T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E S W I S S A B R O A D

j A N u A R y 2 0 1 2 / N O . 1

Federal CouncillorAlain Berset and hismeteoric rise

Traditions: the UNESCO listand Switzerland

Iouri Podladtchikov:an incredible talent

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The magic of panoramicWinter views.Allow yourself to be captivated by the passinglandscapes on board Switzerland’s mostfamous panoramic train.

An unforgettable journeySince its first journey in1930, the Glacier Expresshas lost none of its magic,particularly in Winter. It took50 years before trains wereable to run on the impass-able mountain section of theFurka in Winter!

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Altitude 4000If you want to admire anexceptional view of around29 mountain tops reachingpeaks of over 4000 meters,including Switzerland’shighest mountain, thePointe Dufour, a trip to theGornergrat is a must. It caneasily be reached by cog-wheel railway from Zermatt.

Winter sportsThe Oberalp Pass inGraubünden is transformedin Winter into a playgroundfor tobogganing enthusi-asts, skiers, snowboardersand hikers. The view of theUrseren Valley and themountains of the GotthardPass region is breath-taking.

Beautiful inspirationThe scenery here is inspir-ing: the path along thesunny slopes of MuottasMuragl in the Upper Enga-din has even been dubbedthe “philosophers’ path”.Take a walk here among thegiant peaks and let yourmind roam free.

Glacier Express in the Goms Valley, Valais

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5Mailbag

5Books: Switzerland – a military serviceprovider

7Images: Parisian surrealists in Basel

8Traditions from all over the world:Switzerland’s contribution to the UNESCO list

13The Swiss people will vote on five proposalsat the referendum on 11 March

14The new Swiss government with DidierBurkhalter as Minister of Foreign Affairs

16The voting behaviour of the Swiss abroad - ananalysis after the first e-elections

Regional news

18An interview with Michael Reiterer, the out-going EU ambassador in Berne

20His programmes enjoy cult status: AndreasMoser’s “Netz Natur” on Swiss TV

22Iouri Podladtchikov: the Swiss snowboardingstar with the Russian soul

24OSA news

27Notes from Parliament

30Little gems

31Echo

The struggle over concordance

IMPRINT : “Swiss Review”, the magazine for the Swiss abroad, is in its 39th year of publication and is published in German, French, Italian, English and Spanish in 14 regional editions. Ithas a total circulation of 395 000, including 135 000 electronic copies. Regional news appears four times a year.The ordering parties are fully responsible for the content of advertisements and promotional inserts. These contents do not necessarily represent the opinion of either the editorial office orthe publisher.n EDIT ORS: Barbara Engel (BE), Editor-in-Chief; René Lenzin (RL); Alain Wey (AW); Marc Lettau (MUL); Manuel Gnos (MAG); Jean-François Lichtenstern (JFL), responsible for “Notes fromParliament”, Service for the Swiss Abroad, FDFA, CH-3003 Berne Translation: CLS Communication AG n L AY OUT: Herzog Design, Zurich n POS T AL ADDRESS: Publisher, editorial office,advertising: Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne, Tel.: +41 31 356 61 10, Fax: +41 31 356 61 01, Postal account (Swiss National Giro): 30-6768-9. n E-MAIL:revue@aso.ch n P RI N T: Swissprinters St. Gallen AG, CH-9001 St. Gallen. n C H ANGE OF ADDRESS: Please advise your local embassy or consulate. Do not write to Berne. n All Swissabroad who are registered 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 the magazine direct from Berne. n INTERNET: www.revue.ch Copy deadline for this edition: 15.12.2011

Cover photo: As she herself says, ChristineLauterburg’s roots are in alpine folk music.The 56-year-old from Berne is also called a“techno yodeller”. Her unconventional interpre-tations constantly meet with disapproval fromtraditionalists. Photo: donated

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A freshly elected Parliament, a new Federal Council, new faces and new politicalforces – so does this also mean a new beginning? In the six weeks between theparliamentary elections on 23 October 2011 and the Federal Council election,

endless discussions took place on various bodies about the right composition of the Swissgovernment. The notion of concordance was at the heart of all these talks. The debatebecame so intense that it seemed as though the future of Switzerland depended solely onthe system of concordance, also known as the magic formula. This principle of powerdistribution among the four strongest parties in the Federal Council according to theirnumber of seats in Parliament, which the FDP.The Liberals and the Swiss People’s Party(SVP) wanted to uphold, was ultimately rejected by the Federal Assembly (report onpage 14).

However, the magic formula’s power distribution principle is certainly no guaranteeof concordance or successful government. The word “concordance” contains the Latinterms con (with) and cor (heart). Concordare means “to reach agreement”. A body com-mitted to concordance in this sense of the word requires people who act together inheart and mind as far as possible, and who are willing and able to cooperate with theirpolitical adversaries in the interests of the common good. The search for widespreadmajority support and the involvement of minorities in the decision-making process arefundamental to the success of this form of government.

The vast majority of Swiss people clearly favour this type of government. A FederalCouncil at loggerheads and dominated by mistrust and machinations, as we have seen inthe past, would be disastrous in light of the financial and economic crises and the chal-

lenges that lie ahead in global politics over the coming years.In view of this situation, it is questionable whether it was a wise

decision to deny the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which still hasthe largest number of votes, the second seat on the Federal Coun-cil that it is entitled to under the magic formula or mathematicallyunder the concordance system. Only time will tell. The SVPclearly contributed to Parliament’s refusal to grant it a secondFederal Council seat with its unsuccessful candidate selection and

its approach to the Federal Council election on 14 December, which was driven byanger and vengeance. If the SVP, which has been humiliated for a second time, followingthe de-selection of Christoph Blocher in 2007, now focuses on a policy of opposition andobstruction, government will become a difficult task. This will certainly not be in the bestinterests of the nation, and the new beginning will be destined to fail.

Besides politics in Berne, the second major issue this edition of “Swiss Review” focu-ses on is “intangible cultural heritage”. This awkward and not immediately transparentterm has been coined by UNESCO. It refers to traditions practised worldwide, such asMongolian folk songs with circular breathing, yodelling, fondue and Malian wisdom ri-tes. The article on well-known and less familiar Swiss traditions on page 8 contains plentyof surprises.

BARBARA ENGEL

E D I T O R I A L c O n T E n T s 3

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mercenaries do not have a good reputation. The Libyandictator Muammar Gaddafi attempted for months to pre-vent his fall from power in October 2011 with foreigntroops. The UN recently warned of a worrying rise in thenumber of mercenaries in Africa. The use of “external mili-tary forces” is outlawed in Switzerland but that has not al-ways been the case. The Swiss were among the mostsought-after mercenary forces for half a millennium. Wellover a million Swiss mercenary soldiers fought on the bat-tlefields of Europe. They were renowned for their brutalityand boldness, which made them much coveted and fearedin equal measure. They served almost every Europeanpower. At one stage, one in three of the French army’s in-fantry came from Switzerland. And in the 19th century, lib-eration movements were often confronted with Swiss

troops serving royal dynasties in decline. Swiss mercenaries ofold are a far cry from the idyllic image of the modern-day papalSwiss Guard as an historic relic.

Probably no other phenomenon had a stronger influence onpre-modern Switzerland than its mercenaries. Journalist Jost Aufder Maur points out that it is strange that there is little generalawareness of this extraordinary historical phenomenon. Exten-sive research has been carried out into mercenaries in militaryhistory, but the cultural history and socio-political dimensionhas largely been overlooked. In his book “Söldner für Europa”(Mercenary soldiers for Europe), Auf der Maur highlights thisblack hole in Swiss history. He felt obliged to do so as many of hisdirect ancestors were officers in the pay of foreign powers.

In one respect, it was a “dirty business”, one that establishedan aristocracy founded on the mercenary trade and wielding po-litical power. The book’s illustrated annex impressively shows thefinancial gains of Swiss mercenary entrepreneurs, which wereturned into architecture – stately homes built on blood in thetruest sense of the word in many parts of Switzerland. Mercenary

soldiers who avoided death on the battlefield of-ten returned home in poverty, mutilated and suf-fering from alcoholism. Switzerland sufferedhuge population loss.

On the other hand, the long periods abroad re-sulted in a transfer of knowledge. Those whomanaged to return home in good health and per-haps even with some prosperity brought cultureand knowledge from many foreign countries withthem. Auf der Maur even claims that Switzerland

would not have survived without its foreign mercenaries. Thecourts of Europe had become so dependent on Swiss troops thatthey refrained from attacking their supply line of soldiers. TheSwiss were able to call their troops home whenever they neededthem for themselves. A mechanism was practised here that grad-ually became an ever stronger commitment to neutrality.

Based on his family history, Jost Auf der Maur provides new,fascinating and sometimes disconcerting insights into a turbu-lent and underappreciated chapter in Swiss history.

JÜRG MÜLLER

JOST AUF dER MAUR. Söldner für Europa: Mehr als eine Schwyzer Familien-geschichte. Echtzeit Verlag, Basel 2011. 106 pages. CHF 29

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Subtle, current and well drawnI would like to respond to theletter entitled “Offensive” byMs. Zingg from Taiwan. The“Drop it!” caricature by PeterGut in your September editionis subtle, humorous, current andwell drawn. I would not havefelt offended even if I were aFederal Councillor. It may justbe a case of the end justifyingthe means. But many things areall too readily called “misogy-nistic”. I am grateful to “SwissReview” for allowing me to ap-preciate some current Swiss hu-mour.

CAROLE dAUBERSCHMIdT,

LUxEMBOURG

Sexist and lacking in respect“Drop it!” - have I missedsomething or do I completelylack a sense of humour? I findthis caricature misogynistic,sexist and lacking in respect. Itcertainly does not belong in“Swiss Review”.

GABRIELE MÜLLER GLOOR,

CIUdAd COLON, COSTA RICA

A rare blunderI was saddened and extremelydisappointed to find a carica-ture of our Federal Councillorsin such bad taste and a rareblunder in “Swiss Review”. I amastonished that the editorialteam allowed those so coura-geous and willing to committhemselves where men are notbrave enough to be ridiculed.

ALExIS WARIdEL, QUEBEC

Aloof internationalistsPhilosophy professor GeorgKohler unprofessionally said ofthe Swiss army: “It still existsbut is no longer fit for purposein its current form. It must ur-gently join an alliance becausethe opposition forces have be-come too powerful.” Which al-liance? The EU and/or NATO?Such writing by international-ists who see themselves as beingabove the electorate is inaccu-

rate, undemocratic and ex-tremely questionable in termsof state politics. The incorrectclaim that the modern army isno longer fit for purpose is anaffront to all those who performmilitary service in accordancewith the constitution and, aboveall, the officers.

HEINRICH L. WIRz,

RETIREd COLONEL,

BREMGARTEN (SWITzERLANd)

Great on the iPad tooWe are delighted that we cannow read “Swiss Review” on theiPad too. It is great that youhave decided to do this, and weare sure that lots of readers arealso grateful for the app. Mywife and I have been living inAntigua and Florida for sixyears and continue to read“Swiss Review” with great in-terest. Many thanks for all yourefforts.

ROLANd ANd SILVIA BACHMANN,

ANTIGUA

Extremely frustratedAs an avid reader of “SwissReview”, I followed the articleson developments in Swiss poli-tics and was preparing to voteby post. I was extremely frus-trated when I received the elec-tion update on 20 October.Owing to a postal service strike,all mail was delayed and it wastoo late to send the ballot enve-lope via the consulate in SãoPaulo. It is time the Swiss gov-ernment thought about elec-tronic voting in all countries byusing the Swiss diplomatic rep-resentations.

ALExANdRE dEVELEy,

SãO PAULO, BRAzIL

Goodbye Swissinfo diskThe last Wahl-CD fromswissinfo.ch will become acollector’s item as it is the lastone. What a sad loss. We areconstantly encouraged to follow

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More readers’ letters on page 6

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mainstream trends and in factto become sheep. It has been agreat source of information,enabling people to listen to thepros and cons from party rep-resentatives on upcoming voteand election issues. To hearsomeone’s voice and pointsprovides so much more clarifi-cation, especially to thoseabroad who are not “bom-barded” with daily debate. Thisis another example of howtechnology separates people.

Helene lettau, Grindelwald,

tasmania

Voting by the Swiss abroadAs a Swiss citizen abroad, I donot agree with those who arguethat the Swiss abroad shouldnot be allowed to have an opin-ion on decisions taken aboutSwitzerland and its political af-

fairs. Thanks to the Internetand TSR/1, expats are well in-formed about current affairsand politics and can vote withfull knowledge of the facts.These citizens live abroad for avariety of reasons and often re-member Switzerland as a goodplace to live where workers fo-cussed on ensuring a job welldone. If Switzerland joined theEuropean Union it would loseits national sovereignty and be-come dependent on Brussels. Ido not wish to see Switzerlandbecome like France, Germanyand Italy. The bilateral agree-ments go far enough. If Swit-zerland were tempted to ac-cede to the EU, it would nolonger be the highly regardedand much envied country thatit is today.

Guy nicolas, dijon, France

Much handierI just wanted to give you somequick feedback on “Swiss Re-view”. I love the fact that itgets sent out in printed paperform again. I had stopped read-ing it when it became elec-tronic. The paper form is somuch handier.

sandra caFazzo, london

editorial note: any swiss citizenabroad can order the printed version of

“swiss review” at www.swissabroad.ch

The biggest idiotsIn the last edition of “SwissReview”, your reader, Bern-hard Balmer, lambasted theEuropean Union and be-moaned how “we again findourselves in thrall” to it. How-ever, in recent years Switzer-land has not been humbled bythe European Union, losing itsdignity and honour, but rather

by Muammar Gaddafi and theUS tax authorities. (…) ButMr Balmer is right. The major-ity of Swiss people have had“enough of multiculturalism”.Let’s shut ourselves off fromthe outside world – not theirwealth, of course, just every-thing else, and let’s hope thatthey will not become resentfulenough to withdraw theirmoney too. Let’s cast aside ourprinciples of hospitality andtolerance, which are part of ourenlightenment tradition. Weare a small country, so let’s re-main one. What could be bet-ter than keeping ourselves toourselves? It is a well-knownfact that inbreeding producesthe biggest idiots.

edouard reicHenbacH,

antony, France

www.revue.chWe look forward to your online visit.

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Vorsorgen inSchweizer Franken.

Agentur AuslandschweizerStefan BöniDorfstrasse 140, 8706 Meilen+41 44 925 39 39, www.swisslife.ch/aso

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The exhilaration of artSurrealism, inspired by André Breton and Sigmund Freud, was one of the most important artistic andliterary movements of the 20th century. The artists of surrealism opened doors to the unknown and thedisconcerting. A unique exhibition on “Surrealism in Paris” is now on display at the Fondation Beyelerin Basel. This features almost 300 paintings, manuscripts, objects, items of jewellery, photographs andfilms from around 40 artists.

The exhibition at the Fondation Beyeler will close on 29 January 2012. It will then be displayed at theMusées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Bélgique in Brussels (16 March to 15 July 2012)

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“Ma gouvernante – my nurse – mein Kindermädchen”Meret Oppenheim, 1936/1967

“The Great War”René Magritte, 1964

“Indestructible Object”Man Ray, 1923/1933/1965

“Soft Construction with Boiled Beans – Premonition of Civil War”Salvador Dalí, 1936

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Switzerland: land of herb gardens and motorbike meetingsSwitzerland is drawing up a list of its “thriving traditions”. The survey has thrown up a few surprises, withsome regions astonished at what is seen as tradition in other parts of the country. This has led to lively debatesabout the role of tradition in shaping identity. What does a conservative politician-cum-writer have to sayabout this? And what about a painter who paints nothing but cows? And why does a progressive yodeller keepstumbling over dogged traditionalism?By Marc Lettau

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Sometimes the baddies are actually thegoodies. When men with bulging musclestake to the ring to engage in Swiss-style wres-tling known as Schwingen, the enthusiasticcrowd doesn’t talk about the strong guys, butabout the bad guys. And what about whenone of the really bad guys throws his oppo-nent onto his back with a powerful cross-buttock – what does he do then? Before rais-ing his arms aloft to celebrate, he first duststhe sawdust off his opponent’s shoulders. So,as the cheers ring out, he is really one of thegood guys.

All cultures are familiar with martial arts,where brute force is made civilised more orless by competition rules. So, it’s not theforce part that makes Schwingen a typicallySwiss sport. It is, to a large extent, the imageof the winner and the fact that in his momentof triumph he shows respect for his defeatedopponent. Obviously not all baddies areinherently good. The act of wiping thesawdust off the loser’s shoulders is part ofthe tradition and of the values associatedwith Schwingen, which are passed downfrom one generation to the next. This

also resonates outside the wrestling ring.Only very few Swiss people actually engagein Swiss wrestling themselves. But they allknow that – if they ever win anything – theyshould wipe the dirt off their opponent’sback.

Trend towards the archaicAt the next Swiss Federal Wrestling Festivalin 2013 – it is only held once every three years

– the good sportsmanship of these bad guys isset to make even more of an impact than inprevious years as the archaic appeal of thesport is increasingly making its mark on ur-ban Switzerland. And the advertising indus-try won’t shy away from putting the spotlighton the tough guy wrestlers themselves asSchwingen is likely to be definitively awardedUNESCO heritage status as an example ofSwitzerland’s intangible cultural heritage be-fore the next wrestling festival.

Switzerland is currently drawing up a listof its thriving traditions for UNESCO. Intypical Swiss fashion, this is being done in ascomplex a way as possible. In some cantons,teams of experts have pored over the ques-

tion of what traditions and customs might bedeemed worthy of UNESCO status, whilein others ordinary people have been askedfor their opinions. The Federal Office ofCulture (FOC) is now busy working on doc-umenting the 387 suggestions received andwhittling them down to fewer than half thatnumber. The final list will be submitted toUNESCO for review in April 2012.

A mind-bogglingly colourful mixWhen researchers and folklorists come to-gether to list ancient customs, and ordinarypeople say what they consider to betraditions, the result is a very colourful mix.The responses from the cantons initiallythrew up a rather mind-boggling array ofsuggestions. Before being whittled down bythe team from the Federal Office of Culture,the suggestions ranged from mountaineeringto oral irrigation, from chalet architecture tobanking confidentiality, from monasticherb gardens to the Paléo Music Festival inNyon, and from flag throwing and huntingfor rock crystal to Switzerland’s special vir-tue: cleanliness. The results have revealed

9

Poya art from thecanton of Fribourg(photos above) wastraditionally just adepiction of alpinescenery for decoratinghomes, but these daysit is also in demandfrom art lovers

Switzerland’scultural heritageincludes wrestlingand bilingualism,which is part ofeveryday life in Bielas the signpostsillustrate (photosleft)

things that even Switzerland didn’t knowabout itself, and some regions have been as-tonished to learn about what is seen as tradi-tion in other parts of the country. The pro-cess has seen various practicallyuntranslatable concepts discussed in a singlebreath. What on earth are Gansabhauet,Rabadán, Pschuuri, Troccas, Tschäggättäand Pfingsblüttlern all about? Schwingen, ofcourse, is something we all understand. Butnow even the most tradition-conscious Swisspeople are realising that Switzerland hasmany traditions that they know very littleabout as they are mostly other people’s tra-ditions.

One objective has already been achievedIn compiling the UNESCO list, one objec-tive has already been achieved even beforethe publication of the final shortlist, says Da-vid Vitali, Head of the Culture and SocietyDepartment at the FOC: “We hope this pro-cess will raise awareness, firstly that thesetraditions exist and secondly that they havea valuable role to play.” The FOC obviouslyhopes these thriving traditions will receivegreater appreciation and believes the merefact of compiling the list of suggestions hasbrought this one step closer. Folklorists andnewspaper commentators think the re-sounding response the campaign has re-ceived is down to globalisation, which ischanging the meaning of traditions. Vitalishares this view. These days, cultivating tra-ditions is in no way simply about reducingthem to a “patriotic phenomenon”. Tradi-tions have long been a key part of identity:

“Helping individuals find their place in a verypluralistic world.”

What’s the benefit of all this?You could be forgiven for asking what thepoint is of the FOC compiling a list of tradi-tions. Vitali acknowledges that drawing upthe list does not directly help preserve tradi-tions: “Traditions have to constantly evolve,otherwise they die out.” Ultimately, thismeans that “the supporters of a tradition de-cide whether or not they want to pass thattradition on”. It is therefore clear that nei-ther the FOC nor UNESCO will be issuingany regulations regarding the customs andtraditions. It is also clear that the process isnot about protecting traditions and, at worst,

“mummifying them”. Traditions have to beable to evolve on their own: “Drawing up thelist therefore only has an indirect impact, ifanything, on the traditions.”

A broad concept of traditionHolzschnitzer, Appenzeller Witze, Köhlern,Jassen, Maskenschnitzen, Volkstänze,Vereinswesen, Gebetsheilen and Töfftreff(wood carvers, jokes from Appenzell, char-coal burners, a Swiss card game, mask carv-ing, folk dances, clubs and societies, prayerhealing and motorbike meetings). Can youreally call hundreds of motorcyclists inleather jackets bombing along windingmountain roads and stopping for a beer onHauenstein a typically Swiss tradition? Vi-tali advocates an open-minded, unprejudicedand all-embracing concept of what consti-tutes a tradition. He says one key character-

istic of a tradition is “something that ishanded down from one generation to thenext”. A tradition calls for a clearly distin-guishable group of followers; a vague senseof belonging is not enough to create a tradi-tion. He goes on to say that tradition is there-fore something that shapes the identity of aspecific group of individuals. This can be saidof the Hauenstein motorbike meeting, theTöfftreff Hauenstein: “For many theTöfftreff is a focal point.” Since 1964, mo-torbike enthusiasts have been meeting upwith their beloved two-wheeled machinesevery Thursday.

Vitali takes another, somewhat question-able, example to demonstrate the broadconcept of tradition. Switzerland has putforward the way it deals with the dangersposed by avalanches for the UNESCO list.

“This, too, is completely justified as the topicrepresents Switzerland’s attitude to risksand dangers, which is firmly engrained in so-ciety.”

Between tradition and folkloreVitali believes some people’s amazement atcertain nominations is due to the fact thattradition is often equated with folkloric cus-

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Folk music:Performed by alphornplayers in the tradi-tional way, and rein-terpreted by ChristineLauterburg with theSwiss accordion

Below, the Swiss PostOffice’s controversialstamp to mark the100th anniversary ofthe Swiss YodellingAssociation

The cultural heritagelist also includes themotorbike meeting atHauenstein, whichdates back to the1960s (bottom left)

toms. Obviously customs will take up a greatdeal of space on UNESCO’s list. However,the “traditional” customs are often muchyounger than many Swiss people think. Yes,really. Even some of the most uncontestedcandidates have only been flourishing for amatter of decades, rather than centuries.The alphorn, for example, was as good as for-gotten at the beginning of the last century. Itonly began to re-emerge from 1930 onwards,in the wake of the developing tourism indus-try. In other words, a desire for alpine “au-thenticity” on the part of outsiders led thelocals to unearth things they consideredpassé. This symbiotic relationship betweentradition and tourism is quite delicate.

Advertisers sense a competitive edgeCompanies promoting Swiss tourism areshowing a keen interest in UNESCO’s list ofthriving traditions. The process has given riseto animated discussions among tourism ex-perts as to how marketing traditions morestrongly could lead to a competitive advan-tage, creating more value. The marketing or-ganisation “Switzerland Tourism” also wantsSwiss traditions to feature more heavily in itsadvertising campaigns from 2013 onwards.Vitali points out the opportunities in thisarea: “Tourism definitely has a role to playin conserving traditions, such as ancient artsand crafts or traditional forms of agriculturalmanagement.” At the same time, tourismruns the risk of monopolising traditions andreducing them to a money-making factor. Vi-tali refuses to demonise the tourism industry,

however: “To a degree, many traditions onlycame about because of tourism. Tourism it-self is a kind of Swiss tradition.”

University lecturer and tourism expertUrs Wagenseil recently summarised roughlywhere the boundary might lie: “If you see analphorn formation playing at the top of theKleine Scheidegg with a Bernese mountaindog drafted in specially to sit in front of them,we would see that as kitsch. But for a Chi-nese person, that’s a real piece of Switzerlandbefore their very eyes.”

The lone voice of oppositionWe put a question to a representative of theSwiss People’s Party (SVP) in Valais, a can-ton where tourism plays a major role: So,what’s your view on tradition? A perfectlyreasonable question since the SVP was theonly political party to oppose the ratificationof the UNESCO convention for the safe-guarding of intangible cultural heritage.Does this mean that the conservative SVP,with its constant talk of traditions, is againstthe strengthening of traditions? “Quite theopposite”, says Oskar Freysinger, NationalCouncillor for the canton of Valais. It is notthe UNESCO list that is the problem, hesays, but the fact that yet again Switzerlandis in the process of giving up the principle ofbeing free to take its own decisions only to

“subject itself to the objectives and agendasof a supranational institution”. This meansthe SVP is holding firm to its “tradition” ofseeing a loss of sovereignty lurking behindany dealings with an international organisa-

tion. In addition, for the SVP, any govern-ment commitment to cultural values smacksof patronising “state culture”.

“Tradition is vital”Of course, like anyone, the SVP is happy thatthe reputation of Swiss wrestlers, alphornmusicians and Jassen players might be givena boost. According to Freysinger, there is nointrinsic reason to criticise the Federal Of-fice of Culture (FOC). “They’re aiming inthe right direction. It’s a rich and diverse listthat has been put together.” The underlyingposition that globalisation underscores theimportance of traditions is spot on in Frey-singer’s opinion. “Tradition is vital. Globali-sation makes a lot of people feel that they nolonger control their own fate. Tradition putsthe focus back on roots.” However, Frey-singer also believes that traditions cannot bestage-managed: “Just because you play at be-ing a cowboy doesn’t make you a cowboy. Ar-tificially staged customs do not possess anyvitality.”

Tradition passes on valuesFreysinger’s formula is clear: traditions pro-duce values, values provide support and sta-bility. And traditions stand for permanenceand depth, not for just a stringing togetherof isolated moments. “The modern-daytrend towards an ever more comprehensivestate of timeless present simply creates theillusion of eternity.” Tradition is more hon-est: “It doesn’t deny death.” Instead, it offersroom for life through all its stages – germi-nating, blossoming, fading and dying. “Peo-

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A world full oftrAditionsChinese calligraphy, spanishflamenco, Balinese templedancing: UNesCO’s aim is thatsuch “intangible culturalheritage” remains alive in allits diversity. switzerland hassigned the UNesCO resolutionon the protection and promo-tion of the diversity of cul-tural expressions along with94 other countries. Conse-quently, it will have to submita report to UNesCO on its cul-tural diversity in April 2012.To broaden the debate, theFederal Office of Cultureprefers to talk of “thrivingtraditions” rather than

“intangible cultural heritage”.whatever the terminologyused, however, the ultimategoal remains the same:switzerland, too, wants tocontribute to a social climatewhere traditions are hon-oured and maintained. (mUl)

For the complete list of all167 traditions considered, visit:www.bak.admin.ch

ple die, traditions remain.”On what does he base hisview? On the Fête-Dieu(Corpus Christi proces-sion) in his home town ofSavièse, for example, “anextraordinary affair thathas incredible dynamismand stands for much morethan religiosity, namely for community,which is built around specific values”.

The debate on traditions will see a liter-ary contribution from Oskar Freysinger inspring. Freysinger is basing his next novel inthe world of the Suonen, the irrigationchannels artfully constructed along the rockface in Valais. While it is a tradition of note,the construction of these channels has notfound its way onto the UNESCO list. Thisis no slight on the Suonen; it simply under-scores the fact that the sheer diversity ofSwiss traditions makes a clear overview im-possible.

Cows, cows… and more cowsWhile Oskar Freysinger is busy writing books,Francis Oberson is in his workshop north ofthe Alps painting cows on an enormous woodsurface using a tiny brush. Oberson is a poyaartist. He only paints cows. His paintings donot end up hanging in galleries, but adorn thewalls of farmhouses in the Gruyère region.Oberson paints rows of cows winding theirway up mountains and over alpine pasturesand flower-filled meadows. He paints an ide-alised world, where no machinery, commer-cial aircraft or tourism infrastructure blights

the landscape. The sameeffect as idealised reality isproduced by realisticallypainted images of the un-realistic – a painted re-minder of what is good.What do such paintingshave to do with tradition?Poya painting is art, but

not a personal form of art. It is art that be-longs not to the artist, but to the region inwhich it “thrives”. Oberson: “If you paint apicture for a farmer, then the farmer liveswith that painting.” The important elementfor Francis Oberson is, therefore, not thepassing on of knowledge and values from onegeneration to the next, but the unconditionalconnection with a place. Poya paintings canonly be painted by those who have their rootsin those places. Oberson says that he ob-served and sketched cows for nine years be-fore he saw himself as a poya painter. Sincethen, painting has been “like a prayer” forhim, an attempt to “capture the light of theGruyère region”, a call to embrace the slowerpace of life.

As already mentioned, the Federal Officeof Culture does not want traditions to be

“mummified” and advocates an open mindset.Traditions, including folklore-based customs,are seen by practically everyone as fine, co-lourful, enriching and even significant socialstructures. The growing interest of an urbanaudience in age-old traditions such asSchwingen reinforces this view. As do thefew instances where very un-farmer-likebankers commission poya paintings. There

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Watch-making(photo right) isamong the Swisstraditions worthy ofprotection, as is the

“Fête-Dieu”, theCorpus Christi proces-sion in Savièse inthe canton of Valais(photo below)

are, however, critical voices that challengesuch homogeneity. The Berne-based musi-cian and singer Christine Lauterburg is onesuch voice. She says that, for many years now,she has struggled with what she sees as anoverly dogged take on traditions. As a yodel-ler who combines traditional songs with con-temporary music, Lauterburg is exposed toconstant hostility. “There is a small circle of

‘gatekeepers’ who almost live in a self-enc-losed parallel world, in the holy grail of folkmusic. And that’s a really narrow worldthat’s not much fun. It doesn’t bring peopletogether; it excludes them.” Lauterburg sur-mises that the “reactionary tendencies” andmonopolising of folk culture within tradi-tions are at their most extreme in yodelling.

Christine Lauterburg is the enfant terri-ble of folk singing, a “techno-yodeller” whois not looking for a power play with the SwissYodelling Association, the body that over-sees “correct” yodelling. “I’m just not inter-ested in joylessly going through the motionsin my folk music. I want to contribute spon-taneously to folk music that develops, that’salive, that laughs.” She wants, for example,to be allowed to yodel and accompany her-self on the violin at the same time – some-thing the custodians of tradition will not ac-cept. She says she has no interest in static,unchanging customs.

A stamp of approval?This Berne-based yodeller even has the powerto annoy when she is doing nothing. To markthe centenary anniversary of the Swiss Yodel-ling Association (in 2010), her image was used

on a commemorative stamp from the SwissPost Office – just eleven millimetres across,but big enough to spark a major fuss and somestrong reactions from traditional yodellers: a

“lapsed” follower, with her face on a stamp! Itcreated “a real stink”, says Lauterburg. De-spite her negative experiences, she neverthe-less hopes that the approach to tradition can

change in such a way as to make it “fun; to letit include young people, emphasise the ele-ments that bring people together and eradi-cate those elements that exclude”.

A snapshot in timeThe conflicts that Lauterburg describes donot change the fact that yodelling is withouta doubt part of Switzerland’s “intangible cul-tural heritage”. The UNESCO list has notone, but two entries for yodelling: one forJuuz yodelling from central Switzerland andthe other for natural yodelling from Appen-zell and Toggenburg. Why these two partic-ular variations? According to David Vitalifrom the Federal Office of Culture, despiteevery effort to the contrary, the UNESCOlist is simply a snapshot in time. It is not setin stone. The aim, he says, is to review it ona periodic basis and keep the debate on tra-ditions and their value alive. This means that,whether they like it or not, the question ofwhat their view is on tradition is one that isset to follow the “lapsed” yodeller, thepainter who only paints cows and the politi-cian-cum-writer for the rest of their lives.

MaRc Lettau is an editor at “swiss Review”

13V O T I N G

A referendum has been calledOn 11 March, the people and cantons will decide on five proposals concerning book prices,home ownership, landscape conservation, lotteries and more holidays.By René Lenzin

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Parliamentary and Federal Council electionshave dominated the political debate in Swit-zerland for many months. Now, specific po-litical issues are back on the agenda, for bothparliamentarians in Berne and the electoratethroughout Switzerland. They must decideon five proposals simultaneously on 11 March:three popular initiatives, a parliamentarycounterproposal to a popular initiative and afederal law against which a referendum hasbeen called. The adoption of the initiativesand the counterproposal will require the ma-jority support of both the Swiss people andthe cantons, while the majority support ofjust the people will suffice for the law.

“An end to the unrestricted constructionof second homes”This popular initiative from the environ-mentalist Franz Weber’s Helvetia Nostrafoundation calls for the proportion of sec-ond homes to be restricted to 20% of thegross area used for residential purposes percommune. The supporters of the initiativesay that second homes are usually empty,have a detrimental effect on the most beau-tiful mountain landscapes and lead to an un-controlled rise in property prices. The Fed-eral Council and the majority ofparliamentarians reject the initiative be-cause it does not take account of the differ-ing requirements of tourist and non-touristareas. They want to tackle the issue of sec-ond homes with spatial planning measures –a process already launched by federal gov-ernment, the cantons and many communes.The National Council rejected the initiativeby 123 votes to 61, and the Council of Statesby 29 votes to 10.

Home purchase savings initiativeThis popular initiative from the Swiss Soci-ety for the Promotion of Home PurchaseSavings calls for the cantons to introduce taxincentives for the acquisition of property forowner occupation. Single persons should beallowed to deduct up to 15,000 Swiss francsa year from taxable income as a home pur-chase savings deposit for a maximum periodof 10 years, while the limit for married cou-ples would be twice as high. It also calls fordeductions of up to 5,000 and 10,000 Swissfrancs for structural energy-saving measures.Those behind the initiative want to allowmore people than at present to achieve thedream of owning their own home. The Fed-eral Council opposes the initiative becausehome ownership already enjoys tax benefitsand because the initiative would primarilybenefit people on higher incomes. As the Na-tional Council and Council of States wereunable to agree on a position on the initia-tive or on an indirect counterproposal, theinitiative will go to a referendum without aparliamentary recommendation.

“Six weeks holiday for everyone”This popular initiative from the Christian-socialist federation of trade unions, Tra-vailsuisse, calls for all employees to be givenat least six weeks of paid holiday per year.The law currently provides for four weeks,and five weeks for the under-twenties. Thoseon the left and the trade unions hope toachieve a better balance between work andrelaxation through this initiative. They claimthat workloads have constantly increasedwith negative repercussions for the health ofmany employees. The Federal Council andthe conservative parties argue that the cur-rent regulations have proven effective.These leave it to social partners to negotiatemore generous holiday provisions or to passon increases in productivity in the form ofhigher wages or shorter working hours. TheNational Council rejected the initiative by122 votes to 61, and the Council of States by32 votes to 10.

Gambling for the common goodWith the “Gambling for the common good”popular initiative the cantons sought to se-cure their control over lotteries and toguarantee the use of gaming revenuesfor culture, social affairs and sport. TheFederal Council and Parliament tackled theissue with a direct counterproposal, whichled to the withdrawal of the initiative. TheNational Council recommended adoptionof the counterproposal by 193 votes to 3,and the Council of States by 42 votes to 0.

Fixed prices of booksThe fixing of prices of books, in other wordsthe sale of books at set prices, is a constantpolitical issue. In 1999, the CompetitionCommission declared a 100-year-old indus-try agreement in German-speaking Swit-zerland illegitimate. To save price fixing,advocates submitted proposals for it to beenshrined in law. These were approved byboth chambers, against the will of the Fed-eral Council, by 96 votes to 86 in the Na-tional Council and by 23 votes to 19 in theCouncil of States. Price fixing is to apply toonline trading as well as bookshops. TheConsumer Forum for German-speakingSwitzerland and the Young Liberals havesuccessfully called a referendum against thelaw. They want to allow competition in thebook trade and to prevent excessive prices.Supporters of price fixing argue that it pro-tects the book as a cultural asset. Theyclaim that although bestsellers would becheaper without price agreements, manybooks with small print runs would disappearfrom the shelves.

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Almost everything is as it was in the Federal CouncilEveline Widmer-Schlumpf was confirmed in office, and the Swiss People’s Party failed to obtain a second seat as the partywith the largest number of votes. Alain Berset replaced Micheline Calmy-Rey, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs.By René Lenzin

The party political composition of nationalgovernment is unchanged - the Swiss SocialDemocratic Party (SP) and the FDP.TheLiberals each hold two seats; the ChristianDemocratic People’s Party (CVP), theSwiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Con-servative Democratic Party (BDP) eachhave one. The United Federal Assembly re-elected all the Federal Councillors whostood for office again at the general electionon 14 December. In the order in which theywere elected, these are: Doris Leuthard(CVP), Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (BDP),Ueli Maurer (SVP), Didier Burkhalter(FDP), Simonetta Sommaruga (SP) and Jo-hann Schneider-Ammann (FDP). AlainBerset, the Social Democrat from Fribourg,replaced his party colleague MichelineCalmy-Rey, who stepped down at the endof 2011. The Federal Chancellor, CorinaCasanova (CVP), was also confirmed inoffice.

The clear winner in this election is Eve-line Widmer-Schlumpf. Four years ago, shewas elected to national government whenstill an SVP politician in place of ChristophBlocher, against the will of her party. Afterher expulsion from the SVP, she joined thenewly formed BDP, which had little chanceof securing a seat on the Federal Councilwith its 5% share of the vote. With the helpof the SP, CVP, Greens (GPS) and GreenLiberals (GLP), Widmer-Schlumpf wasnevertheless comfortably re-elected to of-fice in the first round of voting.

The second winner is Johann Schneider-Ammann. The Free Democrat from Berne,only elected a year ago, was regarded as anoutside candidate because his party lostvotes in the National Council elections andlooked unlikely to win two seats. Finally,the SP can also be satisfied with theoutcome after masterfully managing thesuccession of Micheline Calmy-Rey andeasily holding both its seats.

Will the SVP go into opposition?The main loser is the SVP. As the partywith the largest number of votes bysome margin, it had the strongest claim

to two Federal Council seats and no oneapart from the Greens disputed this.Its attack on Eveline Widmer-Schlumpfnevertheless failed. Its candidates,Jean-François Rime and Hansjörg Walter,had no chance against the politician fromGrisons. It received support from the FDP,but the two parties together still only havearound 100 seats in the 246-strong FederalAssembly. And when the SVP with Rimecame up against the FDP and SP it lost outagain.

The party leadership clearly sees this out-come as an infringement of the system ofconcordance. It will ask the party base howit should respond at a meeting of delegatesin January. Possible scenarios include UeliMaurer stepping down from the FederalCouncil and going into opposition. Or theycould remain in national government andpursue a policy of “half government and halfopposition” as long as the demand for asecond seat remains unmet.

The SVP will have to put this defeatdown to itself to a large extent. It took along time over its search for a suitable can-didate for the Federal Council position. Ithad only just selected the Zurich NationalCouncillor Bruno Zuppiger as its candidatewhen he was forced to withdraw owing tohis involvement in a shady inheritance af-fair. The SVP also refused to stand againstthe FDP until election day, despite the factthat these two parties could hardly expectto win four of seven seats with a 42% shareof the vote.

However, the main reason for the SVP’sfailure is the centre-left coalition thatelected Widmer-Schlumpf four years agoand now returned her to office. Althoughthis coalition has a clear majority in theFederal Assembly, it made no serious movefor the SVP to obtain a second seat at theexpense of the FDP against its will. Thedesire to elect Widmer-Schlumpf and toweaken the SVP was ultimately strongerthan the general commitment to the systemof concordance.

The result is a government that will beable to work well together in terms of

personalities. How interaction with Parlia-ment and an SVP that is half in oppositionwill work remains to be seen.

Allocation of ministriesFollowing her comfortable re-election,Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf was also theoverwhelmingly popular choice for SwissPresident for this year. Ueli Maurer is theVice-President. Federal Councillor DidierBurkhalter is the new Head of the FederalDepartment of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).Since his election to the Federal Council in2009, the Free Democrat from Neuchâtelhad directed the Federal Department ofHome Affairs (FDHA). The FDHA is nowheaded by Alain Berset. The other fiveFederal Councillors will continue in thesame departments they directed before theelections.

Alain Berset in his first media appearance as a Federal Councillor

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A young star with a meteoric career39-year-old Alain Berset, the former Council of States member for Fribourg, is one ofSwitzerland’s youngest Federal Councillors.By René Lenzin

Alain Berset does not like to give away anysecrets. At least this is the impression hegave in his interviews as a Federal Councilcandidate. He evaded the most tenacious in-terviewers by making vague and generalstatements. In his first interviews after theelection, he again did not wish to commentspecifically on his priorities in his futuregovernment role either. He told the mediathat he would initially have to integrate intothe team and find out which department hewould be taking over. He gave a polishedperformance but remained rather elusive asa person and as a politician.

When confronted with this perception,Berset told the Tages-Anzeiger: “I representour social democratic positions with convic-tion and commitment.” He is in fact highlyesteemed within his party and hardly evertakes up a position at odds with the partyline. The man from Fribourg is also seen asa bridge-builder and consensus-orientedpolitician who is also well regarded by mostpoliticians in the conservative parties. Theseare typical qualities often attributed toCouncil of States members and generallyrepresent a solid foundation for a term ingovernment. Berset’s detractors do not leveltheir criticisms at his ability to operate in a

SoCiAL DemoCRAtS win CounCiLoF StAteS eLeCtion

Only 27 of the 46 seats on the council ofStates were filled after the election on23 October 2011. A second round of votingwas subsequently held in 13 cantons.n The Social Democratic Party (SP) emergedas the winner. it increased its number ofseats by two compared to 2007. if the seatin Berne, which was lost in the interimperiod, is also included, the total gain is infact three seats. with 11 seats, the SP isstronger than ever before.n The parties previously dominant inthe chamber of cantonal representatives,the christian Democrats (cvP) and theFDP.The Liberals, now only have half thecouncil of States members. The cvP lostthree of its 15 seats and the FDP one ofits 12.n The major offensive on the council ofStates by the Swiss People’s Party (SvP)clearly failed. it has one seat fewer than fouryears ago. if the Berne seat, which was lostjust a few months after the election, is alsocounted, the number of seats lost is two.n The number of parties in the councilof States has increased. The Greens (GPS)and Green Liberals (GLP) each hold twoseats and the BDP one. with ThomasMinder, the politician behind the so-called

“initiative against rip-off salaries”, anindependent member has also entered thesmaller chamber. he has joined the SvPfaction but wants to remain independent.

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consensual manner, but rather at his lack ofexecutive experience. He claims he was pre-viously a freelance strategy and communi-cations consultant. In fact, he was already aprofessional politician before joining na-tional government.

The 39-year-old Social Democrat is oneof the youngest Federal Councillors in thehistory of the federal state. He is the young-est member of the current government bysome margin. Berset has enjoyed a meteoricrise in his political career. He spent threeyears on the communal parliament in Bel-faux where he lives and was a member of Fri-bourg’s Constitutional Council for fouryears before the electorate in his cantonvoted him onto the Council of States in2003. He was comfortably re-elected fouryears later and also eight years later. In 2009,he became President of the smaller cham-ber. He has been the Vice-President of theSP faction in the Federal Palace since 2005.In this capacity, he apparently played a ma-jor role in the de-selection of ChristophBlocher in December 2007. A graduate inpolitics and economics, he is married andhas three children aged four, six and eight.As a jazz pianist he once undertook part ofa tour of Latin America and was juniorchampion in middle-distance running inFrench-speaking Switzerland.

Difficult tasks at the FDHAAlain Berset overcame the former NationalCouncillor and current member of the Can-tonal Council of Vaud, Pierre-Yves Mail-lard. He achieved a surprisingly clear victoryover his rival in the first round of voting andovercame the hurdle of the absolute major-ity in the second round. He is replacing hisparty colleague Micheline Calmy-Rey onthe Federal Council. However, he hasnot taken over the office of Minister ofForeign Affairs from her, instead becomingHead of the Department of Home Affairs(FDHA). Difficult tasks await him there: hewill have to attend to the blocked reformsof both health and social insurances schemes,which have been the subject of heated polit-ical debate for years.

DiStRiBution oF SeAtS in 2011, BY PARtYchange compared to 2007 in brackets

Council of States (46 seats)

national Council (200 seats)

ederal Councillor

2 (+/–)

11 (+2)

1 (neu)2 (+1)

13 (–2)

11 (–1)

5 (–2)

1 (neu)GPS

SP

BDPGLP

CVP

FDP

SVP

Parteilos

¹ FDP inkl. LPS (2007: 4 Sitze)

15 (–5)

46 (+3)

2 (+/–)

9 (+9) 28 (–3)30 (–5)¹

1 (+1)

54 (–8)

1 (+1)

12 (+9)

2 (+1)

CSP OW

GPS

SP

EVP

GLPBDP CVP

FDP

SVP

MCG

LEGA

(new)

(new)

FDP incl. LPS (2007: 4 seats)

Independent

16 P O L I T I C S

How do the Swiss abroad vote?The question as to whether the Swiss abroad vote differently to the electorate living in Switzerlandis frequently asked after elections and referenda. And if so, how? We have analysed this issue as far asit is possible to do so.

n The Christian Democratic People’s Party (CVP) achieved above-average results among the Swiss abroad in Geneva and Vaud but, bycontrast, below-average results in Lucerne, Aargau, Thurgau, St. Gal-len and Valais.

Comparisons with previous electionsIn comparison to 2007, the Greens, FDP and CVP increased theirvote among the Swiss abroad in Geneva, whereas the SP and SwissPeople’s Party (SVP) share of the vote fell. The Greens, CVP, SVPand SP increased their support in the canton of Vaud, while the FDPcombined with the Liberals lost votes. The SVP made slight gains inLucerne, whereas the CVP and FDP lost ground.

It is also noticeable that the SVP is the strongestparty among the Swiss abroad in four of the six can-tons surveyed (Lucerne, Aargau, Thurgau and St.Gallen). Four years ago, it did not occupy the top spotin any of the three cantons that revealed the resultsfor the Swiss abroad at the time (Geneva, Vaud andLucerne). However, the SVP is between 4.4 and 14.2percentage points weaker among the Swiss abroadthan the cantonal average in all the cantons where itnow holds top position. Only in Valais did the SVPwin a higher percentage of votes abroad than the can-tonal average.

The question about the voting behaviour of the Swiss abroad in elec-tions and referenda can only be answered selectively. This is becausenot all the cantons provide separate information on their voting pat-terns. However, based on the little data available from the cantons ofGeneva, Vaud, Lucerne, Aargau, Thurgau, St. Gallen and Valais, itis clear that the party political preferences of voters abroad vary sig-nificantly from one canton to the next. Whether Swiss voters abroadin a particular part of the world, such as the USA or South-East Asia,have similar preferences cannot be determined as the statistics onvotes from abroad are not broken down by origin.

Surprising detailsThe data available from the parliamentary electionson 23 October 2011 reveals some interesting facts:n The Greens were clearly more successful among theSwiss abroad than they were on average in all the can-tons, in some cases significantly more so.n The Social Democratic Party (SP) performed ex-ceptionally well among the Swiss abroad everywhereexcept in the canton of Vaud.n The Free Democratic Party (FDP) was more suc-cessful among the Swiss abroad than on average in thecantons of Aargau and Thurgau, but less successful bycontrast in Geneva, Vaud, Lucerne and Valais.

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Geneva: canton as a whole Swiss abroad Lucerne: canton as a whole Swiss abroad

Vaud: canton as a whole Swiss abroad Aargau: canton as a whole Swiss abroad

Legend for the chartsbelow

SVP

SP

FDP

Liberals

CVP

Greens

BDP

Green Liberals

Others

17

Calls for e-votingThe charts provide a detailed representation of each individual par-ty’s share of the vote among all the eligible voters in the respectivecantons as well as the strength of each party if only the votes cast bySwiss abroad are taken into account.

As can be seen from the appeal opposite, the Organisation of theSwiss Abroad (OSA) has set itself the goal of enabling all those enti-tled to vote to take part in elections and referenda via the Internet.OSA believes this would facilitate the political participation of theSwiss abroad enormously and would therefore also result in a higherturnout. E-voting is also an issue for the electorate living in Switzer-land, particularly younger generations. (BE)

Further details of the e-election trials can be foundin the Federal Chancellery’s text on page 28

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“E-voting for all”OSA Petition to the Federal Council

with a petition, the Organisation of theswiss Abroad (OsA) is calling on the FederalCouncil and the relevant cantonal authori-ties to take quick action to make e-votingand e-election available to all swiss citizens,living at home or abroad.

This petition can be signed by any citizenwho supports this measure.

Sign today. Every signaturewill increase the chances of success!

www.petition.aso.ch

St. Gallen: canton as a whole Swiss abroad

Thurgau: canton as a whole Swiss abroad

Valais: canton as a whole Swiss abroad

18 I n t e r v I e w

“Seeing the EU as nothing more than an export clubis completely wrong”Michael Reiterer was the EU ambassador in Berne from January 2007 until the end of 2011. Even duringdifficult times, he made a major contribution to enabling constructive discussions between Switzerlandand the EU. An interview at the time of his departure.By Barbara Engel

From a Swiss perspective, Brussels sometimesmakes unachievable demands. This has causedfronts to harden.

I don’t wish to talk about fronts becausewe are not fighting a war. Switzerland clearlywants to participate in the European Union’sinternal market. The EU, for its part, has toensure that the rules that apply within theinternal market are uniform across the board.Discussions with Switzerland about this arecurrently ongoing. I am confident that nowthat the parliamentary and Federal Councilelections in Switzerland are over we canadopt a more offensive approach to thesediscussions again.

In Switzerland, there are several sensitive is-sues associated with fears about the free move-

ment of persons and the EU.The buzzwords are “foreignjudges” and “social tourism”.Can you understand this?

I’ve got an anecdote totell you about this. A can-tonal politician once toldme that foreign judges fromLausanne introduced the

right to vote for women. This illustrates howrelative the term “foreign judges” is. Swit-zerland is a member of several internationalorganisations that have their own jurisdic-tion. For instance, Switzerland does not havean issue with being subject to WTO jurisdic-tion on trade disputes. There are also Swissjudges at the European Court of HumanRights, and a Swiss judge even represents theprincipality of Liechtenstein at the EFTACourt. It would appear that exporting for-eign judges does not present a problem. Asfar as “social tourism” is concerned, theSwiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairswill readily confirm that the institutions ofthe Swiss social security system would be ina very poor state if it were not for the con-tributions of foreigners. Fears arise becausesensationalist and populist language is used.

Which areas are on the EU wish list for thebilateral agreements with Switzerland?

The EU does not have a wish list. Butthere are some issues that are being negoti-ated, such as free trade in agriculture. Swit-zerland is holding things up here. There arealso negotiations on the internal electricitymarket, an area where common interests ex-ist.

An analysis from Brussels in “Swiss Review”suggests that Switzerland’s approach isperceived as “cherry-picking” in Brussels. Isthat true?

I recently put this question to the Presi-dent of the European Council, Herman vanRompuy. He said that it was certainly notan expression he would use. There is noquestion that Switzerland benefits from po-litical stability and economic prosperity inEurope. The Swiss government and most ofthe Swiss people also appreciate this. It istherefore important that the EU is seen asa project in which everyone plays a part.When it comes to developing Europe fur-ther, for example through expansion, activeparticipation is vital. Relationships betweenstates are like those between people – youcommunicate, think things through to-gether, work together and when one refusesto talk, the others notice this. The same willalso apply to developments we have yet toencounter.

The keyword is development of the EuropeanUnion – a peace project has turned into a com-mercial association.

Seeing the EU as nothing more than an ex-port club is completely wrong. It has actu-ally developed the other way round. The Eu-ropean Economic Community was set upfirst, and this later became the European Un-ion. The latter incorporates close coopera-tion and integration in the fields of justice,migration, asylum, foreign policy and secu-rity policy. Of course, the internal market

“swiss review”: You were the first EUambassador to come to Berne in 2007. WasBerne a destination you wanted at the time?

michael reiterer: Yes, even in the EUsystem you have to apply for a job, and I ap-plied for the Switzerland post. I had lived inSwitzerland previously – I spent two yearsstudying in Geneva and two years with theAustrian delegation to GATT. I’m now re-turning to Brussels with nine years’ experi-ence of Switzerland.

Why were you interested in the positionof EU ambassador to Switzerland?

I was attracted by the prospect of estab-lishing something new. There had previ-ously been no EU representation in Berne.I started off with nothing more than arented building. I alsofound the opportunity tolive and work here for alonger period of time ap-pealing as I was already veryfamiliar with Switzerlandand its virtues.

Relations between Switzer-land and the EU have become strainedin recent times. The tone adopted is sometimesnot very friendly. Are you glad to be leavingBerne at this point?

No. I don’t believe relations have becomemore strained. The issues have always beenmore or less the same since the Swiss votedagainst joining the EEA in 1992. We haveconstantly been seeking a modus vivendi eversince. This has to be adapted from time totime because the EU has changed.

How has the EU changed?First and foremost, it has increased in size

from 12 to 27 states. The internal market hasgrown and deepened. The framework con-ditions have changed. As a consequence, wealso need to find new forms of cooperationbetween the EU and Switzerland.s

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remains important and we have the euro asa result of this. It also requires us to coordi-nate our policies. But the political project isequally important, with Europe wanting andneeding to appear united.

How and where does the European Union playa united role?

The global political situation is goingthrough radical changes. There are new play-ers, such as the G20 and an emergent China,which is reclaiming its position in the world.The USA remains the strongest militarypower but faces competition from Europeand Asia as an economic force. There are alsocompeting ideas. Something more than justa commercial association is required in thisenvironment. Europe must assert its valuesbecause the EU is first and foremost a com-munity of values.

What values does the EU represent?Democracy, respect for human rights and

the rule of law are the fundamental values onwhich the EU was built. Great importance

is also attached to these goals in the EU’s for-eign policy in its relations with other states.

But the institutions that exist in the EU forthis purpose are weak?

We have strengthened ourinstitutions through the Lis-bon Treaty. The new posi-tions of EU President andHigh Representative for For-eign Affairs and Security Pol-icy, which are currently heldby Herman van Rompuy andCatherine Ashton, are in-tended to get the EU more involved in globalpolitics and are succeeding in doing so.

In what way?The EU supported the Arab revolution.

The UN Security Council’s resolution onthe protection of the Libyan civilian popu-lation was initiated by the EU, and the EUworked with the Arab League to obtain itsapproval. All of this is extremely political.These are not the actions of purely a free

trade organisation. The EU has also success-fully intervened in conflicts much furtheraway from Europe, such as the Aceh conflictin Indonesia. The Indonesian governmentexplicitly requested the EU as a mediatorrather than a national state.

The German Chancellor recently said thatwe need a new EU. Does the euro crisis reallycall everything into question?

I don’t know exactly what Ms Merkelmeant by that. But, of course, in tackling thedebt crisis it has become clear that individ-ual countries need to coordinate their poli-cies to a greater extent, particularly theireconomic policies. The bail-out plans have,after all, been approved by the countries.This is something completely new. Nobodywould have thought such resolutions possi-ble two years ago.

Has the EU grown too quickly, as criticsconstantly claim?

It depends on which area they are refer-ring to. From an economic perspective, theEU may well have grown too quickly. Its ab-sorption capacity has indeed reached its lim-its. But, as we have already said, the EU is apolitical project. After 1989, the primary aimwas to stabilise the Central and Eastern Eu-ropean states freed from the shackles of com-munism and to ensure they developed dem-ocratically. The aspiration to create andmaintain an area of democracy and freedomhas always existed in the European Union.This has worked. The EU was and remains apeace project. That comes at a price.

You are now returningto Brussels. What role willyou take up there?

I will rejoin head officeafter ten years of serviceabroad.

That doesn’t sound veryexciting.

You won’t find many diplomats, irrespec-tive of which country or service they arefrom, who are enthusiastic about returningto head office. But it’s standard practice, andafter two or three years you are assigned else-where again.

Do you have another dream destination?I would like to be an ambassador again in

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Michael Reiterer,the EU ambassadorin Berne, returnedto Brussels at theend of 2011. Hemade frequent pub­lic appearances inhis five years asambassador, suchas at the Congressof the Swiss Abroadin Lugano last year.Reiterer is succeed­ed in Berne byBritish diplomatRichard Jones.

The EUsupported theArab revo-lution.

20 C u l t u r e

A biologist becomes a TV star“Netz Natur” (Nature Network) is one of the most popular shows on Swiss TV. Biologist AndreasMoser manages to attract around 400,000 viewers eight times a year and has been doing so foralmost 20 years. But he doesn’t feel like a star - he’s too shrewd and dedicated for that.By Heinz Eckert

Moser is highly committed to and a strongadvocate of the interests of animals and na-ture, but he is certainly no missionary. A na-tural scientist to the core, he analyses situa-tions, makes deductions and drawsconclusions. He presents these to viewers inan easy-to-understand way, but without dra-matic or pedagogic undertones.

The wolf and the sheepHe adopted the same approach when theSwiss Parliament expressed concern aboutwolves migrating back to Switzerland. Mo-ser said that the killing of sheep and goats bywolves was a problem of man’s own making.

“Wolves treat unattended pets as part of na-ture”, he explained to Parliament. The 10 orso wolves living in Switzerland kill around350 sheep and goats a year. That is a smallnumber in relation to the 4,000 to 10,000sheep “which die each year, sometimes in ex-cruciating pain, due to accidents and disea-ses because shepherds leave them to graze inthe mountains for weeks or months on endwithout supervision or protection”.

Moser pointed out that sheep on the Alpsneed constant shepherding and occasionaltreatment from a vet in the same way as pets.They require protection at night, ideallythrough electric fencing, and shepherds andsheepdogs are also needed to look after theflock. “Sheep looked after in this way arerarely in danger from wolves”, said Moser,emphasising that federal government paysfarmers 43 million Swiss francs a year in sub-sidies for keeping sheep. He said this fund-ing should also be used to keep animals in ac-cordance with the provisions of animalprotection legislation.

He was fairly astonished that Parliamentwould not take this on board in the debateon wolves. Wolves are the natural adversar-ies of roe, chamois and deer and are biolog-ically programmed to live here. It is simplythat they have been unable to establishthemselves in the past because they have of-ten been killed by poachers. They are also

an ideal target for misuse by politiciansin election campaigns for propagandapurposes.

Honorary doctorateMoser views himself primarily as a conveyerof information because he sees how much na-ture is being destroyed by a lack of awareness.He explains: “‘Netz Natur’ is an ideal plat-form for showing people how nature is inter-connected and explaining to them throughimages, the senses and sometimes alsothrough emotion that other perspectivesexist besides the human one.” In an age whennature is increasingly sacrificed for industry,for the construction of housing and roads,but also for leisure activities, he has the task,within the scope of Swiss television’s public

Andreas Moser’s interest in animals stemsfrom his background and family. Havinggrown up near to Basel Zoo, or “Zolli” as thelocals call it, Moser spent a lot of time withhis grandfather in the zoological garden,came into contact with animals and keepers,sometimes helping them with their work,and learned a great deal about animals in theprocess. These experiences influenced hischoice of career and the course of his life. Heactually wanted to become a zookeeper, buthis parents persuaded him to finish hisschool education first and go on to univer-sity as well. He chose biology, majoring inzoology. He carried out field studies on in-digenous reptiles during his degree course atthe University of Basel and soon became anexpert on snakes.

After graduating, Andreas Moser ran thepoisonous animals laboratory at the SwissTropical Institute in Basel as an academic as-sistant and laboratory chief. There he wasresponsible for keeping poisonous snakes,spiders and scorpions.

Successor to a legendInstead of taking up the opportunity availableto him to travel to Africa to carry out furtherresearch into poisonous snakes, Moser joi-ned the Swiss state television company in1987. He worked on the “Karussell” pro-gramme and began producing TV program-mes on natural history. When the highly suc-cessful “Karussell” came to an end, he joinedthe “Menschen-Technik-Wissenschaft” edi-torial team. The concept of “Netz-Repor-tage aus der Natur” was developed here as asuccessor to the well-known productions ofHans A. Traber. Moser has been theprogramme’s presenter since 1989 and itshead of editorial content since 1993. Lastyear, the programme featured the followingtopics: “All about the cow”, “Switzerland – acow nation?”, “Who stinks here?”, “Wild na-ture – money or life”, “Mangroves – apes,crabs and crocodiles”, “Horned animals” and

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service mandate, of reporting on the oppor-tunities and risks for the natural environmentin a scientifically accurate but entertainingway and in line with journalistic criteria.

Just how skilfully he does this is high-lighted not only by his huge fan base but alsoby the fact that his rather unspectacular pro-

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gramme has neither fallen victim to cost-cut-ting measures nor had to follow the wide-spread trend towards sensationalism andpopulism in Swiss television.

Andreas Moser has received many awardsfor his work, but he was particularly pleasedwith the University of Zurich’s reasons forawarding him an honorary doctorate: “TheUniversity of Zurich awards an honorarydoctorate to Dr. Andreas Moser in recogni-tion of his services to the portrayal of ani-mals and their relationship with their natu-ral habitat. Through his televisionprogrammes, Andreas Moser has made a ma-jor contribution to improving people’s un-derstanding of animals in the places wherethey live and of other important issues con-cerning the natural environment and, in sodoing, has played an important role in theprotection of animals and nature.” This wasrecognition of Moser’s efforts from the high-est echelons.

New awareness among youngstersMoser will, unfortunately, never run out ofissues for “Netz Natur”. He believes biodi-versity will be extremely important for thefuture. The highly diverse relationships bet-

ween different species are vital to the exis-tence of living organisms, including humans.Moser explains: “Just take milk and meat forexample – without the vast number of soil-dwelling organisms, no grass or cultivatedplants would grow. And cattle and sheepneed grass to produce milk and meat. Ever-ything is interrelated.” He points to furthercorrelations: without bees there would beno pollination of fruit trees, withoutearthworms there would be no humus on thefields or on the forest floor which providesfood for plants, holds back water and pre-vents erosion and flooding.

The International Union for Conserva-tion of Nature, IUCN, has published somealarming figures – of the 47,677 endangeredanimal and plant species on the red list,17,291 are at acute risk of extinction. “Natureis fundamental to our existence. By destroy-ing it, we are destroying ourselves”, says Mo-ser. “Despite this, we continue to chop downthe tropical rain forests – the most abundanteco-systems in existence – and release vastquantities of fertilisers from intensive agri-culture into rivers and seas where they de-stroy coral reefs and make fish infertile ow-ing to the hormones in the water.”

But are there encouraging signs too? An-dreas Moser believes there are. The “NetzNatur” team works a lot with young peopleand is forever noticing that awareness aboutinterrelationships and attitudes towards na-ture are better among younger people thanwith older generations. Youngsters are alsowilling to make their own contribution. “Pol-iticians cannot afford to make any more de-cisions concerning nature and the environ-ment that are irreversible. Anything short ofthis would be unethical. We owe that to fu-ture generations”, says Moser.

“Netz Natur” is scheduled to be broadcast on thefollowing dates in 2012: 15 March, 26 April, 24 May,21 June, 20 September, 18 October, 15 November,20 December

The programme can also be watched onlinewww.sendungen.sf.tv/netz-natur/All series are also available on DVD:www.sendungen.sf.tv/netz-natur/Formulare/Kontakt-NETZ-NATUR-SF-1

HEiNZ EcKERT is a freelance journalist in Basel; hewas the Editor-in-chief of “Swiss Review” until 2010.S

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Andreas Moserfilming one ofhis programmes(right)

Images of silkwormsand butterflies fromthe programme “Wieein Schmetterlingdie Welt verändert”(How a butterflychanges the world) –below left

22 s p o r t

The acrobat of the slopesIouri Podladtchikov is on first name terms with the American stars of snow-boarding. The Zurich-based snowboarder – World Championship runner-up inthe half-pipe – has consistently succeeded in accomplishing some of the mostremarkable manoeuvres on the circuit. We met the circus acrobat of the slopesfollowing his World Cup triumph in Saas-Fee.By Alain Wey

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Iouri Podladtchikovon the podium and inthe half-pipe in Saas-Fee last November

He flies into the half-pipe, soaring overfour metres above the 6.5-metre-highwalls of snow. Phenomenal spins and per-ilous, jaw-dropping flips – it seems nothingcan stop Iouri Podladtchikov. He wonthe World Cup event in Saas-Fee withpanache and without excessive risk-taking.In the finish area he is all smiles, focussingon the television cameras. Podladtchikovis one of the few Europeans capable ofcompeting with the giants of the sportfrom the USA like Shaun White whoremains invincible. After the Olympicchampion, he is only the second snow-boarder to have landed the doubleMcTwist 1260, which involves two flipsand three and a half spins. The mannicknamed iPod has risen to fame through-out Switzerland after only missing outon a medal at the Vancouver OlympicGames by a few points. He also picked upa silver medal at the legendary NorthAmerican Winter X-Games in 2010. Atthe Hôtel du Glacier in Saas-Fee, the23-year-old snowboarder puts aside hisboards and guitars for a moment to give us

the opportunity to find out more about theman he is today.

Brother as a role modelIouri arrived in Switzerland in 1996 at the ageof eight. His family followed his father, a geo-physics professor, who moved from Moscowto the Netherlands and then to Switzerlandand Zurich, where he was a lecturer at theFederal Institute of Technology. Iouri re-calls: “I started snowboarding at the age of 11in Flumserberg. My older brother Igor was avery keen snowboarder and I always wantedto emulate him. I was already skateboardingso snowboarding was a natural step. It meanteverything to us. I would go into the moun-tains every weekend with my parents andthey allowed me to go on my own from theage of 13, mainly to Laax or Davos because,right from the start, I wanted to surf thepipes, jumps and rails.” Iouri studied at thesports high school in Davos and became aSwiss citizen in 2007, just a year after takingpart in the Turin Olympic Games in Russiancolours while training in Grisons with hisSwiss friends and coaches, Marco Bruni and

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Pepe Regazzi from Swiss Ski. “But I was al-ways the Russian”, he recalls.

When asked whether he feels more Russianor Swiss, Iouri sidesteps the question: “I hatethat question, that’s my answer!” he smiles.And what about in terms of his character andoutlook? “I’ve experienced many differentcountries and I feel multicultural. But my par-ents are Russian, very Russian in fact. Perhapsmy mindset is somewhat more Russian thanthat of my Swiss friends. But I’m not Russianin Russia and I’m not Swiss in Switzerland.That’s how it is. At the end of the day, I’mIouri and I’m not worried about anything else.”And does Switzerland have a special place inhis heart? “It represents a lot to me – themountains, my friends, love and Zurich”, heexplains, with a glint in his eye. He adds: “Swit-zerland is wonderful.” His home town also pre-sented him with the title of “Sportsperson ofthe Year” in 2009.

Always focussed on a goalWhat is a year in the life of Iouri like? He re-plies: “The first word that springs to mind ischaotic because I’m constantly travellingaround the world. I’m not very good at set-tling down and not moving. I never get tospend more than four months a year in Swit-zerland. For example, I took part in compe-titions in New Zealand in August and thenwent back there in October for training.” Heis always on the go. “I’m very instinctive. Ihave very high expectations of myself andtherefore also of others”, he says. With a pas-sion for photography, the guitar and skate-boarding, he still dreams about winning com-petitions like the Winter X-Games and, ofcourse, winning a medal at the 2014 Olym-pic Games in Sochi in his native Russia. Withso much creative talent, does he have a phi-losophy? “Not really, because things are con-stantly changing. I don’t know what I’m go-ing to be doing tomorrow. I simplyconcentrate on moving onwards and up-wards, focussing on the goal in front of me.”

Al Ain Wey is an editor at “Swiss Review”

24 O R G A N I S A T I O N O F T H E S W I S S A B R O A D

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Summer camps in 2012 for children aged 8 to 14Are you aged 8 to 14? Would you like to spend 14 days in Switzerland getting to knowyour homeland better? Then sign up for a holiday camp run by the Foundation for YoungSwiss Abroad. We organise summer holiday camps in Switzerland’s most beautifulregions during July and August.

ProgrammeOur camps give youthe opportunity to seethe sights, to discoverlakes, mountains, riv-ers and incrediblescenery, to go on shorthikes and perhaps evenvisit some cities. Somedays are also spent atthe camp, where weorganise games, sport-ing activities and vari-ous workshops.

You will also havethe chance to learnlots of useful thingsabout Switzerland. Forexample, we look atthe Swiss languages,Swiss songs, Swiss rec-ipes and typicallySwiss games andsports.

The interaction be-tween participants be-yond all linguistic, cul-tural and nationalboundaries provides anopportunity to enjoyan unforgettable expe-rience and to make lotsof new friends.

CostsThe prices of the offers are set out in thelist below. The Foundation for YoungSwiss Abroad wishes to give all Swiss chil-dren abroad the opportunity to spend aholiday in Switzerland at least once if

possible. We therefore offer reduced camprates. The relevant application form can berequested with the registration form.

Travel/meeting pointThe meeting point is Zurich airport aroundlunchtime.

Travel to and from Zurich airport is or-ganised and paid for by parents.

Summer CAmPS in 2012n sat. 30.6.–Fri. 13.7.12: Gsteig b. Gstaad(Berne) for 40 children aged 8–14, price:CHF 900.n wed. 11.7.–Fri. 20.7.12: swiss trip for24 children aged 12–16, price: CHF 950.n sat. 14.7.–Fri. 27.7.12: Mümliswil(solothurn) for 36 children aged 8–11,price: CHF 900.n sat. 14.7.–Fri. 27.7.12: Prêles (Berne)for 36 children aged 11–14, price: CHF 900.n sat. 28.7.–Fri. 10.8.12: Obersaxen(Grisons), sports camp for 48 children aged12–14, price: CHF 950.n sat. 28.7.–Fri. 10.8.12: Aurigeno (Ticino)for 36 children aged 8–11, price: CHF 900.n sat. 4.8.–Fri. 17.8.12: Mariastein (solo-thurn), radio camp, children produce radiobroadcasts and discover switzerland. For 48children aged 8–14, price: CHF 950.n sat. 18.8.–Fri. 31.8.12: valbella (Grisons)for 36 children aged 8–14, price: CHF 900.

LeadersExperienced, multilingual teams of lead-

ers ensure that the two-week holiday campsare well-organised and offer a wide varietyof activities.

registrationThe exact details of the individual holidaycamps and the registration form can befound, from Wednesday, 1 February 2012,at www.sjas.ch. We are also happy to postyou our information brochure on request.The registration deadline is 15 March 2012.

Please contact the office in Berne forfurther information:Foundation for Young Swiss AbroadAlpenstrasse 26CH-3006 BerneTel. +41 (0)31 356 61 16Fax +41 (0)31 356 61 01E-mail: sjas@aso.chwww.sjas.ch (Our forthcoming activities)

Happy times at past summer camps run by the Foundation forYoung Swiss Abroad

Advertisement

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The Area for the Swiss Abroad in 1991 with the “Botta Tent”, which was erected to celebrate700 years of the Swiss confederation

OSA adviceI would like to study in Switzerland –what would happen in terms of militaryservice?

In Switzerland, all men are obliged tocarry out military service before the end ofthe year in which they turn 30 years of ageor 34 years of age if they already com-pleted military training school before leav-ing Switzerland. Upon your return toSwitzerland, you will therefore be calledupon to fulfil your military obligationsbased on your age and aptitude level. Swisscitizens can be recruited until the end ofthe year in which they turn 25 years of age.They will then be asked to attend militarytraining school before the end of the yearduring which they turn 26 years of age. Anexception exists for men who have alreadycarried out military service in Switzerland,who have been granted military leave to goabroad or who have not been in the coun-try for an uninterrupted period of over sixyears and are no longer needed by thearmy. Citizens not recruited owing to

their age do not have to complete militarytraining school but have to pay militaryservice exemption tax. Swiss citizensabroad who wish to stay in Switzerland fora period of over three months have tonotify the head of section within 14 daysof their arrival.

If you hold dual nationality and have al-ready carried out military service or alter-native civilian service or have made an ex-emption payment in your country of origin,you no longer have to carry out militaryservice in Switzerland. However, this doesnot release you from the obligation to pro-vide notification of your arrival and youmay have to pay the military service ex-emption tax. If you have carried out mili-tary service or alternative civilian service inGermany, Austria, France or Italy, you willbe exempt from paying the military serviceexemption tax owing to agreements thatSwitzerland has concluded with thesecountries.

You can also voluntarily decide to attendmilitary training school in Switzerland as aSwiss citizen abroad. Requests in such casesshould be addressed to:

Führungsstab der ArmeePersonelles der Armee (FGG 1)Steuerung und VorgabenRodtmattstr. 110, 3003 BerneTel. 031 324 32 56, Fax 031 324 14 92E-mail: personelles@gst.admin.chWebsite: www.vbs.admin.ch

Conscientious objectors to military ser-vice can undertake alternative civilian ser-vice. Alternative civilian service lasts oneand a half times longer than military ser-vice. For further information:Zivildienst ZentralstelleMalerweg 6, 3600 ThunTel: 033 228 19 99, Fax: 033 228 19 98E-mail: info@zivi.admin.chWebsite: www.zivi.admin.ch

Sarah MaStantuoni, head of the LegalDepartment

oSa’s Legal Department provides general legal informa-tion on Swiss law and specifically in areas that concernthe Swiss abroad. it does not provide information onforeign law and does not intervene in disputes betweenprivate parties.

Ideas are being sought for a prominent, meaningful and permanentsymbol that expresses the concept of the Area for the SwissAbroad in a clear and contemporary way and is perceived as a dis-tinctive feature.

The proposals mustbe compatible withrequirements for theprotection of the nat-ural environment,landscape and lake-side as well as withthe utilisation needsof the Area for theSwiss Abroad Foun-dation and the expec-tations of the localpopulation.

Competition en-tries may consist ofkeywords, detailedtext, sketches or otherillustrations. Theymust be suitable for

further development and realisation. Participants should provideas much detail as possible concerning the implementation of theirideas and the cost and effort involved. Ownership of the competi-tion entries will be transferred to the Area for the Swiss Abroad

Foundation upon sub-mission, and they maybe used, developed ormodified by the Foun-dation as required.

Full competitiondetails can be foundon OSA’s homepageat www.aso.ch

The deadline forthe submission ofideas is 31 March 2012.The winning ideas willgo on public display inBrunnen in July/Au-gust and at the Con-gress of the SwissAbroad in Lausanne inAugust 2012.

Area for the Swiss Abroad – new ideas soughtA global ideas competition for the design of the Area for the Swiss Abroad in Brunnen has been launched by the Foundation Council.

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Please send me the registration documents in spring 2012 for the 90th Congress of the swiss Abroad (17 to 19 August 2012 in Lausanne).

My address is:

surname: First name:

Address:

Country: Postcode/city:

e-mail:

Please write clearly in block capitals

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 e-mail us at communication@aso.ch.

On a voyage ofdiscoveryOSA has a new offer for young Swisspeople abroad – the chance to spend twoweeks discovering wide-ranging aspectsof life in Switzerland, writing reportson their findings and publishing theseonline.

Water, history and architecture are justthree of ten topics for which OSA has pro-

duced suggestions for day trips. Participantswill be given these suggestions togetherwith plenty of background information.

The project participants will thengo off on their excursion, observingand describing what they see, and an-swering questions. All this materialwill go into their reports. These willthen be uploaded to the Internet astext, photos or videos.

Other items required for the pro-ject will be a camera, a pen and a note-pad. A ticket for public transport inSwitzerland during the stay will beprovided.

Each young explorer from abroadwill stay with a Swiss host family,who will be very interested to hear allabout their guest’s life story, cultureand experiences. The host familieswill also provide Internet access forthe publications.

OSA is looking forward to readingthe reports and contributions of Swissabroad who have discovered Switzerland inthis way and is hoping to see an impressiveoutput.

Young people will also, of course, be ableto take advantage of this offer prior to orafter one of our holiday camps. There are

still some places available to latecomerson the winter sports week in Wengen. OSAis also organising an Easter camp in Fieschwith a wide range of activities. All OSA’soffers for young people can be found atwww.aso.ch (Offers).

90th Congress of the Swiss Abroad:17 to 19 August 2012

At the 90th Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Lausanne participantswill debate Mobility and Innovation: Switzerland in Times of Inter-national Challenges. More on this topic and the latest informationon the 2012 congress can be found at: www.aso.ch/en/offers/congress-of-the-swiss-abroad/2012 .

Put the congress dates in your diary today. We look forward to see-ing you at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne.

27N O T E S F R O M P A R L I A M E N T

Assistance for Swissabroad and travellersThe FDFA Helpline reduces the workloadof the head office in Berne and of Switzer-land’s network of diplomatic and consularrepresentations abroad. Constant dynamicexpansion and four supplementaryprojects.

In addition to the embassies and consu-lates, which are the first port of call for in-formation for Swiss citizens registered ortravelling abroad, the FDFA Helpline atthe Consular Directorate (CD) has beenproviding a “single point of contact” forqueries concerning consular services sincethe beginning of 2011. This citizen service

takes in account the growing importanceof consular affairs and improves theFDFA’s impact and visibility externally.The FDFA Helpline staff answer over athousand queries a month, which clearlyshows just how well citizens have re-sponded to the new service. Most ques-tions can be answered directly by Helplineemployees thanks to their high level of ex-pertise. This has freed up back-office re-sources, which can be used to resolvecomplex and time-intensive issues. Theobjective is for the other FDFA directo-rates and the network abroad to also ben-efit increasingly from the Helpline. Hans-Peter Heiniger, Head of the FDFAHelpline, spoke to the editorial teamabout ongoing projects.

“swiss review”: The FDFA Helpline hasbeen set up and expanded rapidly since thestart of 2011. What phase is it in now?

hans-peter heiniger: People havebeen able to reach us from Monday toFriday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., since the start of2011. The first phase was launched withthree employees. We have now had eightHelpline staff in place since 1 October2011 and have moved on to phase two.This means we now answer queries everyday from Monday to Sunday between8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

What steps are planned over the comingmonths?

We will optimise the existing servicesby, for example, providing further stafftraining in the various consular affairs.Our goal from the outset was to be able toanswer at least 80% of queries to the Hel-pline directly. We have actually exceededthis target thanks to the outstanding levelof expertise of Helpline staff. We answerover 90% of all queries ourselves, withouthaving to pass them on to other offices. Inphase three, we will provide 24-houravailability, take over the FDFA’s standbyservice, and receive calls in Berne that aremade to representations abroad outsideoffice hours. This will reduce the work-load of our colleagues in the embassiesand consulates.

Everyone concerned will be pleased aboutthat. However, there are clearly still obstaclesto overcome before this objective is achieved…

As I mentioned earlier, our goal is to beavailable for our customers 24 hours aday. The introduction of such a servicedepends on technical and organisationalcapacities as well as resources. Like every-where else, these are in short supply heretoo. We are working at full tilt to achieveour objective as quickly as possible despitethe challenging framework. However, we

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FDFA Helpline employees – supporting the Swiss abroad with advice and practical help

28 N O T E S F R O M P A R L I A M E N T

cannot, at the moment, rule out the possi-bility of delays in the launch of the 24-hourservice owing to the resources situation.

What service are you providing at themoment?

Customers from Switzerland and abroadcan contact us with questions and ap-proach us about matters relating to consu-lar services. We offer the best possible ser-vice in line with our service charter. Ourintention is to provide expert consular in-formation. We regard customer friendli-ness as our top priority.

What are the differences between the Helplineand the FDFA Hotline that is set up in crisissituations?

The Helpline is permanently available tocustomers for any question relating to con-sular matters. We also take queries via ourHelpline in crisis situations. However, ifthe Helpline requires support in the eventof a major crisis or catastrophe abroad, wecan get our Hotline operators ready innext to no time. Customers are then for-warded to the Helpline or the Hotline (forannouncements and reports regardingmissing persons) depending on their needs.The number (+41 (0) 800 24-7-365) re-mains the same in any event.

Press reports said that 36,000 SMS messagesand e-mails were sent by the FDFA fromBerne during the red-shirt demonstrations inThailand in May 2010. Was the Helplineinvolved in that?

The Helpline did not exist then. Thistask was handled by the Crisis Manage-ment Centre (CMC). However, messagesof this kind will in the future be sent by theHelpline in close cooperation with theCMC and the representations abroad.

In other words, the Helpline will also reducethe Crisis Management Centre’s workload.How will you set up the infrastructure forsuch major operations in the future?

We have eight lines available to us forthe Helpline, and up to 16 can be providedfor the Hotline. The Helpline and theHotline are located on the same premisesat Bundesgasse 32 in Berne.

What about the technical infrastructure of theHelpline and Hotline? Are you well equippedfor the next major emergency?

Yes, we are very well equipped. Not justfrom a technical perspective but also interms of our psychological and socialpreparation. Our Helpline employees andHotline operators are being given basicand advanced training using various sce-narios to prepare them for such events,with annual refresher courses to follow.

What is the planned online counter all about?And how will the Helpline be affected bythis?

We still have no means of online regis-tration for Swiss travellers abroad. This isone of the four sub-projects in the CitizenServices division that we plan to imple-ment by spring 2012. We have access tothe contact details of the registered Swisscommunity abroad so that we can send e-mails and SMS messages at any time in anemergency, as described above in connec-tion with Thailand. This is why we useevery opportunity to encourage the Swissabroad to register and to ensure their de-tails held by the embassy or consulate arealways up-to-date.

Four Helpline projects are currently under-way? What do these involve exactly?

Sub-project 1 aims at expanding and op-timising the existing Helpline application.Sub-project 2 involves the voluntary on-line registration I mentioned for Swiss cit-izens travelling abroad so we have as goodan idea as possible of all citizens who maybe affected in crisis situations. Sub-pro-ject 3 should enable both Swiss CitizenServices at the Consular Directorate andthe Swiss embassies and consulates abroadto send mass SMS messages more effi-ciently. As the example of Thailandshowed, the current solution has reachedits limits. Sub-project 4 is about replacingthe existing ageing telephone system witha state-of-the-art call centre system.

Smaller projects, such as the availabilityof the FDFA Helpline via Skype, havealready been implemented.

What is the long-term future of the FDFAHelpline?

We have made great progress in terms ofcustomer proximity and customer friendli-ness after a successful start for the “singlepoint of contact” at the beginning of 2011.With our well trained and highly moti-vated Helpline team, we will continue tooffer customers the best possible servicewhile also reducing the workload of spe-cialist departments at head office and atour embassies and consulates as much aswe possibly can.

Interview: Mitarbeiterzeitung EDAAdaptation: Thomas Kalau

First attempt atelectronic voting innational electionsFour cantons successfully carried oute-voting trials during the 2011 NationalCouncil elections. 3,562 Swiss citizensabroad eligible to vote from the cantonsof Basel-Stadt, St.Gallen, Grisons andAargau cast their votes electronically.

According to a statement by the FederalChancellery, the e-voting trials ransmoothly in all four cantons. The cantonsconcerned overcame the technical and lo-gistical challenges without any technicalfailures or incidents. According to the Fed-eral Chancellery the use of e-voting at the2011 National Council elections can there-fore be regarded as a success.

Around 22,000 Swiss abroad had the op-portunity to cast their votes electronicallyat the first e-voting trial in national elec-tions. Up to 53.1% took advantage of thenew voting method, depending on the can-ton (see pages 16–17 on the voting behav-iour of the Swiss abroad).

With the current legal situation, around90% of Swiss abroad could take advantageof e-voting. These are Swiss citizens resid-ing in either an EU member state or one ofthe 45 states that have signed the Wasse-naar Arrangement (www.wassenaar.org).Among other things, this arrangementgoverns the encryption of data transmis-s

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Advertisement

ElEctions and rEfErEndaThe Federal Council decided at its meeting on 9 November 2011 to putthe following proposals to the people on 11 March 2012:n Popular initiative of 18 December 2007 “Schluss mit uferlosem Bauvon Zweitwohnungen!” (Put an end to the unrestricted constructionof second homes!)n Popular initiative of 29 September 2008 “Für ein steuerlich begün-stigtes Bausparen zum Erwerb von selbst genutztem Wohneigentumund zur Finanzierung von baulichen Energiespar- und Umweltschutz-massnahmen – Bauspar-Initiative” (Tax benefits on home purchasesavings for a property lived in by the owner and for financing struc-tural energy-saving and environmental protection measures – homepurchase savings initiative);n Popular initiative of 26 June 2009 “6 Wochen Ferien für alle”(Six weeks holiday for everyone);n Federal resolution of 29 September 2011 on the regulation ofgambling for charitable purposes (counterproposal to the popular

sion over the Internet, which is fundamen-tal to e-voting.

Milestone in the introductionof electronic voting

The second phase in the implementationof e-voting has been reached with its firstdeployment in national elections. The pro-ject was launched in 2000, and trials havebeen held in federal referenda since 2004.In 2007, the Federal Council and Parlia-ment approved the gradual introduction ofelectronic voting. Four development stageswere planned:

1. Electronic voting in referenda

2. Electronic voting in elections

3. E-collecting (electronic signature for in-itiatives and referenda) and

4. Electronic signature for election nomi-nations. Thirteen cantons are currentlyinvolved in the project.

The positive experiences with e-votingat the 2011 elections have given the federal

government a boost in its efforts to givemost Swiss citizens abroad who are eligibleto vote the opportunity to do so via theInternet at the 2015 National Council elec-tions. The experiences of recent yearswill be evaluated by the Federal Chancelleryover the coming months. The FederalCouncil’s next report on electronic voting isscheduled for 2013 (also see page 17: Petitionof the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad).

the focus of oscEelection observationA team of nine experts from the Organiza-tion for Security and Co-operation inEurope (OSCE) observed the elections inSwitzerland from 10 to 28 October 2011.The experts were primarily interested inelectronic voting because this technologyis relatively new and pilot trials are onlyjust being held in a few participating states.The OSCE Report on the 2011 NationalCouncil elections is expected to be pub-lished approximately two months afterthe election date (www.osce.org/odihr/elections/Switzerland/83755).

thank-you from theconsular directorateThe FDFA’s Consular Directorate wouldlike to thank the Swiss abroad who tookpart in the post-election survey conductedby the Swiss Foundation for Research inSocial Sciences (FORS) at the Universityof Lausanne on the voting behaviour ofSwiss voters abroad. The results of this sur-vey will be published in spring 2012. Furtherinformation will be provided in this publi-cation.

importantPlease do not forget to provide the embassyor consulate general responsible for youwith your valid e-mail address and your mo-bile phone number.

Register at www.swissabroad.ch to ensureyou do not miss out on “Swiss Review” orinformation and newsletters from your rep-resentation. The current edition of “SwissReview” and previous issues can be reador printed out at any time at www.revue.chor via the “Review” link on the websites ofSwiss embassies and consulates.

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initiative “Für Geldspiele im Dienste des Gemeinwohls” (Gamblingfor the common good) andn Federal Law of 18 March 2011 on fixed book prices (BuPG).

Details of the proposals can be found on page 13. The referendumdates for 2012 are 11 March, 17 June, 23 September and 25 November.

PoPular initiativEsThe following federal popular initiatives have been launched since thelast edition of “Swiss Review” (deadlines for the collection of signa-tures in brackets):n “Für eine Wirtschaft zum Nutzen aller” (For an economy thatbenefits everyone) (01.05.2013)n “Wolf, Bär und Luchs” (Wolf, bear and lynx) (11.04.2013)n “Rettet unser Schweizer Gold – Gold-Initiative”(Save our Swiss gold – gold initiative) (20.03.2013)n “Für eine neutrale weltoffene und humanitäre Schweiz –Neutralitätsinitiative” (For a neutral, humanitarian Switzerland thatis open to the world – neutrality initiative) (13.03.2013)

The complete list can be found on the Federal Chancellery’s websitewww.bk.admin.ch, in German under Politische Rechte/volksinitiativen (also available in French and Italian)

FDFA OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER:JEAN-FRANÇOIS LICHTENSTERN, RELATIONS WITH THE SWISS ABROADBUNDESGASSE 32, CH-3003 BERNETELEPHONE: +41 800 24 7 365WWW.EDA.ADMIN.CH, MAIL: HELPLINE@EDA.ADMIN.CH

30 L I T T L E G E M S

Rémy Steinegger provides ascenic flight over Ticino in hiscollection of photographs enti-tled “Ticino tra cielo e terra”(Ticino between Heaven andEarth). It contains 126 photo-graphs of a canton that has un-dergone fundamental changeover the past century, whereagriculture has been almostcompletely replaced by tourismand service industries becauseits beauty attracts visitors from

the north in their thousands each year. The aerial shots provide re-markable images. The bird’s-eye-view perspective highlights thecoexistence of the natural environment, which has developed overa long period of time, and man-made civilisation with its rapid inva-sion.

The photos reveal beauty and correlations that cannot be seenat ground level by normal travellers, but also expose the brutalencroachment upon and despoliation of nature. “This book doesnot seek to cast blame or to gloss over the issues – it is simply asnapshot (…)” writes the photographer in the epilogue.

He is right, but it is also more than that – it is a wonderful snap-shot beautifully presented with concise, insightful text. BE

“Ticino tra cielo e terra”; Fontana Edizioni, 6963 Pregassona, 264 pages, CHF 64plus delivery costs. Order: edizioni@fontana.ch

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A bird’s eye view of TicinoWitch-huntin the castle

The witches have returnedto Chillon Castle. Not the onesfrom fairy tales, but thewomen who for centuries wererumoured to be working in ca-hoots with the devil to bringdisaster upon the people.These women were pursued,hunted, tortured and burnedto death. Switzerland was par-ticularly industrious and espe-cially thorough when it cameto witch-hunting, with morethan 3,500 witches burned atthe stake between the 15th and18th centuries. Anna Göldifrom Sumiswald was one of the

last witches in Europe to be ex-ecuted. That was back in 1782 –in 2008, following many yearsof to-ing and fro-ing, the Gla-rus cantonal parliamentcleared her name on thegrounds that she had been sub-jected to an illegal trial.

The exhibition features nu-merous documents, which arebeing displayed to the publicfor the first time and which il-lustrate the role played by poli-ticians and the Church in thisinglorious chapter in Switzer-land’s history. Chillon Castle,with its dungeon where count-less witches awaited trial andsubsequent death, is an idealvenue to house such an exhibi-tion. BE

The exhibition will run until24 June 2012. www.chillon.ch

Writings ratherthan photographsIt is an adventure, an anachro-nism that will have many peo-ple shaking their heads. But itis certainly an adventure thathas started successfully. “Re-portagen” is the title of a newmagazine first published inSwitzerland in October 2011.The name says it all really - 120pages, no photos, no PR andno high gloss. Quite simply ar-ticles cover to cover, and whatexceptional articles they are.Six authors contributed talesto the first edition that will livelong in the memory. MargritSprecher, for example, wroteabout Ireland and about how itbecame rich, then poor againbut wiser. In “Zwischen Tötenund Tanzen”, Karin Wengerdescribed her visit to theclosed-off bases of the UStroops in Afghanistan. ErwinKoch’s article entitled “Sarah”told of 17-year-old Sarah’sfight against cancer. “Reporta-gen” does not reflect the spiritof the times in journalism, butit is an absolute pleasure. BE

Series of lectures on “Reportagen”in collaboration with “Freitag”:16.02.2012 Hamburg with Peter Stamm12.04.2012 vienna with Sibylle Berg28.06.2012 Cologne with ilija Trojanow23.08.2012 Berlin with Linus Reichlinwww.freitag.ch

Subscription: www.reportagen.com/Tel: +41 31 981 11 14, CHF 100/year.

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“Switzerland is a tame country.I never encounter the devil here. IfI did, I would immediately ask himif he had a story for me”, says CatalinDorian Florescu. The 44-year-oldauthor won this year’s Swiss BookPrize for his novel “Jacob beschliesstzu lieben” (Jacob Decides to Love).Florescu was born in Temesvar inRumania in 1967 and has lived inSwitzerland since 1982. He studiedpsychology and psychopathology

in Zurich. He gave up his professionas a psychotherapist in 2001 and hasworked as a freelance writer eversince. Florescu describes the thejury’s decision as “courageous”:After Melinda Nadj Abonji (2010)and Ilma Rakusa (2009), this is thethird time in succession that a Swisswriter with roots abroad has wonthe Book Prize. The first prize winnerin 2008 was Rolf Lappert, a Swisscitizen living in Ireland.

Bulletins Quotations

“Now there’s someone who should definitely be burned at the stake.”SvP President Toni Brunner about

Federal Councillor eveline widmer-Schlumpf

“There is no reason why our country can’t have three FederalCouncillors from the French-speaking territory.”

SvP parliamentary group leader Caspar Baader, following the nominationof Federal Council candidates Jean-Francois Rime and Bruno Zuppiger

“Do I really have to become President of the Confederation?Is there no way of bypassing the post?”

Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer to one of his staff members

“I stay true to myself. And I want to be allowed to be so.It’s not always that easy.” Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann

on DRS Radio on 12 November 2011

“I’m not a populist, more a unifying figure.”FDP President Fulvio Pelli on DRS Television

“Even our own members see us as the party for fat cats.”Philipp Müller, FDP National Councillor

“The FDP still only represents high finance. I’ve had enough of thisarrogance.” Otto ineichen, FDP National Councillor

“No comment, no comment, no comment...”The chief strategist of the Swiss People’s Party (SvP), Christoph Blocher,

on his financial involvement and influence at the “Basler Zeitung”

“If you can’t stand losing, don’t go into politics.”Bruno Frick, Member of the Council of States from the canton of Schwyz,

who lost his seat after 20 years in Parliament

“Hardworking”parliamentariansThe number of initiatives (mo-tions, postulates, interpellations,etc.) at the Swiss Parliament in-creased significantly in the lastlegislature to a total of over5,000 in the National Councilalone. The number of motionsin the National Council andCouncil of States rose from1,290 during the 2003-2007 pe-riod to 1,952, which representsan increase of 51%. Postulateswere up around 18%, while thenumber of interpellations roseby 19%. Many parliamentarians

“grasp at initiatives to provethey are tackling people’s con-cerns”, wrote the “NeueZürcher Zeitung”, commentingon the deluge of submissions.

Federer in illustrious companySwiss tennis player RogerFederer came second on a listof “most respected people”,behind Nelson Mandela, theformer President of SouthAfrica. This was the outcomeof a survey by the ReputationInstitute among 51,055 peopleworldwide. The 54 nomineeswere figures from politics,business, sport and culture.George Bush, Silvio Berlusconi,Mahmud Ahmadinejad andKim Jong-Il were at the bot-tom of the list.

New head of the ICRCPeter Maurer will take up theposition of President of the In-ternational Committee of theRed Cross in the middle ofnext year. Maurer is currentlythe State Secretary at the Fed-eral Department of ForeignAffairs and previously made aname for himself as the Swissambassador to the UN. He willreplace Jakob Kellenberger atthe head of the ICRC, whoheld the office for 12 years.

German-speaking SwissoverrepresentedEmployees from French-speaking and Italian-speakingSwitzerland are still under-represented in the federaladministration. This has beenrevealed by research carriedout by the news magazine

“L’Hébdo”. In the Departmentof Defence, for example, only10.3% of management positionsare not held by German-speak-ing Swiss. In the Departmentof Foreign Affairs, which holdsthe top spot, 29% of the man-agement are from French-speaking Switzerland or Ticino.The Federal Council aims toachieve the following linguisticdistribution by 2015: German70% (72.1% in 2010), French22% (21%), Italian 7% (6.6%)and Romansh 1% (0.3%).

2,000 jobs axedNovartis is cutting around2,000 jobs worldwide from its121,000-strong workforce withthe aim of saving USD 200million a year. 760 jobs will goin Basel, 320 in Nyon, and theother 900 or so positions willprimarily be lost in the USA.The downsizing plans sparkedmajor demonstrations andstrike action at Novartis inNyon in mid-November.

An expensive businessThe decommissioning of Swit-zerland’s existing nuclearpower stations and the disposalof radioactive waste will cost atleast 20.6 billion Swiss francs –10% more than previously fore-casted. These figures comefrom the latest calculations byfederal government, which cal-culates anticipated costs everyfive years. The Swiss EnergyFoundation (SES) expects de-commissioning and demolitioncosts to be much higher.

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Ursula DeplazesResearcher fromGraubünden, living in Rome

“Networking plays animportant role amongthe Swiss abroad – bothpersonally and profes-sionally.”

Urs SteinerTeacher from Berne, headof the Swiss School in Peru

“Get to know other Swisspeople abroad, exchangeuseful addresses, findout about Switzerland …I can do all these thingson SwissCommunity.”

Daniel KellerManager from Zurich,living in Hanoi

“The local experienceof Swiss people canbe very valuable to aninternational consultantlike me.”