Swiss government photo for 2021 emphasises cohesion
The Federal Council photo for 2021 shows the seven cabinet members and the Federal Chancellor as a unit. The parliament building in Bern can be seen in the background.
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La foto del Gobierno de Suiza del 2021 con énfasis en la cohesión
“It is important to me that in these difficult times we take a new look at seemingly immovable things together and impartially. Doing this, we make a concrete contribution to the cohesion of our country,” said Economics Minister Guy Parmelin, who takes over the rotating Swiss presidency for 2021 on January 1, in a statement.
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New president says Switzerland ‘always puts the health of its population first’
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Guy Parmelin will assume the rotating Swiss presidency for the first time on January 1. He’s going to have a tough year.
Parmelin is in the centre of the picture smiling, with Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (who will become vice-president) to his right.
The remaining Federal Councillors are (from left) Defence Minister Viola Amherd; Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications Minister Simonetta Sommaruga; Finance Minister Ueli Maurer; Interior Minister Alain Berset; and Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter. Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr is on the right of the photo.
Photographer Markus Jegerlehner used a drone to take the image with a special permit during the lockdown in May.
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New Year’s photos from the Swiss government
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The group photo of the Swiss Federal Council is an annual ritual. It is not just a souvenir but also captures the ambitions through symbolism.
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Swiss cinemas report drop in admissions in first half of 2024
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The decline in cinema-goers has continued so far this year. Swiss films and smaller cinemas are holding up better than big US productions and multiplex.
Spread of Japanese beetle leads to lawn-watering bans in Basel
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Basel City authorities have extended an infestation zone with strict guidelines to a good third of the canton’s territory.
Bad weather forces closure of many Swiss hiking trails
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Some 620 trails are still closed due to the extreme weather this summer, with the canton of Valais particularly hard hit.
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The two cities have beaten off Zurich and Bern to make it onto the shortlist to host the Europe-wide singing extravaganza next May.
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Construction expenditure rose by 0.3% last year in nominal terms, but the price-adjusted situation reveals a 2.5% drop, statistics show.
Another body found in southern Switzerland after June storms
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The body found in the Maggia river in Ticino on Thursday is “likely” to be the sixth victim of storms last month, police said.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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What does the Swiss chancellor actually do?
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“Are there now eight members in the Swiss government?” is what readers ask us every year when the new photo of the Federal Council appears.
Switzerland’s 19 living ex-presidents: a world record
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Nineteen former Swiss presidents are still alive. What does this record say about the country’s political stability and leadership?
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.