Alain Berset opens the 57th Solothurn Film Festival at the Reithalle. The festival takes place with an audience, under the health rules of the Omicron winter. That same afternoon, as health minister, he had announced the partial extension of the measures against Covid-19. His speech starts from a question: “Sollten wir überhaupt hier sein?” He […]
Extraordinary informal meeting of the European Union health ministers, by videoconference, under the French Presidency of the Council of the EU and chaired by Olivier Véran. Switzerland is associated with it; Alain Berset takes part from Berne. On the agenda: the Omicron wave, booster shots and the fourth dose, medium-term crisis management, and vaccine solidarity […]
In Grenoble, Alain Berset takes part in the informal meeting of European Union health ministers organised by the French Presidency. Main theme: the future of public health policy in Europe. Discussions also cover the pandemic and the “One Health” approach, which links human health, animal health and the environment. Switzerland, not a member, is invited […]
At Lausanne-Ouchy, Alain Berset attends the return to service of the “Rhône”, a Belle Époque CGN steamer first commissioned in 1927. The renovation took three years and cost 15.8 million francs, shared between the cantons of Vaud, Geneva and Valais, the Confederation and the Association of Friends of the Lake Geneva Steamboats. The Federal Office […]
Working visit to Albania. On 18 February, Alain Berset and Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Finance and Economy, sign the social security agreement between Switzerland and Albania. It coordinates the two countries’ old-age, survivors’ and invalidity insurance schemes; it will enter into force on 1 October 2023. With the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta […]
Alain Berset opens the 36th FIFF, alongside Thierry Jobin, Artistic Director, Mathieu Fleury, President of the association, and State Councillor Sylvie Bonvin-Sansonnens. The festival is presented there as a remedy against general dumbing-down, its screens being “so many windows wide open onto the world”. Opening film: “Escape from Mogadishu” by Ryoo Seung-wan, a Swiss premiere. […]
At Halle 622 in Zurich, the first in-person ceremony in two years. Alain Berset delivers the laudatio for the honorary award presented to Fredi M. Murer, director of “Höhenfeuer” and “Vitus”. He opens his speech with the war in Ukraine, which had begun four weeks earlier. The Quartz for Best Fiction Film goes to “Olga” […]
Council of Europe Conference of Ministers of Culture, the first ministerial meeting since Russia’s expulsion. Theme: culture, creativity and heritage as resources for the future of Europe, notably in the face of digital transformation. The final declaration condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine; it provides for guidelines on artificial intelligence in the cultural sector and an […]
At the 14th Aarauer Demokratietage, devoted to democracy during the pandemic, Alain Berset gives the lecture at the public evening event in the Kultur- und Kongresshaus, then answers questions from Aarau school classes. He is welcomed by Alex Hürzeler, Landammann of Aargau; the exchange with the pupils is moderated by Hanspeter Hilfiker, Mayor of Aarau. […]
On 11 April, in Chur, Alain Berset presents two proposals put to the vote on 15 May 2022: the amendment to the Transplantation Act, which introduces presumed consent in the broad sense, and the revision of the Film Act, which requires streaming platforms to invest 4% of their Swiss turnover in local film-making. On 12 […]
In Arosa, Alain Berset gives the welcome address at the Swiss Holiday Day, which brings together more than a thousand tourism professionals in the ice rink. He is welcomed by Martin Nydegger, CEO of Switzerland Tourism, and Brigitta M. Gadient, its President. He paints the picture of a difficult year: after two years of pandemic, […]
On 21 April, Alain Berset inaugurates the Swiss Pavilion at the 59th Venice Art Biennale, “Le Concert” by Latifa Echakhch, conceived with the composer Alexandre Babel and the curator Francesco Stocchi. In his speech, he links the work, which explores the ephemeral and the permanent, to the upheaval caused by the war in Ukraine. The […]
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