Berset’s New Year’s speech
“There are many problems – but we can be confident”
With commitment and dialogue, Switzerland will know how to master the current crises. Despite the difficult times, Federal President Alain Berset was confident in his New Year’s speech on Sunday. The country stick together when it matters.
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Alain Berset is the new Federal President. In the New Year’s speech 2023 he addressed the population.
«Yes, there are many problems. But there are also countless people, in Switzerland and all over the world, who are tackling these problems. That’s why we can look to the future with confidence,” said Berset in his four-minute radio and television speech, which was recorded at the National Museum in Zurich.
In crises like the corona pandemic and now the war in Europe, Switzerland has learned to stick together when it matters. The country has learned “that the institutions are strong and carry us”. Berset mentioned in particular the social services, health care and public finances.
Federal constitution as bringer of peace
In this context, the new Federal President also referred to the importance of the Federal Constitution of 1848. Switzerland owes it a life of security and prosperity to it. “We owe her our culture of dialogue.” Switzerland is still building on this commitment today.
After the Sonderbund War, the victorious cantons would not simply have written a new constitution and imposed it on the defeated Catholic cantons. “No, they did it with them and created a sovereign state that was on par with the powers of Europe.”
In the National Museum you can see what challenges Switzerland had to face and how it tackled them. “We value what unites us more than what divides us. And have strengthened the cohesion.”
Berset Federal President for the second time
He is of course aware that not all problems can be solved, Berset continues. But it is about contributing to their solution. «Engagement means that we open up, that we don’t withdraw into ourselves. Because we know that sooner or later the problems of others will also become our own problems.»
At the end of his speech, the Federal President wished the entire population a Happy New Year “with a lot of joy, with curiosity, with shared experiences.”
Interview with Alain Berset: “There are big construction sites in the health system”(02:04)
The 50-year-old Freiburger Berset was elected Federal President for the second time after 2018 by the Federal Parliament on December 7th. However, with only 140 votes, the result was below average. After the election, Berset said before the United Federal Assembly that he saw Switzerland facing major challenges – in the context of several crises. Thanks to her stability, she is well prepared. (SDA)