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How a meaty Swiss political speech went viral

Hans-Rudolf Merz, a former Swiss finance minister and president who turned 75 on Friday, was largely unknown outside Switzerland – until he became an internet sensation in 2010. 

Millions of people around the world watched as Merz got the giggles during a bureaucratic speech about imports of Bündnerfleisch, a sort of cured meat from canton Graubünden. Subtitles are not necessary to enjoy Merz struggling to keep it together as other parliamentarians also crack up…

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