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LOW-KEY BURKHALTER

POLITICS

Swiss leader’s commute turns Twitter sensation

A photo showing Swiss President Didier Burkhalter waiting for a train at Neuchâtel station, alone and without bodyguards, made waves on Twitter on Thursday, receiving 800 retweets around the world.

Published: 4 September 2014 17:44 CEST
Swiss leader's commute turns Twitter sensation
Didier Burkhalter's casual approach to travelling around Switzerland caused a stir on Twitter. Photo: David Mdzinarishvili/Pool/AFP

The photograph was taken by a journalist from newspaper Le Temps, Serge Jubin, and posted on Facebook with an accompanying comment that suggested an innate Swissness in Burkhalter’s ability to act like any other member of the public when out and about.

“Switzerland: marvellous country where the president of the Confederation can cheerfully tap away on his smartphone on the platform at Neuchâtel station amongst other train users…”

The photo and comment were subsequently posted on Twitter by RTS journalist Magali Philip (@magaliphilip) and then retweeted with an English comment by Zurich resident Ralph Straumann (@rastrau).

It is this English tweet that is making its way around the world, with around 800 retweets and 300 favourites by accounts from as far afield as India, Brazil and Bhutan.

Reaction to the photo has ranged from surprise to cynicism, with many feeling Switzerland’s neutrality and direct system of governance allows its president such freedom.

Nicolas Bideau, Ambassador for Swiss promotional body House of Switzerland, also retweeted the photo.

Speaking to The Local, Bideau said the photo illustrated the close relationship between the president and the people in Switzerland.

“Our country is well-known as a direct democracy. The government is able to show that it is close to the people and the people respect that [by] not annoying a member of the government in the train.”

Despite Switzerland’s reputation for isolationism, the photo shows what an open society the country has, he added.

“Sometimes people think we are a bit selfish, an island,” he told The Local. “But I think [the photo] shows the openness we have towards the people generally.”

“It also shows that Switzerland is a safe country,” he added.

Around the world, many tweeters seemed to envy such freedom for their politicians.

“Can we dream it?” tweeted Indian twitter user @mkdburman.

While Brazilian @JamilChade tweeted: “The Swiss president takes the train without security or assistant. A challenge for Brazilian politicians?”

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POLITICS

Could Geneva be first Swiss canton to grant foreign residents more voting rights?

Voters in the country’s most "international" canton Geneva will soon have their say on whether non-Swiss citizens living in their midst should have more political rights.

Published: 29 April 2024 12:19 CEST
Could Geneva be first Swiss canton to grant foreign residents more voting rights?

Foreigners are not allowed to vote on national level anywhere in Switzerland.

Though there had been attempts in the past to change this rule, the latest such move was turned down by legislators in 2022.

However, five cantons are permitting foreign residents to cast their votes in local referendums and elections: Geneva, Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, and Jura. Conditions vary from one canton to another, but in all cases a certain length of stay and a residence permit are required.

(In Zurich, a similar move was rejected in 2023).

Of the five cantons, only Neuchâtel and Jura authorise foreign residents to vote on cantonal level in addition to communal one; in the others, they can cast municipal ballots only. 

Additionally, three other cantons have similar laws on their books, but they this legislation remains mostly inactive.

Basel-City, Graubünden, and Appenzell-Ausserrhoden have authorised their communes to introduce the right to vote, the right to elect, and the right to be elected for their non-Swiss residents. 

However, only few of the communes in these cantons have actually introduced these measures.

Wait…Geneva’s foreigners already have the right to vote?

Yes, they have had this right since 2005, but only on municipal level.

However, this could change on June 9th, when Geneva residents will go to the polls to weigh in on an initiative launched by the trade unions and political left, calling for foreigners who have lived in the canton for at least eight years, to be able to vote and stand as candidates for political offices at the cantonal level.

This ‘upgrade’ to the cantonal voting rights is important, supporters argue, because it would enable foreigners to have more political impact.

“Municipal votes are quite rare, and the issues at stake are relatively limited,” the initiative committee said.

Therefore, “access to the cantonal vote will allow these same people to express their views on wider subjects that affect them on a daily basis.”

Is this  measure likely to be accepted?

No reliable forecasts exist at this point.

And while foreigners constitute nearly 40 percent of Geneva’s population — the highest proportion in Switzerland —  it will be up to Swiss citizens to decide on the outcome.

However, some members of the Geneva parliament are urging the ‘no’ vote on June 9th.

“No canton, no country, provides such generous rights to their foreigners,” the MPs from the centre parties pointed out in an interview with Tribune de Genève over the weekend.

(Neuchâtel and Jura allow voting, but not standing for election, at cantonal level).

“The only path for foreigners to obtain full political rights is through naturalisation,” the MPs added.

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