“Friends”. “Give me your data and I’ll become your friend”. Facebook, the world's largest social media company, has drawn criticism and global scrutiny since disclosing earlier this year that a third-party personality quiz distributed on Facebook gathered profile information on 87 million users worldwide and sold the data to British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. (Patrick Chappatte for NZZ am Sonntag)
Patrick Chappatte NZZamSonntag
Presidential election. In March, Vladimir Putin was decisively re-elected (76.7% of votes) as Russia’s president for 2018-2024. (Ernst Mattiellon for "Schweiz am Wochenende")
Ernst Mattiellon Schweiz am Wochenende
2018 was the hottest year in most parts of the country since systematic weather record keeping was introduced in 1864. While many Swiss enjoyed the high summer temperatures, large numbers of fish suffered in the warm rivers and streams. Many had to be transferred to cooler waters. (Stefan Haller for "Nebelspalter")
Stefan Haller Nebelspalter
“Hi, guys. I’ve got fresh supplies”. The Swiss government eases arms export rules. In summer the Swiss government decided to loosen arms export rules to allow sales to countries embroiled in civil wars. Following criticism, the Swiss government did a u-turn on the arms exports in October. Here, cartoonist Gabriel Giger uses an image of the Swiss mercenary who used to hire out services to foreign powers. (Gabriel Giger for "Walliser Bote")
Gabriel_Giger_Walliser_Bote
Red lines. Throughout the year, Switzerland and the EU wrestled over negotiations for an “institutional framework” agreement aimed at cementing future ties. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis called into question certain Swiss red lines that had been laid down, such as those concerning accompanying measures for wage and worker protection. (Peter Schrank for "Basler Zeitung")
Schrank, Basler Zeitung
2018 was a year of scandal for PostBus, a subsidiary of the Swiss Post. In February, it emerged that PostBus – known for its alpine network of yellow commuter buses – had manipulated accounts between 2007 and 2015 to pocket millions in federal and cantonal subsidies. CEO Susanne Ruoff was forced to quit in June. (Orlando Eisenmann for "Der Bund")
Orlando Eisenmann Der Bund
Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of Swedish furniture retailer IKEA and for years the wealthiest person in Switzerland, passed away on January 27, aged 92. For decades, the Swedish businessman lived in canton Vaud, where he benefited from a lump-sum taxation agreement. (Silvan Wegmann for "Handelszeitung")
Silvan Wegmann Handelszeitung
Arm wrestling at the White House. (Vincent L'Epée for "Arc presse")
Vincent L'EpeÌe Arc presse
Hot summers, European Union-Swiss talks and Donald Trump. Here is a selection of the people and events inside and outside Switzerland that caught the attention of Swiss political cartoonists this year.
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Each year since 2008, Bern’s Museum for CommunicationExternal link has exhibited the cartoons of around 50 artists who work mostly for Switzerland’s main newspapers. The current exhibition runs until February 10, 2019. The best cartoon of the year, decided by visitors, will receive a prize.
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How do you draw a country like Switzerland?
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It is not easy to sum up a country with four linguistic regions in a cartoon and ensure it makes sense to an international readership.
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