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Ignazio Cassis: Switzerland swears in new President

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis was elected by parliament Wednesday as the country's next president, set to lead in 2022 amid deepening tensions over the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Published: 8 December 2021 17:56 CET
Switzerland's new President, Ignazio Cassis
Switzerland's new President, Ignazio Cassis. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

Cassis, who will take on the largely symbolic role on January 1, insisted in his acceptance speech that “we will not allow ourselves to be divided”.

The choice of Cassis came as no surprise since it was his turn among the seven members of the Swiss government to take on the rotating one-year presidency.

The 60-year-old member of the conservative Liberal Party, who joined the government in 2017, will continue serving as Switzerland’s top diplomat while carrying out his presidential duties.

READ MORE: A foreigner’s guide to understanding Swiss politics in five minutes

He will replace Economy Minister Guy Parmelin at the helm. Cassis was elected with 156 out of 197 possible votes — a relatively poor score for the foreign minister, who has faced significant criticism for gaffes and inconsistent messaging.

Both he and Parmelin have been attacked for the handling of Switzerland’s relations with the European Union, after Bern in May abruptly ended years of talks aimed at sealing a cooperation agreement with Brussels.

As president, Parmelin delivered the bad news, but Cassis was widely blamed in the media for the debacle and accused of minimising the fallout from the rift with the country’s biggest trading partner.

During Wednesday’s rubber-stamp vote, the parliament also elected Health Minister Alain Berset to serve as vice president next year, positioning him to become president in 2023.

As the main face of Switzerland’s Covid response, Berset has faced widespread abuse by those opposed to measures and restrictions, and has even faced death threats.

Opponents slammed a requirement to present a so-called Covid certificate to enter many public venues, claiming it created an “apartheid” system.

They triggered a referendum last month against the law behind the pass, but following a tense campaign marked by unprecedented levels of hostility in the usually tranquil country, 62 percent of voters came out to support it.

Cassis voiced optimism Wednesday that the divisions could be healed, insisting the Swiss could rise to the challenge and would find themselves “stronger and more united than ever.”

A medical doctor by training, Cassis will be only the fifth politician from Switzerland’s Italian-speaking minority to serve as president.

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ZURICH

Why does Zurich airport want to extend its two runways?

Voters in the canton of Zurich will head to the polls on March 3rd to decide whether two of Zurich airport’s runaways will be lengthened. But why do some argue there is a need to do it?

Published: 14 February 2024 10:06 CET
Why does Zurich airport want to extend its two runways?

Why is there a need to lengthen Zurich airport’s runways?

Following a close call involving two Swissair aircraft almost colliding on take-off in March 2011, a review by the government found that lengthening the runways would result in improved safety outcomes.

Proponents of the plan – including airport management and the federal government – suggest that lengthening two runways by 480 metres and 200 metres would result in better flight punctuality, and reduced noise at night.

The Board of Airline Representatives in Switzerland say the pan is not to increase airport capacity – meaning more flights, which would be unpopular, but that lengthening runways would allow the airport to operate its runways, “but rather at reducing the complexity of the runway system, thus enhancing safety.”

“The entire airport community will have a better and saver infrastructure and environment,” the board argues.

And those who are against it?

Opponents – including the Green Party – base their rejection on the perception that construction work on the runway would cause environmental damage, heavier aircraft using the airport would create more pollution and more noise.

Will the vote be passed?

Zurich’s cantonal council already approved the extension plans in September 2023, passing 87 to 83.

However, Switzerland’s direct democracy means that issues of cantonal and federal importance can be subject to a referendum based on popular support, usually determined by the collection of signatures.

However, plans for the extension are likely to succeed, due to the population’s traditional support for extensions or modifications to the airport.

Zurich (Airport code ZRH) is Switzerland’s largest airport and a key entry point to the country. Some 241,005 aircraft either took off or landed at the airport in 2023 and in January 2024 alone, over 1,959,580 passengers passed through. 

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