Alain Berset leads the Swiss delegation to the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, devoted to innovation, technological change and education in the digital age. On 6 March, in the general debate, he quotes Simone de Beauvoir: “Nothing is ever permanently won. A political, economic or religious crisis will be enough […]
Alain Berset speaks at the FIFDH in Geneva, during the session of the Human Rights Council. He starts from the words Charlie Chaplin dictated on 5 June 1940 for the final speech of “The Great Dictator”: “Reason. Happiness. Kindness. Humanity.” Then he links cinema and the 1948 Universal Declaration, signed at the Palais de Chaillot, […]
At the Swiss National Museum in Zurich, Alain Berset opens the exhibition “Zum Geburtstag viel Recht. 175 Jahre Bundesverfassung”, devoted to fundamental rights. Four interactive games let visitors test naturalisation, the limits of free speech, the protection of privacy and the right to a fair trial. His speech starts from John Dewey in 1939: democracy […]
The FIFF opens its 37th edition with a sold-out ceremony, staged as a restaurant dinner. Alain Berset is one of the seven guests on stage, with Thierry Steiert, Mayor of Fribourg, Mathieu Fleury and Marine Jordan for the association, and Thierry Jobin, Artistic Director. Opening film: “Umami” by Slony Sow, with Gérard Depardieu and Pierre […]
At the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva, Alain Berset presents the Swiss Film Award honorary prize to the producer Ruth Waldburger. With her company Vega Film, she has produced eleven films by Jean-Luc Godard since 1988, but also Alain Tanner, Ursula Meier, Alain Resnais, Leos Carax. “Johnny Suede”, which she co-produced, gave Brad Pitt […]
High-level debate of the Security Council on terrorist threats and cooperation between the UN and regional organisations, at the invitation of Mozambique and chaired by its head of state, Filipe Nyusi. Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chairperson of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, also speak. Alain Berset speaks in French. His argument: terrorism thrives on […]
The customs union treaty was signed on 29 March 1923 by Giuseppe Motta and the Liechtenstein negotiator Emil Beck. A hundred years later to the day, the Government of Liechtenstein holds a ceremony in Schaan. Beforehand, at Vaduz Castle, Alain Berset holds talks with Hereditary Prince Alois: the war in Ukraine, the two countries’ commitment […]
In Basel, Interpharma, the association of Switzerland’s research-based pharmaceutical companies, celebrates its 90th anniversary. Alain Berset speaks as President of the Swiss Confederation and health minister. The American economist Elizabeth Teisberg gives the opening lecture; René Buholzer, Director of Interpharma, names relations with the EU and the slow digitalisation of healthcare as urgent issues. He […]
Alain Berset receives Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in Berne. Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider receives him separately. The two men welcome the cooperation between Switzerland and UNHCR, which has its headquarters in Geneva. Alain Berset stresses the need to tackle what drives people into exile. They discuss Switzerland’s priorities on the Security Council […]
Switzerland sits on the Security Council and is to chair a debate there in May on the protection of civilians in conflict. The DRC is the second stage of this preparation, after Mozambique in February. On 13 April, in Kinshasa, Alain Berset holds lengthy talks with President Félix Tshisekedi: the situation in the east, MONUSCO, […]
First visit to Berlin of the presidential year. Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes Alain Berset with military honours at the Chancellery. One-to-one talks, then talks between the delegations, then a joint press conference. In the afternoon, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier receives him at Bellevue Palace for talks and lunch. Three topics: the war in Ukraine, European […]
On the evening of his return from Berlin, Alain Berset receives Louise Mushikiwabo at the University of Fribourg; she was re-elected head of the International Organisation of La Francophonie at the Djerba summit in November 2022. Switzerland is the OIF’s third-largest donor, on a par with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation; its statutory contribution is 4.1 million […]
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