Alain Berset receives in Bern the Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Ignatius Ephrem II Karim, on a pastoral visit to Switzerland. The Patriarch describes the situation of the Christian minorities in Syria and Iraq, persecuted by jihadist groups. Alain Berset recalls that the rights of religious and ethnic minorities are principles of the rule […]
In two days, Alain Berset meets six ministers and a state secretary. In Oslo, with Health Minister Bent Høie: quality of care, cancer registry, electronic patient record, antibiotic resistance. With Culture Minister Thorhild Widvey: cultural exports and private contributions. With State Secretary Torkil Åmland: flexible retirement. With Equality Minister Solveig Horne, he proposes an exchange […]
After the consultation on the plan for a national centre for quality, launched by the Federal Council in May, Alain Berset brings together cantons, doctors’ associations and other health stakeholders. The principle of a stronger commitment by the Confederation to quality and patient safety meets with consensus; the form of its implementation divides the some […]
Alain Berset opens the national meeting of municipal, cantonal and federal executives on equal pay in public administration and public procurement. He stresses the public sector’s role as a model: the Confederation, the cantons and the communes must step up their efforts and send a clear signal to all employers. The figures on the table: […]
On 21 January, at Davos town hall, Alain Berset joins Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf in the talks between the President of the Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The two countries are celebrating 65 years of diplomatic relations; an agreement abolishing visas for diplomatic passports is initialled. Immediately afterwards, Alain Berset signs with Zhang Yong, […]
Back from Davos, Alain Berset opens the fiftieth Solothurn Film Festival. His speech, in German, makes the event a mirror of the country: “Wer die Geschichte der Solothurner Filmtage kennt, versteht die Schweiz.” The films shown over fifty years are, he says, seismographs of the Swiss state of mind: the Switzerland of rapid change and […]
Alain Berset opens and closes the second Health2020 national conference, devoted to the coordination of care. Around 10% of patients account for 70 to 80% of care; they are often chronically ill, and for them poorly coordinated care means lower quality, unnecessary treatment and superfluous costs. He opens with the Davos Forum, where the world […]
The Swiss Tenants’ Association (ASLOCA / Mieterverband) celebrates its hundredth anniversary in Biel/Bienne, where it was founded in 1915. Alain Berset speaks, in German and in French. He opens with the “professional bias” of a minister of social insurance: a centenary makes him think of OASI funding. He quotes Woody Allen, then defends social mix […]
Alain Berset presents the Swiss Literature Awards for the third time. The Grand Award goes to Adolf Muschg, novelist and essayist, professor at ETH Zurich from 1970 to 1999. Awards go to Dorothee Elmiger, Eleonore Frey, Hanna Johansen, Guy Krneta, Frédéric Pajak, Claudia Quadri and Noëlle Revaz; the special mediation prize to the “Roman des […]
After the Paris attacks in January, Alain Berset receives the Swiss Council of Religions in Berne. He assures the communities that the Federal Council shares their concern at the rise of hostility towards people of the Muslim and Jewish faiths. “Social cohesion cannot be taken for granted,” he says. He welcomes the calls for respect […]
Alain Berset speaks before the prize-giving of the Swiss Culinary Championships. The speech extends the metaphor: “Im Bundesrat haben wir sieben Köchinnen und Köche, die politisch backen, braten, grillieren – zum Glück nicht einander.” Swiss democracy, he says, turns the proverb on its head: the more cooks, the better. Speeches on this site Championnats suisses […]
“Der Kreis” by Stefan Haupt wins four Quartz awards, including Best Fiction Film. The Honorary Award goes to Jean-Luc Godard, absent for health reasons, who addresses the audience by video. Alain Berset reads an “Open letter to Jean-Luc Godard, from the minister of culture with a c”, echoing Godard’s 1966 letter to “André Malraux, ministre […]
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