On the evening of 18 March, at the residence of Ambassador Tim Guldimann, Alain Berset meets a delegation of federal parliamentarians from the Bavarian CSU: implementation of the initiative against mass immigration, health, social affairs. On the 19th, he speaks at the fourth Berlin Demography Forum (“Activity – Health – Participation”), after Health Minister Hermann […]
At the opening of the National Museum’s exhibition, in the midst of the controversy over the memory of the battle, Alain Berset refuses to treat it simply as the birth certificate of neutrality. Marignano was followed in 1516 by the “Perpetual Peace” with France, which bound Switzerland to its neighbour for more than 250 years […]
Alain Berset signs with Aurelia Frick, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture, a declaration of intent opening the “Youth and Music” programme to children and young people in Liechtenstein. He is received by the Head of Government, Adrian Hasler (strong franc, economic challenges), and by Hereditary Prince Alois (healthcare system, retirement provision). At the […]
Back from Liechtenstein, Alain Berset inaugurates the “Lohnmobil”, a travelling exhibition on equal pay, on the Marktgasse in St Gallen, together with Cantonal Councillor Martin Klöti and the Mayor, Thomas Scheitlin. The figures in his speech come from St Gallen statistics: in eastern Switzerland, women earn on average 4,630 francs, 1,175 less than men. “Es […]
The Swiss Press Awards ceremony takes place at the Hotel Bellevue, in the presence of Alain Berset. He speaks about local journalism and press photography. He worries, with humour, about the fashion for “Hyperlokaljournalismus”: the neighbourhood, the street, soon journalism “mit Selfie-Stick”. Good journalism, he says, looks closely at the world in which people live […]
Alain Berset opens the Geneva Book Fair at Palexpo (29 April – 3 May). He begins with a provocation: “I sincerely believe that the book has had its day”, since Twitter and its 140 characters are enough to say profound things. The rest of the speech dismantles this opening and defends the book and the […]
Alain Berset is guest of honour at the Glarus Landsgemeinde; the official minutes list him among the guests. In his speech, he recalls that as early as 1463 the Landsgemeinde laid down the recipe for Schabziger: a designation of origin “avant la lettre”, decided by direct democracy. The former President of the Swiss AOC-IGP Association […]
On 6 May, Alain Berset greets Pope Francis at the end of the general audience in St Peter’s Square. He meets Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States: protection of minorities, the fight against violent extremism, the 1,500th anniversary of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice, the Confederation’s support for the Pontifical Swiss Guard. He […]
On 8 May, Alain Berset inaugurates the Swiss Pavilion, where Pamela Rosenkranz is showing “Our Product”. He defends a promotion of culture that opens spaces to thought-provoking works whose primary purpose is not to respond to the market. The exhibition speaks of the loss of physical autonomy, of the boundary between illness and health, of […]
At EPFL’s SwissTech Convention Center, the Innovation and SME Day is devoted to health and the “Health Valley”. Alain Berset opens holding… sheets of recycled paper, whose manufacture he describes in detail: innovation is also “the struggle between the new and the old”. He stresses the role of the public authorities, which create the framework […]
At the Solothurn Literature Days, Alain Berset speaks about the use of language in politics. He opens with a “confession” (his visit to the Pope has left its mark) and with the constraint of speaking on behalf of the collegial body: to the question “Wer bin ich – und wenn ja, wie viele?”, a Federal […]
Alain Berset welcomes the delegates on behalf of the host country. After the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, he speaks of the resilience of health systems and recalls the role of the WHO in guaranteeing fair and affordable access to essential care. Universal health coverage is a priority of Swiss cooperation in the field of […]
Icons: Icons8