifi ed new wave Switzerland’s top footballers are foreign by birth: Yakin, Barnetta, Behrami and Fernandes schemes”, says the “Neue of immigrants pushing (from left to right) Zürcher Zeitung”. In the local workers, with and case of old-age and survi- without a Swiss passport, out of the employ- working conditions are maintained in all sec- vors’ insurance alone, around 20% of all sal- ment market? “There is hardly any displace- tors and regions of the country. ary contributions come from EU citizens, ment of local labour”, said Serge who only receive 15% of the benefi ts. In ad- Gaillard, Director of the State Secretariat Impact on social welfare? dition, entitlement to a full old-age and sur- for Economic Affairs. “Contrary to fears, Is immigration increasing or decreasing vivors’ insurance pension is only granted in immigrants are not forcing the Swiss out of the burden on our social welfare institutions Switzerland after 44 years of contributions. the labour market on the whole”, maintains and the state? 42% of the unemployed are Anyone who has only worked in Switzerland the specialist publication “Der Arbeits- foreigners, as are 44% of the recipients of for one year therefore only receives 1/44 of

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 markt”, though a certain degree of displace- welfare benefi ts (60% if we include natural- the full pension. ment is taking place among the middle classes. ised citizens), and 37% of invalidity insurance However, there are unanswered questions, Economic researchers estimate that there pensions go to foreigners. Yet foreigners such as why are 10% of Turks aged 30 to 39 SWISS REVIEW Photos: Swiss Football Association Photos: Swiss Football has been hardly any or only a very slight in- make up 22% of the resident population. The receiving an invalidity insurance pension com- 11

pared to only 2% of Swiss? Why have one in The integration of the new foreign elite zens were naturalised in 2009, with most of three Turks or former Yugoslavians aged 50 causes the fewest concerns – they have their these coming from the Balkans, Italy and to 59 taken early retirement on social insur- own networks, live in communities, speak Germany. Switzerland’s naturalisation pro- ance as opposed to only 9% of Swiss, as a study English and send their children to interna- cess remains stringent by international com- claims? Is it fair, for example, that Germans tional schools. However, there is no disput- parison. This has not stopped right-wing can receive full unemployment benefi t after ing the fact that there is still much to do be- politicians calling for an even tighter ap- just one day’s work provided they have paid fore “the foreign population has equal proach – no Swiss passport for the unem- social insurance contributions for a suffi cient opportunities to participate in economic, so- ployed or for applicants who have commit- length of time in their country of origin? cial and cultural life”, according to the Fed- ted a crime (such as going through a red light Scientifi c studies have been conducted into eral Council. Zurich’s mayor, Corine Mauch, on the road). how much foreigners pay into the social in- believes there are fears among the popula- surance schemes and how much they receive tion of domination by foreigners. “This is The cultural dimension in benefi ts (the so-called net transfer balance). why it is absolutely vital that we pursue an In October, Melinda Nadj Abonji was pre- Their tax contributions and the fact that an- active integration policy”, she said. sented with the German Book Prize at the other country has funded their education are The highest level of integration is natural- Frankfurt Book Fair. In November, the au- also taken into account. An in-depth immi- isation – becoming a Swiss citizen. Anyone thor also won the Swiss Book Prize. The gration study by the Zürcher Kantonalbank who has resided in Switzerland for twelve 42-year-old writer from Senta in Vojvodina, produces a positive bal- an autonomous Hungar- ance (i.e. more pay- ian province in Serbia, ments than benefit lives with her family in claims) for all persons of Zurich. Her prize-win- working age (Swiss and ning novel “Tauben fl ie- foreign). This is slightly gen auf” (Falcons with- lower for foreign pass- out Falconers) tells of a port holders than for family who came to the Swiss, which has to Switzerland from Voj- do with the lower in- vodina at the start of the come of foreigners. In 1970s. Last year’s Swiss other words, taking Book Prize was won by taxes into account, for- the author Ilma Rakusa, eign immigrants are “vi- who has Slovenian-Hun- able” from a govern- garian roots. Her auto- ment perspective. biographical work “Mehr Meer” (More Sea) Integration and natu- poetically describes an ralisation immigrant’s observa- “They called for la- tions about her new bour, and people ar- home. rived” – this famous “German-language lit- quote from the author erature has received ma- Max Frisch in 1965 re- jor new impetus from fers to the social inte- immigrants and second- gration of foreign work- Switzerland also attracts many rich foreigners: popstar Phil Collins has lived near Geneva for generation migrants in ers into our society. many years. recent decades”, writes Switzerland, with its literary critic Manfred large number of foreigners, has undoubtedly years can apply for Swiss citizenship. Federal Papst. Immigration does not just have eco- achieved impressive integration since the government assesses two factors – whether nomic and social dimensions but – fortu- 1960s. For 50 years, nationalist-conservative candidates have obeyed the law and whether nately for Switzerland – a cultural one too. groups have repeatedly used the foreigner they represent a security risk. It allows the debate to stoke the political fi re. Those on cantons and communes to defi ne additional the right of politics do not want to acknow- criteria, such as familiarity with the local way DOCUMENTATION Credit Suisse, Economic Research: Schweizer Migra- ledge that Switzerland is a nation of immi- of life, good character, linguistic knowledge tionspolitik. Erfahrungen und Ausblick, Zurich 2008 gration and call for assimilation instead of in- and fi nancial self-responsibility. Daniel Müller-Jentsch: Die neue Zuwanderung. Die Schweiz zwischen Brain-Gain und Überfremdung- January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 tegration. The left often naively glorifi es 8,658 citizenship applications were granted sangst. Avenir Suisse and Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung, multiculturalism and fails to recognise the in 1990 and 28,700 ten years later. This fi g- Zurich 2008 Zürcher Kantonalbank: Immigration 2030. Szenarien everyday problems of coexistence, particu- ure then rose sharply over the next fi ve years für die Zürcher Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, Zurich 2010 SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone larly in schools. to reach 46,711 in 2006. 43,440 foreign citi- Documentation centre www.doku-zug.ch

12 CERN – THE NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTRE IN GENEVA

The unparalleled experiment The coldest place in the universe and the world’s largest particle accelerator are to be found north-west of Geneva. We visit a parallel world – the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN. By Joel Frei

A hundred meters below the earth, narrow ter not destroyed? Why was there a small re- runs through the research site. At lunchtime, passageways lead through a maze of pipes, sidual amount of matter which would form physicists whose offi ces are in France eat at cables and tubes. Physicist Niko Neufeld our universe? the restaurant on the Swiss side. The physi- grins mischievously: “It’s a bit like a Harry cists, who come from all over the world to Potter fi lm here - you never really know The particle accelerator carry out research at CERN, can sometimes where these winding paths will end.” Neu- The new, more powerful LHC (Large forget which country they are in. The cliché feld is one of 7,000 scientists at CERN, the Hadron Collider) particle accelerator was of the absent-minded professor is alive and world’s largest particle physics research cen- built in the old accelerator’s ring-shaped tun- kicking in the land of CERN. A physicist tre. Answers to the big questions are sought nel. This underground storage ring has an im- who was overly enthusiastic about his work here - Where do we come from? Why this pressive 27-kilometre circumference and ex- is said to have fallen ill with scurvy because world and not another one? How did the uni- tends far into neighbouring France. In the he spent too much time thinking about his verse develop? This “global laboratory”, LHC, protons are accelerated to almost the experiments and not enough on eating where researchers from more than 80 coun- speed of light and fi red in both directions in healthily. Tour guide Sophie Tesauri leads tries work, is the size of a small town. the circle. They inevitably collide with one the way into a hall on French territory. Sheep another and new particles emerge from these graze peacefully on a nearby meadow. The The labyrinth collisions. The detectors in the particle accel- hall is in poor condition and the shabby toi- The streets in CERN are named after fa- erator’s ring record these collisions and gen- lets are part of an outside annex. “The money mous physicists such as Heisenberg, Curie erate a mass of data for physicists to evaluate. is used for research - my offi ce doesn’t even and Einstein. This town of physicists has its Countless extremely powerful magnets hold have double glazing”, says Tesauri with own post offi ce, a bank, a travel agency and the protons in their path. These are cooled a smile. a theatre. CERN’s energy requirements are to -271° Celsius - nowhere in the universe is also on a par with those of a town; the re- as cold - to fully exploit their capacity. In The boundaries of science search facilities consume a tenth of the can- their experiments the researchers reconstruct Inside the hall, physicist Michael Doser ton of Geneva’s electricity. The giant labor- the original physical state of the universe, demonstrates an antimatter experiment that atory’s budget stands at around one billion when the world was a billionth of a second he conducted research on several years ago. Swiss francs. By way of comparison, CERN’s old. To see the enthusiasm and delight on the The research team succeeded in artifi cially budget is larger than the GDP of the Cen- physicists’ faces, you would think they them- producing an anti-hydrogen atom. The dis- tral African state of Burundi. selves were going on a journey back in time cussion with Doser drifts into the obscure Neufeld heads further into the labyrinth with their detector time machine. world of metaphysics. When asked whether and goes down a passageway that passes A huge metal device hangs in a cavern physics will ever be able to explain what pre- through giant reinforced concrete blocks. that can only be reached through a narrow ceded the big bang, he replies that asking the “We’re now coming to what we call the dark entrance. The ATLAS detector is the lar- question was futile based on the current level side”, he reveals. What sounds like a Holly- gest of the six detectors in the ring and con- of scientifi c knowledge: “Time fi rst emerged wood-style struggle between good and evil is stitutes the main component of the new par- with the big bang and we still don’t know actually part of the matter-of-fact world of ticle accelerator. The workers clambering what time means.” Doser does not believe science. The concrete blocks protect people over it look like dwarfs by comparison. Next that the current generation of physicists will and electronic equipment located on the year, the protons will collide with one an- succeed in solving the mysteries of gravity “good” side against the radiation of stray par- other in the centre of this machine. Physi- and time. Researchers are unable to explain ticles. The passageway through these con- cists hope the ATLAS detector will provide why we stick to the earth, and time remains crete blocks eventually leads to a giant, sur- evidence of the Higgs particle, which cur- an abstract concept. However, he has faith real-looking machine. It is one of the six rently only exists in theory and which they in the future generation of physicists: “I be- detectors in the ring of the world’s largest believe will explain why particles have lieve in mankind’s ingenuity. New tools will particle accelerator, which is known as the a mass. be found to answer new questions.” As in sci-

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 LHCb. This piece of equipment aims to shed ence fi ction movies, he believes that mankind light on one of the last mysteries of antimat- The physicists will one day be able to artifi cially extend its ter: when the big bang occurred, why was all A large part of the research centre com- intelligence, enabling him to discover what

SWISS REVIEW matter that came into contact with antimat- plex is located on French soil. The border preceded the big bang. “The aim of physics 13

is to show how everything fi ts together and “There’s defi nitely nothing dangerous going on” that the universe could not have been any What is the research being carried out at CERN at a cost of bil- different”, says Doser. A visit to CERN, near Geneva, is like en- lions actually aiming to achieve? What do the physicists in tering a parallel world. What is reality and Geneva hope to discover through their work? Joel Frei interviews what is metaphysics? At the end of this tour Peter Jenni, a physicist from Berne who has worked at CERN through the world of basic research, many questions remain unanswered. The main one since 1980, about his work. is: What are 7,000 scientists actually doing in this labyrinth of grey buildings, detector caverns and tunnels? What has been the most exciting moment in your career as a physicist? There are three moments that have been very special for me. In the early 1980s, when we carried out the proton-antiproton accel- erator experiments and discovered the W and Z bosons (mediators of weak interac- tion), that was CERN’s greatest discovery. The approval of the ATLAS project in 1995 was also a great moment. And, of course, the

Picture below: CERN in Geneva is the size of a small town and is the workplace of research scientists from 80 different Peter Jenni has worked as a physicist at CERN countries. since 1980. January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone/CERN 14 CERN – THE NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTRE IN GENEVA

fi rst collisions in the LHC on 23 November ical particles. This is a very exciting theory and discoveries have also been made in the 2009 were a very special moment after 20 because the LHC can help and could enable fi eld of medicine. But perhaps even more im- years of development work. research results to be obtained in the search portant is that many young people are for the mysterious dark matter. Back in the trained in leading-edge technologies, and Has the new LHC particle accelerator already 1930s, Swiss physicist Fritz Zwicky observed quite simply the fact that our work here is produced concrete fi ndings? that visible matter alone cannot explain what based on international cooperation. We are Yes, there are already many publications holds galaxies together. Another kind of well aware that cutting-edge research is ex- on the standard model in physics. This is the matter must exist with a fundamentally dif- pensive and understand the importance of fi rst time it has been tested at such high en- ferent structure. We cannot see any stars keeping energy consumption under control ergy levels. We are observing that this model made of dark matter, but there are certainly and managing quality. is generally behaving as we expected. And we lots of them – many more than those com- have also broken new ground. For example, posed of visible matter. Dark matter is one What would you say to people who fear that some hypothetical particles can already be of the biggest mysteries in physics and cos- the LHC will create a black hole? ruled out. Thanks to the high energy levels mology. What happens in the LHC has been occur- we are working with, we are able to acquire ring naturally for many billions of years. more knowledge than our competitors at the How would you respond to criticism that basic Much more powerful particle collisions also Tevatron accelerator in Chicago. We haven’t research at CERN costs too much money, with occur in the universe. Yet we’re all still here. discovered anything earth-shattering yet, an annual budget of one billion Swiss francs, There is no real risk and any fears are unjus- but we are making more progress than be- and consumes too much energy, 10% of the can- tifi ed. CERN has taken such warnings seri- fore. Naturally we hope that the LHC will ton of Geneva’s electricity? ously and commissioned expert reports help produce many new discoveries over the Basic research is vital to mankind’s tech- which have given the all-clear based on prob- coming decades. nological advancement. We all depend on ability calculations. This issue has often been technological achievements. When research raised, but since the LHC has been in oper- String theory, which is also being researched at was carried out into electricity and magnet- ation such concerns have subsided because CERN, is one of the symmetry theories. Is it ism, nobody could foresee how important nothing has happened. likely to help us discover the “theory of every- this work would become. Basic research is thing” soon? the engine of progress. One of mankind’s (Laughs). That’s still a long way off. String most basic attributes is a desire to under- theory makes no clear statements about stand the laws of nature. This is what differ- things that might be observed in the LHC. entiates us from animals. Another aspect is However, there are follow-up theories to that there are many positive applications for string theory, such as supersymmetry theory, the technologies developed at CERN. The that suggest the existence of new hypothet- World Wide Web was developed at CERN,

GLOSSARY

Standard model Dark matter String theory Black hole This model of elementary particle A hypothetical form of matter that Hypothetical physical models that An astronomical phenomenon physics is a physical theory that cannot be seen as it neither emits attempt to provide a uniform ex- whose gravitational pull is so describes known elementary par- nor refl ects light. Dark matter is in planation of all fundamental great that it even sucks in light. It ticles and their interaction. The gravitational interaction with vis- physical forces observed to date. distorts space/time so severely model describes three different ible matter. In particular, this theory tries to that nothing can escape from in- types of interaction: strong combine gravitational theories side the hole. interaction, weak interaction and Antimatter with quantum theories. It goes electromagnetic interaction. Matter composed of antiparticles beyond the standard model, but that is the counterpart of the has never been tested in practice. Higgs particle matter of which “our” world con- Named after the Scottish physi- sists. Antimatter has a very short The theory of everything cist Peter Higgs, this particle, lifespan here because, when a This physical and mathematical which still only exists in theory, is particle-antiparticle pair collides, theory attempts to integrally ex- important for explaining particle both are destroyed. Massive quan- plain and link all known physical mass. It is predicted in the stand- tities of matter and antimatter phenomena. A single model aims

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 ard model of elementary particle were destroyed in this way during to explain all of nature’s funda- physics. the big bang, leaving behind a mental interactions. small residual amount of matter,

SWISS REVIEW which is our world today. NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT 15

The XIII Francophone Summit in Montreux the challenges involved in organising an event of this kind in terms of logistics. 1,750 delegates, around 600 journalists, 1,700 staff, more addresses the topic of “future challenges than 1,000 organisers and over 1,000 police offi cers and fi re service and visions for the French-speaking world” personnel had to be accredited for the summit. The head of the Swiss diplomatic service also emphasised the importance of the Montreux The XIII Summit of the heads of state and government of the Summit to Switzerland, underlining the fact that the entire country French-speaking world, which took place in Montreux on 23 and and not just the French-speaking part is a member of the Interna- 24 October 2010 under the presidency of Swiss President, Doris tional Francophone Organisation. “Multicultural Switzerland, with Leuthard, also opened its doors to the public with various thematic, its four national languages and federal state, feels at ease in the French- literary and cultural events. It resulted in the Declaration of speaking world which contains 870 million people on fi ve continents”, Montreux, which was adopted with several resolutions. Switzerland she said. The summit raised Switzerland’s profi le and gave it the op- is holding the presidency of the Francophone Summit from portunity to affi rm its policy of hosting international conferences and October 2010 to October 2012, while the Democratic Republic of organisations. “In a world where networks are being superimposed, Congo will host the next summit in 2012. this positioning is benefi cial”, added the Federal Councillor. As 2010 coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Niamey Con- Several days before the opening of the XIII Francophone Summit, vention, the founding act of the institutional French-speaking world, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland wanted the heads of state and government to refl ect on Micheline Calmy-Rey, highlighted the importance of this meeting. the “future challenges and visions for the French-speaking world”.

“The French-speaking world exerts signifi cant in- THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE IN- Three topics, in particular, were therefore on the fl uence. It represents a third of the states in the UN. TERNATIONAL FRANCOPHONE ORGANI- agenda: “The French-speaking world as a player An area which fosters democracy, human rights and SATION (OIF) WITH THE COMMISSIONER in international relations and its position in world FOR THE ORGANISATION OF THE XIII development, the French-speaking community pro- SUMMIT AND THEIR MAIN ADVISORS governance”, “The French-speaking world and vides a platform for debate to tackle the challenges sustainable development” and “the French lan- The Secretary-General of the OIF, which face and concern the entire world”, under- Abdou Diouf, alongside (on his left) guage and education in a globalised world.” lined Micheline Calmy-Rey at the ministerial con- ambassador Jean-François The summit topics were made accessible to the Paroz, commissioner for the organi- ference. sation of the XIII Summit, and (on his public through a dozen roundtables which tackled Seventy countries were represented in Montreux, right) Claude Berberat, deputy com- topics such as food security, water and AIDS. missioner for the organisation of the with about 40 heads of state or government in at- Summit. Also in the photo: They were complemented by enjoyable events tendance. The ambassador Jean-François Paroz, Clément Duhaime, Director of the OIF, such as the “francophone village” in Montreux, an Pierre de Cocatrix, Head of the Secre- commissioner for the organisation of the Franco- tary-General’s offi ce, and audiovisual evening organised by French-language phone Summit, used specifi c examples to illustrate Lautaro Sancho, liaison offi cer for the television stations to celebrate the 40th anniver- Secretary-General of the OIF. January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 SWISS REVIEW Photo: Jacques Lauer 16 NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT

sary of the Francophone organisation, and various activities held at tion of women and encouraged the International Francophone Or- the Château de Chillon. ganisation to work in tandem with it. Furthermore, they reaffi rmed The XIII Summit welcomed the creation, at Switzerland’s initia- their support for efforts towards achieving a fair, sustainable and over- tive, of a network of excellence for engineering in the French-speak- all peace in the Middle East and expressed their solidarity with the ing world (RESCIF) under the leadership of the Federal Institute of victims of the earthquake in Haiti. With regard to sustainable devel- Technology Lausanne (EPFL). A collaboration initiative will be opment, the Francophone Organisation voiced its willingness to launched from January 2011 between 14 francophone universities from achieve the UN’s Millennium Goals by 2015. These include the re- industrialised and developing countries. duction of infant mortality, food security and specifi c projects, such The XIII Francophone Summit also admitted fi ve new observer- as the African Great Green Wall initiative and the saving of Lake status members into its ranks: Bosnia-Herzegovina, the United Arab Chad. Finally, the heads of state and government stated their com- Emirates, Estonia, Montenegro and the Dominican Republic. The mitment to promoting the use of French in the international and re- Secretary-General of the Francophone Organisation, Abou Diouf, gional organisations and, in view of the XIV Summit, called on the was elected for a third term. Switzerland will hold the presidency of International Francophone Organisation to adopt a policy of pro- the Francophone Summit from October 2010 to October 2012 as well moting the French language which integrates and synergises the or- as the presidency of the ministerial conference of the Francophone ganisation’s initiatives. Organisation from December 2009 to December 2011. This task falls The Democratic Republic of Congo was named as host of the next to the head of the FDFA, Micheline Calmy-Rey. summit in 2012. The Francophone Summit concluded with the adoption of the Further details can be found at http://www.francophoniemon- “Declaration of Montreux” accompanied by several resolutions. This treux2010.ch. text formalises the debate on the “future challenges and visions for the French-speaking world.” It confi rms the commitment of the heads Important information on the online of state and government to cultural diversity, multilingualism and francophone economic solidarity. They called for a reform of global “Swiss Review” economic governance through the strengthening of cooperation be- You may have wondered why you keep receiving “Swiss Review” in tween the UN, the heart of world governance, and printed form when you selected the online version. THE LIAISON OFFICERS OF THE the economic forums, including the G20, as well as 73 DELEGATIONS It is possible that the e-mail in which we wanted to respect for and application of UN agreements on At the centre of the picture, ambassa- send you “Swiss Review” could not be delivered. In dor Jean-François Paroz, commissio- the threats of terrorism, piracy, organised crime, ner for the organisation of the XIII such cases, the representation changes your distri- drugs traffi cking and corruption. They also wel- Summit, ambassador Johannes bution profi le and you again receive the printed Matyassy, Director-General of the comed the creation, in July, of the UN Women Summit, and Jacques Lauer, deputy version. This way we ensure you continue to re- agency for equality and strengthening of the posi- commissioner for the organisation of ceive information. the Summit. January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 SWISS REVIEW Photo: Thierry Parel 17

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SWISS REVIEW of the Exchange of Notes be- 18 GOVERNMENT REFORM

“Switzerland is not governed badly” still very collegial by comparison. We should Does Switzerland need government reform, more Federal Coun- not idealise collegiality. The Federal Coun- cil is not a monastery. cillors and a two-year term of offi ce for the position of Swiss President? Is our political system outdated, cumbersome and no The Federal Council has been under constant longer fi t-for-purpose? Heinz Eckert interviews Zurich-based scrutiny since the election and de-selection of Christoph Blocher. Was the biggest error his political scientist and professor emeritus, Leonhard Neidhart. election or his de-selection? There has never been a “perfect” Federal “swiss review”: The German current affairs Council election and there has always been magazine “Der Spiegel” recently reported that confl ict between the “alpha political fi gures”. Switzerland has a unique system of government. Parliament has the right to elect, de-select Is that the case? or not elect any person it chooses. Blocher’s professor leonhard neidhart: Every de-selection is explicable and had its reasons, nation’s system of government has its own but I don’t want to judge. unique characteristics. Two fundamental distinctive features are particular to Switzer- The principle of collegiality, above all, often no land – fi rstly, federal government combines longer seems to work. How important is this to three different principles of political/gov- Professor Dr. Leonhard Neidhart gained a doctorate at the work of the Federal Council? ernmental organisation, namely federalism, the Free University of Berlin and completed post-doc- As federal government and therefore the toral studies at the University of Zurich’s Department representation and direct democracy. This for Political Science. Until his retirement ten years ago, Federal Council has an increasing number of means that Switzerland, a small nation, ac- Neidhart was Professor of Political Science at the Uni- ever more extensive and complex tasks to versity of Constance. He is one of Switzerland’s leading tually has an organisationally “large” and political scientists and has published numerous works carry out, and the departments and main complex system of government. The second on the Swiss system of government, direct democracy, federal offi ces have become more and more and state and government reform. Leonhard Neidhart aspect specifi c to Switzerland is the fact that lives in Zurich. infl uential, collective government has cer- it is governed politically by a collective body, tainly become more diffi cult. However, Swit- by Councillors, and not by an individual come in for repeated criticism recently. We zerland must live with this because it does leader, such as a president or chancellor. must therefore differentiate. The Federal not want a senior leadership fi gure. Council as an institution has continually been Is it true that direct democracy is more cumber- criticised over its electoral system, number Did things once run more smoothly in Berne? some than less democratic systems of government? of members and composition ever since the When looking at the Federal Council’s A system where important decisions are foundation of the federal state in 1848. How- past we have to distinguish between specifi c made by the entire electorate is clearly more ever, this system of a collective exercise of periods. The National Council was elected complex than if policy is determined by a par- power has remained extremely stable and also based on a majority system from 1848 to 1918, liamentary majority and a leadership in the legitimate. Despite its small number, it has which produced a politically homogeneous form of heads of state or coalition committees. proven fl exible and adaptable with regard to Federal Council. This was overburdened But, it’s about the effect on policy-making. the integration of the linguistic regions, the from the start because it only had a very parties and also the sexes. This is why people small administration behind it. As a result, However, the term “reform backlog” originated talk about the “magic formula”. The Federal there was constant talk of reform, which is in Germany and refers to political life in Council is the cornerstone of Switzerland, a explained in my book on the early parliament. Germany. multilingual nation governed by the will of Governments everywhere became more “Reform backlog” is a buzzword that does the people. It is one of the country’s special powerful at times of war and crisis, includ- not really mean much. In Switzerland, with characteristics. The fact that the Federal ing the Federal Council. Federal Council its system of federalism and direct democ- Council cannot work miracles and that its proportional representation, the magic for- racy, reform is often a slower process, as resolutions can and should be criticised is per- mula, was introduced in the 1950s after the shown, for example, by the late introduction fectly normal. We have a problem with the Second World War as a late consequence of of the vote for women and accession to the collegial system. Collegiality means that re- National Council proportional representa- UN. However, this does not mean that Swit- sponsibility and accountability for success tion. Neither individual members nor the zerland is more modern than Germany, for and failure should be borne jointly. However, Federal Council as a whole have since com- example, in various cantons and also at fed- collegiality does not mean that there cannot mitted major errors of judgement, transgres- eral level. be differences of opinion on the Federal sions or blunders, which has meant that, al- Council. This is inevitable as politics is a con- most without exception, no member has The Federal Council has been under constant flict-ridden, complex business. Neither been de-selected or had to resign. That is

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 criticism recently. Has this been justifi ed? should Federal Council members be expected also a characteristic specifi c to Switzerland – Actually, individual members of the Fed- to always put on a perfect display of collegi- it is a politically settled nation. Switzerland’s eral Council, specifi c Federal Council reso- ality in public. If you look at the rows in Ger- political performance shows that it has not

SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone lutions and its organisational structure have man coalition governments, our conduct is been governed badly. 19

Does the Federal Council perhaps work better ing general studies out in the grammar schools. for and against. I tend towards the argu- together and in a more collegial manner than is Society only has itself to blame if people are ments against. Our Federal Council is a col- continually suggested in the media? then taken in by populists. lective body of equals who must share re- The press used to aim severe criticism pri- sponsibility for policy. If this principle is to marily at the Federal Assembly. People are always saying that our system of gov- take priority then this Council must be small With television, personalisation and the ernment dates back to 1848 and no longer meets in number. A membership of seven is practi- importance of viewing fi gures, a whole new modern requirements. Do you share this view? cally ideal. The larger the Federal Council, aspect has entered politics. Just think about Some parts of our system of government, the more factions are likely to be formed in- Obama in the USA, Berlusconi in Italy and as in all historical democracies (USA, UK), ternally, making collegiality impossible. In Guttenberg in Germany, all of whom have are of course outdated. That is an element of any case, nine Federal Councillors would not generated massive media hype. This shift to- traditional legitimacy, which a nation gov- resolve the problems of excessive workload wards personalisation and media attention is erned by the will of the people needs. On the and management. Making the Federal Coun- a double-edged sword for our collective gov- other hand, Switzerland is also highly modern cil larger creates more problems than it re- ernment. On the one hand, television brings with its decentralisation and direct democ- solves. However, the departments do need the politicians closer to the people but, on racy. With its three organisational principles, to be reorganised. The Federal Council can- the other, it does so very selectively, which Switzerland has a highly complex political sys- not achieve this itself and Parliament prob- can completely disrupt the collegial system. tem that can successfully overcome new chal- ably can’t do it. This is indeed a problem. lenges, such as environmental issues. How important actually is the allocation of the What is your view on a two-year term of offi ce departments? Shouldn’t a good Federal Coun- How much distance should there be between for the Swiss President? Is that in keeping cillor be able to run any department? Federal Council members and their party? with our system of government? The allocation of departments is a key as- The dual loyalty required of our Federal I believe that the collective exercise of pect of collective government and one which Councillors is one of the unique characteris- power should be based on the original Swiss causes confl ict. That is why the founders of tics of our system of government. The Fed- notion of rotation of leadership positions, the constitution left it to the Federal Coun- eral Council must display a high degree of which is why the Federal Council should also cil itself. It has become increasingly diffi cult impartiality because we have no head of state be maintained. If we had a mediocre Swiss in light of growing disparity between the de- and since it represents the political will of the President, he or she would remain in offi ce partments. Of course, a lawyer is required for nation. Members must therefore show loy- for two years if we changed the system. Un- the justice department. In this respect, the alty to this body. At the same time, Federal der the current system, they would remain most recent solution is not ideal. But if you Councillors also represent their parties, na- in offi ce for just one year. Leadership prob- consider how many players (two chambers, tional regions and gender to which they are lems have to be resolved in a different way. the people, the cantons, the associations, the also bound to ensure power is exercised col- The longer someone remains in charge, the major parties and a large coalition) determine lectively. Switzerland depends heavily on greater the potential for confl ict. It’s there- Swiss politics, this puts the importance of the Federal Councillors displaying dual loyalty fore a case of the better the devil you know. distribution of the departments into perspec- transparently and appropriately. tive. Majority support and consensus must be Will the Federal Council ever be elected by the achieved for all major issues. Federal Councillors travel much more often people? these days than in the past. Is this a necessity The election of the Federal Council by the The Federal Councillors are always referred in a globalised world? people is a big issue. I don’t think there is ma- to as ministers and portrayed in the media as Switzerland has always had a frugal approach jority support for it, especially not from the though they can make decisions themselves and to fi nancing politics, which is why there was op- cantons. The French-speaking and smaller power does not lie with Parliament and ulti- position to allowing Federal Councillors to cantons would reject it. There are more rea- mately with the people. Do we need better edu- travel. Another case in point is that, before sons against than for the election of the Fed- cation about politics? 1900, no shorthand reports were made of par- eral Council by the people. In principle, it can be said that if the people liamentary meetings owing to the cost. Swit- want to have a say through direct democracy zerland is now interlinked with and dependent What are the reasons against it? they also need to have knowledge. But the ref- on the European community and economy like The direct election of the Federal Coun- erenda are also a form of applied or practical no other European country, yet battles against cil would centralise and personalise the en- education in citizenship. This education it. So, our members of government need to tire political system to a great extent and cre- needs to be provided in the schools. General have intensive contact with their counterparts ate even more disputes in direct democracy, study courses have all but disappeared in the abroad and need to travel. which is already laden with confl ict. An al- universities, which are now dominated by spe- ready powerful government would also be cialisation. This means people can know a Does the Federal Council need to be expanded? made even stronger at the expense of the

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 great deal about one very specifi c area and Should departments be organised and allocated part-time Parliament. Parliament would highly qualifi ed engineers or doctors, for ex- differently? face an even sterner task in controlling the ample, do not have to know a thing about pol- This issue has been the subject of relent- administration.

SWISS REVIEW itics. Pressure on performance is also squeez- less debate since 1848. There are arguments 20 GOTTHARD TUNNEL

Breakthrough in the world’s longest railway tunnel. The 57-kilometre Gotthard tun- nel is the centrepiece of the new fl at rail link through the Alps. The breakthrough in the east tube was achieved in October, while the same stage is expected to be reached in the west tube by April. Trains will be running through the Gotthard by 2017 at the latest. By René Lenzin Switzerland was celebrating a world record on the Gotthard in mid- total length of the tunnel system, including all the shafts and galler- October with the breakthrough in the east tube of the new railway ies, is 151.8 km. base tunnel. This is a superlative feat as, at 57 kilometres, it is the The excavation teams from the north and south should also be able world’s longest tunnel. The breakthrough was achieved on schedule, to shake hands in the west tube this April. Installation of the tracks 30 kilometres from the south portal in Bodio (Ticino) and 27 kilo- and railway technology has already begun in the excavated tunnel sec- metres from the north portal in Erstfeld (Uri) with a minor devia- tions. The fi rst passenger and freight trains will hurtle through the tion of eight centimetres horizontally and one centimetre vertically. tunnel, designed for maximum speeds of 250 kilometres per hour, by The Gotthard base tunnel consists of two parallel, single-track tubes, 2017 at the latest. However, the Gotthard line will only become a con- which are connected by 40-metre intersections every 325 metres. The tinuous fl at rail link when the 15.4-kilometre base tunnel in Monte

Celebrations at the Gotthard breakthrough last October. January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone 21

Ceneri is opened. This sec- NRLA is the cornerstone tion between Bellinzona and of Swiss transport policy, Lugano, which also has two which aims for rail to handle tubes, is set to open in 2019. as much freight transport Together with Lötsch- through the Alps as possible. berg, opened in 2007, NRLA is also part of the Gotthard and Ceneri will European railway corridor make up the New Railway from Rotterdam to Genoa. Link through the Alps However, it now looks as (NRLA), which the Swiss people approved in principle in 1992. Six though this line will not be fully completed when NRLA opens. Swit- years later, they voted in favour of a fi nancing proposal that ear- zerland has had to make cuts to the access lines to the base tunnel for marked a total of 30 billion Swiss francs for major railway projects. fi nancial reasons, and neighbouring countries, Germany and Italy, Just under half of that amount has been allocated to the NRLA are unlikely to complete the access links to the north and south project. The estimated fi nal costs for the Gotthard section before 2019. amount to 12.25 billion Swiss francs, with 2.42 billion being spent For more information, visit www.alptransit.ch on Ceneri.

Trains will travel to and from Italy through this giant hole from 2017. January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone 22 ORGANISATION OF THE SWISS ABROAD

OSA ADVICE OSA’s Legal Department provides gen- indoor halls and outdoor facilities. eral information on Swiss law in areas Price: CHF 700 question: which specifi cally concern the Swiss I live abroad and am expecting a baby soon. abroad. It does not provide information on Visit a university and discover Switzerland I would like to know whether my child will foreign law or intervene in disputes be- If you are looking to enhance your educa- automatically receive Swiss citizenship, as tween private parties. tional prospects during your holidays, you I am Swiss, or whether there are proce- SARAH MASTANTUONI will fi nd the perfect offers and support dures to be completed? Could my child HEAD OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT from OSA. You will stay with one of our hold dual nationality? welcoming host families who will give you a answer: real insight into everyday Swiss life. We Under the law on the acquisition and loss Young Swiss abroad enjoy will arrange a day-time programme tailored of Swiss nationality, Swiss nationality is ac- the winter in Switzerland to your individual needs. quired from birth. This applies to children of married couples where at least one of the Switzerland offers everything you could Information on the offers mentioned is parents is Swiss as well as to children of ever want from a dream winter holiday. available from: Swiss citizens not married to the father of Young Swiss people abroad are advised to Organisation of the Swiss Abroad the child. Children who are minors and book their holiday or educational visit Youth Service, Tel.: +41 (0)31 356 61 00 have a Swiss father who is not married to with OSA now. [email protected], www.aso.ch the mother obtain Swiss nationality as though from birth once their parentage has Switzerland’s ski resorts are the highest in been confi rmed. Europe on average. You won’t get as close Foundation for Young Swiss However, the Swiss representation to the heavens anywhere else. The Swiss Abroad: summer camps for where you are registered must be notifi ed abroad discover the alpine landscape at children aged 8 to 14 of the birth. This is important because OSA’s winter sports camps. Enjoying a hol- children born abroad to parents where at iday as part of a group is great fun. Swiss Are you aged 8 to 14? Would you like to least one of them is Swiss lose Swiss na- abroad from all corners of the globe ex- spend 14 days in Switzerland getting to tionality at the age of 22 if they still have change experiences, give an insight into the know your homeland better? Then sign up another nationality and a Swiss authority countries they live in and discover the land for a holiday camp run by the Foundation abroad or in Switzerland has not been no- of their forefathers. Inhibitions about for Young Swiss Abroad. We organise sum- tifi ed of their birth or they have not pro- speaking a foreign language are quickly mer holiday camps in Switzerland’s most vided notice themselves or have failed to overcome as what really matters is personal beautiful regions during July and August. state in writing that they wish to retain contact. OSA’s trained ski and snowboard Swiss nationality. After this age, the grant- instructors ensure a fantastic experience in Programme ing of Swiss nationality remains possible a safe, fun environment. A highly diverse Our camps give you the opportunity to see for a period of 10 years if justifi able rea- fringe programme provides entertainment the sights, to discover lakes, mountains, riv- sons exist for the failure to provide notice. and a great atmosphere. There are still ers and incredible scenery, to go on short If the child has close links with Switzer- places available for the following offers: hikes and perhaps even visit some cities. land, the granting of nationality remains Some days are also spent at the camp, possible beyond this period. However, in Winter sports week in Wengen (Berne) where we organise games, sporting activi- order to avoid future administrative pro- (26.02. – 05.03.2011) ties and various workshops. cedures, it is advisable to provide notice of Wengen is a car-free, sun-kissed chalet vil- You will also have the chance to learn lots the birth as soon as possible to your em- lage with real character. The winter sports of useful things about Switzerland. For ex- bassy or consulate, which will check the week is open to young adults aged 18 and ample, we look at the Swiss languages, Swiss documents and pass on the information to over and is set amidst the majestic moun- songs, Swiss recipes and typically Swiss the authorities in Switzerland for registra- tain scenery of the Eiger, Mönch and Jung- games and sports. tion of the child in the civil status and frau. Both sport enthusiasts and night owls The interaction between participants be- commune of origin registers. will fi nd exactly what they are looking for yond all linguistic, cultural and national Switzerland recognises dual nationality in Wengen. boundaries provides an opportunity to enjoy without restriction. From Switzerland’s per- Price: CHF 800 an unforgettable experience and to make lots spective, it is therefore possible to hold Swiss of new friends. nationality and that of another state. In con- Easter camp in Fiesch (Valais) trast, this is not necessarily the case for other (16.04. – 24.04.2011) Prices countries. In some countries, obtaining Those looking for snow in spring can enjoy The prices of the offers are set out in the

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 Swiss nationality can result in the loss of the the longer days to the full in the Aletsch re- list below. The Foundation for Young other nationality. Please contact the author- gion. This famous ski resort offers magnifi - Swiss Abroad wishes to give all Swiss chil- ities in the other country concerned for fur- cent panoramas. The modern holiday vil- dren abroad the opportunity to have a holi-

SWISS REVIEW ther information on this matter. lage also provides a wide range of sports in day in Switzerland at least once if possible. 23

We therefore offer reduced camp rates. Sat. 30.7. – Fri. 12.8.11: S-Chanf (Grisons) Please contact the offi ce in Berne for The relevant application form can be re- for 40 children aged 11-14, further information: quested with the registration form. price: CHF 900 Foundation for Young Swiss Abroad Sat. 30.7. – Fri. 12.8.11: Flühli (Lucerne) Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne Travel/meeting point for 36 children aged 8-11, Tel. +41 (0)31 356 61 16, Fax +41 (0)31 356 61 01 The meeting point is at Zurich airport price: CHF 900 E-mail: [email protected], www.sjas.ch, “Our forth- around lunchtime. Sat. 30.7. – Sun. 7.8.11: exclusive: “Pipistrello”, coming activities” Travel to and from Zurich airport is organ- circus project for around 30 children aged 8-14, ised and paid for by parents. price: CHF 900 Sat. 13.8. - Fri. 26.8.11: Melchtal (Obwalden) Leaders for 48 children aged 8-14, Experienced, multilingual teams of leaders price: CHF 900 ensure that the two-week holiday camps are well-organised and offer a wide variety of activities.

Registration The exact details of the individual holiday camps and the registration form can be found, from Tuesday, 1 February 2011, at www.sjas.ch. We are also happy to post you our information brochure on request. The deadline for registration is 15 March 2011.

Summer camps 2011 Sat. 2.7. – Fri. 15.7.11: Enney (Fribourg) for 36 children aged 8–11, price: CHF 900 Sat. 2.7. – Fri. 15.7.11: Schönried (Bern) for 24 children aged 11–14, price: CHF 900 Sat. 16.7. – Fri. 29.7.11: Lantsch/Lenz (Grisons) for 36 children aged 11–14, th price: CHF 900 89 Congress of the Swiss Abroad: 26 to 28 August 2011, Sat. 16.7. – Fri. 29.7.11: St. Cergue (Vaud) Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano for 36 children aged 8–11, price: CHF 900 Participants at the 89th Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Lugano will debate direct democ- Wed. 20.7. – Fri. 29.7.11: Swisstrip racy in an international context. More about the topic and the latest information on the 2011 for 20 children aged 12–16, Congress can be found at: www.aso.ch/de/angebote/auslandschweizer-kongress. price: CHF 950 Put the Congress dates in your diary today. We look forward to seeing you.

Please send me the registration documents for the 89th Congress of the Swiss Abroad (26–28.8.2011 in Lugano) in spring 2011.

My contact details are:

Surname/fi rst name:

Address:

City/postcode/country:

E-mail:

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 Please write clearly in block capitals.

Please send the completed form to: Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, Communications & Marketing, Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne, Fax: +41 (0)31 356 61 01 or send us an e-mail to [email protected]. SWISS REVIEW Photo: Lugano Tourism 24 POLITICS – REFERENDA

Comment Yes to deportation, No to tax harmonisation Victory for the SVP, defeat for Switzerland is to deport foreign criminals more systematically. the left 53% of voters supported a Swiss People’s Party (SVP) initiative. A year after the ban on minarets, a majority In contrast, an initiative by the Social Democrats (SP) aimed of Swiss voters has once again overlooked at restricting tax competition between the cantons was rejected. the legal reservations of the Federal Council and Parliament to approve a popular initia- The turnout was 53%. By René Lenzin tive, the implementation of which might bring Switzerland into confl ict with interna- tional law. While the deportation initiative is Referenda on issues concerning foreigners or ment did not stand a chance and was rejected not at odds with binding international law, it integration tend to attract a strong turnout. by over 54% of voters and all the cantons. is however contrary to the requirement for As with the ban on minarets in November The popular initiative that has now been proportionality and assessment of cases on 2009, the turnout for the deportation initi- passed requires foreigners to be deported an individual basis. Depending on how the ative also exceeded the average in recent from Switzerland without exception if they proposal is implemented, it could also vio- years. The intensive campaigns and the dem- “have been convicted of premeditated homi- late the agreement with the EU on the free onstrations, some of which unfortunately cide, of rape or other serious sexual offences, movement of persons. The counterproposal turned violent, after the announcement of of other violent offences such as robbery, of put forward by the Federal Council and Par- the results highlight just how emotional people traffi cking, of drugs traffi cking or of liament aimed to tighten up deportation these issues are. burglary”. Foreigners who have “abused the practice without breaching international The rallies were in opposition to the Swiss social insurance or welfare benefi t systems” standards. But it was defeated in every can- People’s Party (SVP), which had launched also face deportation. Instead of specifying ton. One reason for this is that the support- the initiative and was able to celebrate a ma- individual offences, the counterproposal had ers of a tougher stance on foreign offenders jor victory. 53% of voters and 20 of the 26 focused on sentencing as the criterion for de- did not have faith in it. Another is that many cantons backed the SVP proposal. All the portation. It had also aimed to take greater who opposed the initiative did not want French-speaking cantons – with the excep- account of obligations under international measures to become any more stringent. tion of Valais – and Basel-Land voted against law and had provided for mandatory meas- The legislator is now faced with the almost it. A close look at the voting map shows that ures to ensure better integration of the for- impossible task of implementing the initia- besides the split between the German and eign resident population. tive in a way that is in line with the will of French-speaking parts of the country, there the people, but also respects constitutional was also a divide between urban and rural ar- Tax initiative heavily defeated rights. This is now the fourth time in the eas in German-speaking Switzerland. Rural Voters rejected a popular initiative by the past few years that this situation has arisen. regions voted in favour, while urban areas Social Democrats (SP) for restrictions on This begs the question of whether a more tended to vote against. The counterproposal tax competition by a surprisingly clear mar- rigorous preliminary assessment of popular put forward by Federal Council and Parlia- gin. The SP wanted to stipulate minimum initiatives might be appropriate. This would have to be carried out as early as possible Referendum – Deportation Initiative and most certainly before campaigners start collecting signatures. Turnout: 52.6% The tax fairness initiative did not give cause for any such debate. Almost three fi fths of voters and 22 out of 26 cantons re- jected minimum tax rates for high incomes and assets. Cantons that would not have had to increase their taxes and which would have benefi ted from the initiative, at least in the short term, also voted against it. The result can therefore also be seen as an endorse- ment of federalism and a rejection of inter- vention in cantonal tax autonomy. The defeat of the tax initiative meant the Federal Council and parliamentary majority No Switzerland: 47.1% Yes Switzerland: 52.9%

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 at least enjoyed partial success at the ballot box. The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) was the Yes below 50% 50 – 54.9% 55 – 59.9% 60% and above big winner, while the left/green camp suf- Source: Federal Chancellery, SDA (Swiss News Agency)

SWISS REVIEW Map: Keystone fered an all-out defeat. RENÉ LENZIN POLITICS 25

February referendum: Warning shot for Calmy-Rey Weapons initiative Micheline Calmy-Rey is elected Swiss President by the tightest margin since the introduction of proportional representation. By René Lenzin

cantonal tax rates for taxable income up- On 13 February, the Swiss people and the The complete re-election of national govern- wards of 250,000 Swiss francs and taxable as- cantons will vote on the popular initiative ment and the election of the President of the sets of two million Swiss francs or more. entitled “Protection against armed violence”. Swiss Confederation are repeatedly used by However, 58.5% of voters and 22 of the 26 It calls for the storage of military weapons in Parliament to settle party-political and per- cantons rejected the initiative. The strong- an armoury and a national weapons register. sonal scores and to fi re warning shots. How- est opposition was found in the rural regions It also demands evidence of the need to pur- ever, no member of the Federal Council has of central and eastern Switzerland which chase and use weapons as well as competence ever been as badly hit as Micheline Calmy- would have had to amend their tax rates had in using them. The campaigners say that Rey. The United Federal Assembly elected the initiative been approved. 80% of voters around 300 people die in Switzerland each her Swiss President for this year with just in Nidwalden, Obwalden and Zug voted year in incidents involving fi rearms. If these 106 out of 246 possible votes. Only a large against the proposal, while opposition in were not so readily accessible, fatal irrational number of absences and invalid or blank bal- Schwyz was almost as high. With the excep- acts could be avoided. The initiative also lot papers saved her the humiliation of a sec- tion of Basel-Stadt, all other German-speak- calls for a better system of control for the ond round of voting. It is the tightest mar- ing cantons also opposed the initiative. Ti- 2.3 million weapons kept in private house- gin since the introduction of proportional cino and the three French-speaking cantons holds. The parties on the left and the Greens representation in 1919. of Fribourg, Vaud and Valais also rejected it. are backing the initiative, while the Federal The 65-year-old Social Democrat from Those in favour, in addition to Basel-Stadt, Council and the conservative parties are op- Geneva was punished mainly for the Fede- were Geneva, Jura and Neuchâtel. posed to it. They argue that existing meas- ral Council’s handling of the affair concer- ures aimed at protection against armed vio- ning the two Swiss hostages in Libya. After lence are suffi cient. They say that weapons Hans-Rudolf Merz, who has since stepped can be deposited at armouries voluntarily down, the Foreign Minister was seen as the and that keeping weapons at home is part of person most responsible for an uncoordina- Swiss military tradition and an expression of ted and disunited government policy on this the state’s trust in its citizens. RL issue. Conservative politicians in particular also levelled criticism at her for going it alone and demonstrating a lack of discretion in other matters as well. Calmy-Rey took the Referendum – Tax Fairness Initiative result in her stride and played it down as “in- signifi cant political gamesmanship”. Having Turnout: 50.9% already held offi ce in 2007, she is serving as Swiss President for the second time. She is widely expected to stand down at the end of the year. Parliament elected Eveline Widmer- Schlumpf as Vice-President. However, her re-election to the Federal Council in a year remains far from certain.

No Switzerland: 58.5% Yes Switzerland: 41.5% January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 No below 50% 50 – 59.9% 60 – 69.9% 70% and above

Source: Federal Chancellery, SDA (Swiss News Agency) SWISS REVIEW Map: Keystone 26 WINTER SPORT

Switzerland – an ice hockey nation. After football, ice hockey is Switzerland’s second favourite sport. A love story that has stirred Swiss passions for more than a century. We take a look at the legendary virtuoso world of Swiss ice hockey. By Alain Wey

Emotional scenes at the SC Bern vs. Langnau Tigers match: it’s not just in Berne that ice hockey attracts sell-out crowds.

The puck fl ies into the back of the net trigger- On the ice in French-speaking Switzerland in German-speaking Switzerland was set up ing a deafening roar from the fans. Ice hockey at the start of the 20th century in Zurich in 1910. In 1916, the national team in Switzerland has a long and glorious history Legend has it that, in winter 1887, Tom Grif- played its fi rst international match, four years dating way back. To say that Switzerland is fi th, a football player with Grasshoppers of prior to the fi rst Olympic tournament in Ant- an ice hockey nation would be stating the ob- Zurich, told his teammates for the fi rst time werp, Belgium, in 1920. This combination of vious. The headquarters of the International about this game from Canada. However, two sports had been played well before then Ice Hockey Federation are in Zurich and its Swiss ice hockey fi rst got off the ground in by the upper classes during their winter holi- president (since 1994) is René Fasel from Fri- French-speaking Switzerland where Lake Ge- days, but this is merely incidental given that bourg. The Swiss championship rates as the neva meets the Vaud Alps. At the end of the ice hockey’s popularity with general society third-best league in Europe after Russia and 19th century, two forms of the sport were soared after that. From 1908 to 1933, a Swiss Sweden. In 2008, the national league cele- played – bandy, imported from Great Britain international championship was held without brated its centenary. As for the Swiss team, it (a cross between football and fi eld hockey), any limits on foreign players, and the national has enjoyed some historic victories in recent and Canadian ice hockey. Educationalist Max league was established in 1915. years against the leading nations, in particular Sillig, the “father of Swiss ice hockey”, en- against Canada (2–0) and the Czech Repub- couraged his pupils in Vevey, canton of Vaud, The supremacy of the mountain regions lic (3–2) at the Olympic Games in Turin in to play ice hockey. He founded the fi rst iden- With Davos and Arosa, etc., Grisons quickly 2006. It fi nished in fi fth place at the World tifi ed club in Switzerland in 1904, Bellerive established its dominance of Swiss ice hockey

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 Championship in Germany in 2010 after a re- Vevey, and established the Swiss league in from the 1920s. This total supremacy lasted grettable defeat at the hands of the Germans 1908. The fi rst Swiss championship took place until the start of the 1960s. Davos has also at the quarter-fi nal stage. Let’s delve into the in the same year with eight teams from hosted the Spengler Cup since 1923. This is

SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone history of Swiss ice hockey. French-speaking Switzerland. The fi rst club the second oldest international club compe- 27

tition in ice hockey after the Stanley Cup in 2007, the two teams played their 100th “Go again” – a sporting and ice hockey (1894) in North America. The host club has derby in the Swiss national stadium with an ice philosophy also won the most honours with 14 titles. rink replacing the pitch. Berne eventually won In the movie “Miracle” (2004), which re- Other legendary clubs from high-altitude re- 5–2 in front of over 30,000 fans. counts the story of the US team against the gions include Ambri-Piotta from Ticino, win- USSR at the Lake Placid Olympic Games in ners of the Swiss Cup in 1962, and La Chaux- Swiss goaltenders in the NHL 1980, the coach yells “go again” relentlessly at de-Fonds (canton of Neuchâtel), Swiss Few Swiss ice hockey players play in the NHL, his players, who sprint from one blue line to champions six times consecutively between the highly regarded championship of North the other at the end of a disappointing per- 1968 and 1973. America. With the exception of Bernese de- formance against Norway. This mindset is fender, Mark Streit, who plays for the Island- found in ice hockey in both North America Legendary derbies ers in New York, Switzerland mainly exports and Switzerland. Over the last 30 years, there Rivalry between neighbouring clubs brings out goaltenders across the Atlantic. Fribourg- has been an incredible leap forward both in the best and worst kind of passion. More than born David Aebischer defended the goal of the professionalism of the players and staff at in any other sport, derby games in ice hockey Colorado Avalanche (2000–2005), then Mon- the clubs and in the quality of the matches. In are the highlight of the championship season. treal (2006) and the Phoenix Coyotes (2007). spring 2011, the Swiss national team will take The derby between Ambri-Piotta and Lugano, Goaltender Tobias Stephan from Zurich part in the World Championship in Slovakia which sets the valley against the town, domi- played for the Dallas Stars from 2007 to 2009. where it will face Canada, Belarus and France nates ice hockey in Ticino today. The Zährin- Thurgau’s Jonas Hiller has been with the Ana- in the fi rst round. We anticipate some thrill- gen derby between Fribourg-Gottéron and heim Ducks in California since 2007. Cur- ing performances from the team in red and Berne also has aspects of an anthological bat- rently, the most high-profi le Swiss goaltender white in the hope of reaching the holy grail of tle. You only have to look at the number of po- is without doubt Martin Gerber from Berne the semi-fi nals. lice offi cers in riot gear on duty at every en- who has played for the Anaheim Ducks (2002- counter between these two rival towns. In the 2004), the Carolina Hurricanes (2006), the Zurich region, Zurich and Kloten also contest Ottawa Senators (2007–2008) and the To- cantonal supremacy. As for Langnau vs. Berne, ronto Maple Leafs (2009) and is now with the the importance of this match is so great that, Edmonton Oilers (2010).

SOME FIGURES ON THE SWISS NATIONAL LEAGUE The Swiss team and the European Championship. The fi rst Euro- The Swiss ice hockey league has 25,000 registered players, around pean championship was organised in Avants near Montreux (canton of 1,200 teams and 900 referees. The LNA championship involves 50 Vaud) in 1910. In 1925: 3rd place in Czechoslovakia. In 1926 and 1935: matches with 12 teams: HC Davos (founded in 1921), the bears of SC European champions in Davos. In 1939: European champions in Basel Bern, the Zurich Lions, the airmen of HC Kloten (1934), Rapperswil- and Zurich. Incidental detail: Switzerland beat Germany 3–1 in Zurich Jona Lakers (1945), the dragons of HC Fribourg-Gottéron (1938), the in 1941. eagles of Geneva-Servette (1905), HC Biel (1939), the tigers of SC World Championships in Switzerland. Olympic Games and World Langnau (1946), HC Ambri-Piotta (1937), the panthers of HC Lugano Championship in St. Moritz in 1928: 3rd place for Switzerland. World (1941) and EV Zug (1967). The eight best teams in the league contest Championship in Davos in 1935: 2nd place. World Championship in Ba- the play-off elimination series. The clubs with the most honours are sel and Zurich in 1939: 3rd place. Olympic Games and World Champion- Davos, Swiss champions 29 times, Bern (12), Arosa (9), Lugano (7), ship in St. Moritz in 1948: 3rd place. World Championship in Basel and Chaux-de-Fonds and Zurich (6) and Kloten (5). Zurich in 1953: 3rd place. World Championship and “B” World Champi- onship in Lausanne and Geneva in 1961: 3rd place and promotion. “B” THE NATIONAL TEAM’S GREATEST MOMENTS World Championship in Berne, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Lyss in 1971: In 2010, the Swiss team ranks seventh in the world hierarchy, which 1st place (B) and promotion. World Championship in Berne and Geneva is dominated by Russia, Canada and Sweden. The German-Canadian in 1971 and “B” World Championship in Biel and Val Gardena, Italy, in Ralph Krueger coached the national team from 1998 to 2010 and suc- 1981: 3rd place (B). “B” World Championship in Fribourg in 1985: 2nd ceeded in taking his protégés to the quarter-fi nals of the World Cham- place. World Championship in Berne and Fribourg in 1990 (Switzerland pionship several times. His greatest achievement was a fourth-place was in the “B” World Championship). World Championship in Zurich fi nish in the 1998 World Championship. Since March 2010, Switzerland and Basel in 1998: 4th place. World Championship in Berne and Zurich has been coached by the Canadian, Sean Simpson, who, as head coach in 2009: 9th place. of the Lions of Zurich (2008–2010), won ice hockey’s European Cham- pions League against Metallurg Magnitogorsk from Russia and the Vic- “100 visages, 100 histoires. 100 ans de hockey sur glace en Suisse” (100 faces, 100 sto- ries and 100 years of ice hockey in Switzerland), book and DVD, published by Orell

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 toria Cup against the Chicago Blackhawks in 2009. Zurich’s European Füssli, 2008. www.planetehockey.ch, www.swiss-icehockey.ch, www.iihf.com champions title is one of Swiss ice hockey’s greatest achievements alongside bronze medals at the Olympic Games in St Moritz in 1928 and

SWISS REVIEW 1948. 28 CARLOS LEAL – A SWISS ACTOR IN HOLLYWOOD

“Being an actor means a life of perpetual motion” What inspired you to become an actor? Lausanne-born actor Carlos Leal gives an outstanding perform- When I was still singing with Sens Unik, Gi- anni Schneider, a director from Lausanne, of- ance in Michael Steiner’s new fi lm “Sennentuntschi”. fered me a part in a theatre production, an ad- Inquisitive and insatiable, the former rapper has moved to aptation of a book by Pedro Almodóvar, Los Angeles to pursue his dreams. A trans-Atlantic tele- “Patty Diphusa, y otros textos” (Patty Diphusa and Other Writings), where I had to play a phone interview with a rising star. By Alain Wey pimp. It gave me a freedom that I no longer had in rap. I was constantly labelled a rapper. I enjoyed the experience and gradually be- came interested in the art of acting. I then went to Paris where I did an intensive work- shop at the Jack Garfein studio.

And what about theatre? “Approach life and new experiences with the when I said to myself that I needed to take I think I’d like to work on stage later in curiosity of a child and try to seek out new a bigger step forward. This meant crossing life when I’m properly settled somewhere things every day” – this is the philosophy the ocean and continent to fi nd out what and have stopped moving around. I think I’d that Carlos Leal has put into practice with was going on here for no other reason than really enjoy acting in plays with good actors considerable panache. The Lausanne-born the fi rm desire to progress career-wise and and being able to perform the same piece actor is living proof that a career switch can develop my acting technique. But I move over a long period of time in the same be successful. The former vocalist of hip- around a lot. If tomorrow I had a project place. hop group Sens Unik entered the acting elsewhere, I’d go. The acting profession is profession around ten years ago. In 2006, he like that. You move somewhere but always Which actors do you admire? was awarded the Swiss Film Prize for his know that everything is in perpetual I really admire some of the new genera- performance in “Snow White” and he played motion. tion of actors: Ryan Gosling (“Fracture” the casino manager in the James Bond movie with Anthony Hopkins) and James McAvoy “Casino Royale”. Picking up roles in both in- What fi lms have you made this summer? (“The Last King of Scotland”, “Wanted”). ternational feature fi lms and TV series (in In Switzerland, I was in “Jasper, le voyage They are prime examples of freedom in act- France and Spain), Leal got his career off immobile” (Jasper, the Motionless Journey) ing. Then, of course, there’s the older gen- the ground fi rstly by spending seven years by Julien Nicaud, the fi rst feature fi lm from eration with Dustin Hoffman and Kevin in Paris and then three in Madrid. His de- this promising young director. In Spain, I Spacey and, among the women, Meryl sire to progress in his career logically took had a part in “La Rosa de nadie” (Nobody’s Streep, who has surpassed everyone. him to Los Angeles, where he moved to in Rose) by Ignacio Oliva. I was also in a fi lm in October 2010. This imposing character, the India, “Escape From Tibet”, by Maria Blu- What was the response to “Sennentuntschi” son of Spanish immigrants, is currently on mencron, which had an international pro- like? the billboard poster for “Sennentuntschi”, duction team and cast, including the talented It’s a box-offi ce success in Switzerland and the new hard-hitting fi lm from Zurich di- German actress Hannah Herz sprung. was number 1 in the movie chart for two weeks rector Michael Steiner. Leal speaks to us in ahead of the American blockbusters. It’s ex- a telephone interview from his home in Mel- What role does your wife, the actress Jo Kelly, traordinary. I take my hat off to Michael rose, Los Angeles. play in your life? Steiner. I’m proud to have been part of this An extremely important one. With such adventure, which was diffi cult to complete swiss review: What was the crucial factor a busy life and the travelling involved in my owing to fi nancial problems. After a long in your decision to leave for L.A.? movie work, I really need to have a stable struggle, Michael Steiner has succeeded in carlos leal: As an actor, when you start home. Being with my wife (who’s half Bel- producing a highly entertaining feature fi lm to take an interest in acting methods, you gian, half Irish) and my son is extremely im- that has also sparked considerable debate. realise that books on acting are often writ- portant for my emotional stability. She has ten by the leading American coaches. It’s a always supported me in my career and has Your character is – again – full of contradic- little bit like going to New York for hip-hop; an excellent understanding of the acting tions … for acting you go to Los Angeles. It’s a city process and how to approach a role. She has These are the most interesting roles. Even with no end of workshops, courses, classes knowledge of various techniques, studies a if a character has less depth, I try to add a and schools. You meet some very good ac- lot and gives acting classes. When I prepare dimension, provided of course it’s in keep- tors who are not necessarily well known. for a role, she often helps me to understand ing with the script. In “Sennentuntschi”,

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 You only have to take an acting course to the different facets of the character. As an Martin Delacroix is a character with two come across an excellent director and a actress, she recently featured in “I Want To sides, and to make him as credible as possi- group of talented actors. It’s only natural to Be A Soldier” with Danny Glover. ble you can’t give everything away right at

SWISS REVIEW want to develop. There came a moment the start of the fi lm. Then, when his other 29

Have you met any other Swiss people in L.A.? Of course. There’s quite a sizeable Swiss community, and the people at the consulate work really hard to promote Swiss fi lm- making and organise theme nights with dif- ferent Swiss actors. This gives me the op- portunity to meet other Swiss people living and working here in various fi elds.

Your philosophy on life? There’s a song by Jacques Brel called “Rester debout” (“Serait-il impossible de vivre debout?”) – Keep your dignity (Is it impossible to live with dignity?). In my life, I’d like to do that for as long as possible. In other words, to always push myself to con- stantly improve and raise my performance. In that sense, coming from quite a modest background and a small town (Renens) is a real driving force. You feel that you have to do justice to the people there.

Did you get this drive from your parents? Yes, of course. In the 1960s, they showed great courage. They were a Spanish family who fl ed from the Franco dictatorship and left everything behind to discover a new world. My parents have a great work ethic and they’ve passed on to me this drive and determination with regard to work. www.carlosl.com

SELECTIVE FILMOGRAPHY “Love Express”, by Elena Hazanov, 2003 “Snow White”, by Samir, 2005 “Casino Royale”, by Martin Campbell, 2006 “Tarragona”, by Peter Keglevic, 2006 “Dirty Money – L’infi ltré”, by Dominique Carlos Leal: a Swiss actor of international stature. Othenin-Girard “Verso”, by Xavier Ruiz, 2008 “Carré Blanc”, by Jean Baptiste Leonetti, 2008 side is revealed, you have to go all out. It’s a What kind of director is Michael Steiner? “Los Abrazos rotos”, by Pedro Almodóvar, job I really enjoy. I often play characters He’s very smart and passionate. He likes 2008

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 who seem inconspicuous and quite unassum- to use real Swiss stories and turn them into “El Mal Ajeno”, by Oskar Santos, 2008 Grunigerce, Marc ing and then all of a sudden they explode thrillers. He makes them highly entertain- “There be dragons”, by Roland Joffé, 2009 into life halfway or three quarters of the way ing and quite out of the ordinary. “The Way”, by Emilio Estevez, 2009 SWISS REVIEW Photo: Press Offi Photo: Press through the movie. “Sennentuntschi”, by Michael Steiner, 2010 30 SWISS BANKS

Dissatisfaction among Swiss abroad least 100,000 Swiss francs in order to open The Swiss abroad are no longer popular with Swiss banks. an account in the fi rst place. The account management fee is then six francs a year. This is infuriating many Swiss people living abroad who want The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad to keep a bank account in Switzerland. By Heinz Eckert (OSA) believes the conduct of the banks to- wards the Swiss abroad is unfair and fears that the measures taken will discourage Swiss clients and cause them to turn away from the Swiss fi nancial centre and take their depos- UBS’ problems with the US tax authorities UBS says it is attempting to minimise any in- its elsewhere. “The measures, which prima- have also had negative repercussions for the convenience to clients abroad. The bank has rily concern small clients, are disproportion- Swiss abroad who want a bank account in declined to comment on the specifi c issue of ate and unsuitable for resolving the problems Switzerland. UBS and other Swiss banks Swiss in the USA with mortgages. facing the fi nancial centre”, wrote OSA in a have been trying to get rid of their US cli- “Credit Suisse and the Zürcher Kantonal- letter to Credit Suisse, with a copy sent to ents since the end of 2008. This is not just bank only want the rich Swiss abroad” was the banking ombudsman. It called on the affecting potential US tax evaders, but also the headline in the “Tagesanzeiger” and the bank to examine new options to enable Swiss Swiss people living in the USA who have a “Bund” in September of this year, when it was abroad to continue to maintain a “reasona- Swiss bank account. Many Swiss abroad have discovered that Credit Suisse had informed ble relationship” with the banks in their encountered diffi culties owing to the loss of clients living abroad in writing that a monthly homeland. Credit Suisse blamed the higher their Swiss bank account. There are no prob- charge of 40 Swiss francs would be levied on charges on greater pressure on the Swiss lems with securities accounts, for which their accounts from 1 July 2010 – that’s 480 banks from abroad and the consequent in- there are special units, as these are not sub- Swiss francs a year. The reason given was: “In creased expenditure on the management of ject to US regulations. However, clients re- recent years, we have constantly enhanced clients living abroad. siding in the USA who have an account for the scope and quality of our country-specifi c The banking ombudsman’s offi ce, how- payment transactions or have mortgages approach to consultation and service. This ever, stated that, under its regulations, it has with a Swiss bank are facing major problems. involves meeting regulatory requirements no authority to intervene in the commercial This is because no US bank will provide fi - concerning your place of domicile and, in affairs of banks. It recommended that Swiss nance for property in Switzerland. particular, the proactive implementation of abroad attempt to reach individual solutions The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad’s the highest investor protection standards.” with the banks, even if just for an acceptable Legal Department advises Swiss abroad to Strangely enough, Credit Suisse clients with transitional period. approach Postfi nance or smaller Swiss banks over a million Swiss francs in their accounts The latest information on this topic can be in an effort to fi nd a solution. These still wel- are exempt from this charge. At Zürcher found at www.aso.ch. come Swiss living in the USA in many cases. Kantonalbank, Swiss abroad need to have at January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 The Swiss abroad feel they are being treated badly by

SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone the Swiss banks. ECHO 31

■ The book “Glaciers, passé- “I would recommend every woman to fi nd a husband who does military ation between Switzerland and présent du Rhône au Mont- service. Anything else is a bit like shopping in a discount store. You never the European Union. Germany Blanc” (Glaciers - Past and really know what you are getting.” and the UK accept the principle Present from the Rhône to Ueli Maurer, Federal Councillor and Minister of Defence of a source tax on assets depos- Mont-Blanc) unsurprisingly ited in Switzerland by persons “Whether Tell lived or not is irrelevant. What matters is that we dis- reveals that some vast alpine domiciled in those two coun- cover Tell and his values in ourselves – responsibility, courage and inde- glaciers have lost up to 50% of tries. For the time being, bank- pendence.” Thomas Maissen, historian their surface over the past 150 ing confi dentiality is intact. years. The effect of global “Along with Japan, Switzerland is the safest country in the world. Our ■ The Federal Council’s Ex- warming is three times greater system of criminal law is very effective. Despite the death penalty, crimi- pert Committee has put for- at altitude than the European nality is higher in the USA than in Switzerland.” ward a series of measures aimed average. Marcel Niggli, Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Fribourg at strengthening the equity ■ Voting on the revision of “The Swiss postal service is one of the best in the world. No other postal capital of UBS and Credit unemployment insurance: the service in Europe ensures that 98% of letters are delivered on time.” Suisse. If introduced, the poor turnout (35.5%) allowed Jürg Bucher, CEO of Swiss Post measures will cost the two cuts to social unemployment banks CHF 75 billion. Analysts benefi ts to go through unhin- “Look in the Larousse encyclopaedia where people are ‘canonised’. Ziegler hope the measures will enter dered, with 53.4% in favour. comes immediately after Zidane, the football star.” into force in 2013. Jean Ziegler, politician, author, UN Special Rapporteur ■ Having just been elected, the ■ The 2010 Human Develop- new Federal Council experi- “First and foremost, I am a confederate. Anyone can become Swiss, but ment Index published by the enced its fi rst crisis when allo- not a confederate.” UN ranks Switzerland in thir- cating departments. Tributes Christian Stucki, a top Swiss wrestler teenth position. The “quality were paid to outgoing council- “My dream is of a beautiful African-Swiss girl who is a member of Am- of life” award goes to Norway, lors. Doris Leuthard is leaving nesty International, campaigns for fair trade and can yodel.” Australia, New Zealand and Economic Affairs to take over Peter Rothenbühler, on the issue of Miss Switzerland the USA. the reins at the Department of ■ In Thun (Berne), tightrope the Environment, Transport, “I showed my most beautiful fi lms of hundreds of thousands of starlings walker Freddy Nock crossed Energy and Communications. in the sky to the gentlemen of the Rotary Club and said: “You have a re- from the town’s church to the As for Eveline Widmer- sponsibility, you have to act!”” castle on a high wire strung 30 Andreas Moser, biologist and wildlife fi lmmaker Schlumpf, she is leaving Justice metres above the ground: a dis- to take over at Finance. The tance of 320 metres. In April he newcomers have inherited the set his sixth world record, vacant posts. Free Democrat walking 900 metres to cross Johann Schneider-Ammann is Lake Zurich’s harbour. delighted to get Economic Af- ■ Of the 73 million visitors to fairs, while Social Democrat the World Expo in Shangai, 2.7 Simonetta Sommaruga has set- million visited the Swiss pavil- tled for the Department of Jus- ion. It was even listed as one of tice and Police. the ten best stands by the press ■ The Cardinal brewery in agency China News. The only Fribourg will close its doors in downside was the continual June 2011. In response to the breakdown of the chairlift. demands of the Danish ■ The procedure for purchas- Carlsberg group, Feldschlöss- ing new fi ghter planes has al- chen has announced that pro- ready cost CHF 50 to 100 mil- duction of Switzerland’s sec- lion without any decision being ond most popular beer will be made. The Federal Council has relocated to Rheinfelden postponed the partial replace- (Aargau). Fourteen years ago, ment of the Tiger fl eet, which when it found itself in dire will probably take place in 2015. The new Bear Park in Berne attracted almost 2.4 million visitors in the space of one straits, this symbol of Fribourg year. At 250,000, visitor numbers were at their peak in April and August. Numbers However, the FA-18s can easily was saved thanks to unprece- increased tenfold thanks to the birth of the cubs Ursina and Berna. be used until 2025/2030. dented popular and political ALAIN WEY

January 2011 / No. 1 / No. January 2011 support. This time, it’s the end. Las Vegas in the USA. At the ■ Before stepping down from ■ Steve Lee (aged 47), the singer forefront of Swiss hard rock, his position as Federal Council- in the band Gotthard, has been the band has sold more than lor, Hans-Rudolf Merz gained

SWISS REVIEW Photo: Donated killed in a road accident near two million albums worldwide. ground in the struggle over tax- ORGANISATION OF THE SWISS ABROAD

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