Swiss nationals who no longer live in their homeland retain a number of rights, including the right to vote and stand for election.
One of our readers, however, wonders what Swiss nationals scattered around the world contribute to Switzerland in return:
Dear Swiss Abroad, how do you respond to this?
I worked for Swiss companies in Afghanistan, Ghana, Nigeria, Thailand, Kosovo and the Geneva based UN in Jordan, Iraq, Libya. I believe that I did a lot more for Switzerland than any Swiss inside Switzerland. What would the Swiss Economy do without us? Without our work abroad Swiss export would have been a lot lower. And now in retirement I am saving Switzerland any possible 'additional social security benefits' (Ergaenzungsleistungen). Switzerand should be grateful for all retirees emigrating, it saves them millions. And yes, we must remain politically active in order to save our rights. Voting? Difficult when voting papers always reach too late. Let's hope the electronic version is coming up soon.
Before I comment, I would like to understand what the real question is. Is it: What is the monetary contribution that Swiss living abroad make to Switzerland giving them the right to vote? Or is it: Why foreign nationals living in Switzerland who pay their taxes, contribute to the pension fund etc cannot vote? I ask this because I am a Swiss living in Hong Kong who paid taxes and social security to the Hong Kong government while I worked here, am a permanent resident and Hong Kong ID card holder and can vote. There seems to be some unfairness in the government policy in Switzerland rather than unfairness of Swiss living abroad not contributing to the country, but still having the right to vote.
I consider the whole notion of "Swiss Abroad" needs to be looked at afresh. Are we including the many thousands of frontaliers - Swiss people who live across the border but work in CH?
As for the Council of Swiss Abroad, the structure has outlived its sell-by date.
It would be more relevant to have a web based interface with properly registered participants. Those taking part should have to prove they are actually Swiss, are registered with a canton and have a CH passport.
Why do we have to give something back to Switzerland?
The question should be what is Switzerland doing for us expats? We have worked hard in Switzerland for decades, paid taxes and AHV and contributed to Switzerland's prosperity.
I moved to Thailand twelve years ago as an expat. The first thing the Swiss health insurance company did was kick me out, even though healthcare costs in Thailand are much cheaper than in Switzerland.
Not long after that, my Swiss banks started hitting me with exorbitant account management fees and unfounded justifications.
The only accommodating bank was Postfinance. Always friendly, good service and reliable with moderate costs. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them once again.
No wonder it is a thorn in the side of the banking association today.
The disaster with COVID began not long afterwards.
The Swiss "Foreign Minister" came to Bangkok and gave us a hundred reasons why Switzerland could not give us a vaccine for political reasons. Thank God the USA provided us with vaccine immediately and free of charge, unbureaucratically.
We usually receive the voting documents so late that it is impossible to vote. To be on the safe side, we have been told that we cannot vote electronically.
But electronic banking has been working for years. What is the problem?
Only the Swiss government and its lobby are to blame for all these problems!
As long as Switzerland takes more care of its asylum seekers than of us expats, we hardly owe Switzerland anything.
One day we expats will unite worldwide under one roof like a trade union and then we will be a political power and can push through our concerns.
Wieso müssen wir der Schweiz etwas zurückgeben?
Die Frage sollte heißen was tut die Schweiz für uns Expats? Wir haben Jahrzehnte in der Schweiz geschuftet, nicht zu knapp Steuern und AHV bezahlt und zum Wohlstand der Schweiz beigetragen.
Ich bin vor zwölf Jahren als Expat nach Thailand gezogen. Als erstes hat mich die Schweizer Krankenkasse hinausgeworfen obwohl die Gesundheitskosten in Thailand wesentlich billiger sind als in der Schweiz.
Nicht lange danach haben mir meine Schweizer Banken zugesetzt mit exorbitanten Kontoführungsgebühren und haltlosen Begründungen.
Die einzige kulante Bank war noch die Postfinance. Immer freundlich, guter Service und zuverlässig bei moderaten Kosten. An dieser Stelle nochmals meinen herzlichen Dank.
Kein Wunder dass sie heute der Bankenvereinigung ein Dorn im Auge ist .
Nicht lange darauf begann das Desaster mit COVID.
Der Schweizer „Außenminister „ kam nach Bangkok und hat uns hundert Gründe angegeben warum uns die Schweiz aus politischen Gründen keinen Impfstoff geben kann. Gott sei Dank haben uns die USA sofort und kostenlos Impfstoff zur Verfügung gestellt, unbürokratisch .
Die Abstimmungsunterlagen erhalten wir meistens so spät, dass eine Stimmabgabe unmöglich ist. Elektronisch geht es sicherheitshalber nicht, hat man uns gesagt.
Electronic banking funktioniert aber seit Jahren. Wo ist das Problem?
An all diesen Problemen ist nur die Schweizer Regierung mit ihrer Lobby schuld!
Solange die Schweiz zu ihren Asylanten mehr Sorge trägt als zu uns Expats sind wir der Schweiz kaum etwas schuldig.
Eines Tages werden wir Expats uns weltweit unter einem Dach vereinigen wie eine Gewerkschaft und dann sind wir eine politische Macht und können unsere Anliegen durchsetzen.
I have heard similar comments from other Swiss Nationals living and working here in Hong Kong. There needs to be some serious reflection and debate on how the Swiss Government and the Swiss Banking system handles the Fifth Switzerland.
The AHV payments are not gifts from Switzerland but were financed by contributions.
The right to vote for Swiss citizens abroad will only work once the votes have been computerized.
The question remains whether Switzerland is interested in the opinion of expatriates and how important it still is for them.
In any case, retired emigrants have already done their bit for Switzerland.
I was often disturbed by the criticism (envy?) of emigrants in the media.
The critics usually have incomplete knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of emigrants.
Die AHV-Auszahlung sind keine Geschenke der Schweiz sondern wurden durch Einzahlungen finanziert.
Das Wahlrecht von Auslandschweizern wird erst funktionieren wenn die Abstimmungen mittels EDV realisiert sind.
Die Frage bleibt ob die Schweiz die Meinung der Ausgewanderten interessiert und wie wichtig es für diese noch ist.
Jedenfalls haben pensionierte Auswanderer ihre Leistung für die Schweiz bereits geleistet.
Mich störte oftmals die Kritik (Neid.?) in den Medien an Ausgewanderten.
Die Kritiker haben meistens nur unvollständige Kenntnis über die Vor- und Nachteile von Auswanderern.
"Wish you a very happy New Year to you!"
I also find it important to consider the contribution of the Swiss living on the (geographic and social) edge of Switzerland. We who live on the border (for example, I in Ticino), experience two realities; the Swiss and the Italian. We can compare and touch the two realities that converge in our living as Swiss almost abroad.
Trovo importante considerare anche il contributo degli svizzeri che vivono in svizzera, al margine (geografico e sociale) della Svizzera. Noi che viviamo sul confine (per esempio io in Ticino), viviamo due realtà; quella svizzera e quella italiana. Possiamo confrontare e toccare con mano le due realtà che confluiscono nel nostro vivere da svizzeri quasi all'estero.
Well, first of all : the "turned your back on Switzerland" is often not true at all !
Many of us who "left" live more Swiss than those who "stayed behind"...
I followed my fiancé ( a secondo ) to Vancouver in 1976 .
We started a family and all of our 3 children speak Swiss German without any gaps and we participate intensively in the Swiss Society , theater group , choir and organization at festivities ...
Several visits to the "old country" helped to maintain our precious youth friendships and to introduce our children to the familiar places , cultural sites and events !
The right to vote we appreciate / but we keep away from actively voting, because we just : no longer live THERE .
But it is very reassuring to be up to date !
Also , erstens : das mit dem “der Schweiz den Rücken gekehrt” stimmt oft überhaupt nicht !
Viele von uns “Weggezogenen” leben schweizerischer als die “Zurückgebliebenen”…
Ich folgte meinem Verlobten ( einem Secondo ) 1976 nach Vancouver .
Wir gründeten eine Familie und alle unsre 3 Kinder sprechen lückenfreies Schweizerdeutsch und wir beteiligen uns intensiv in der Swiss Society , Theatergruppe , Chor und Organisation bei Festlichkeiten …
Mehrere Besuche in der “alten Heimat” halfen unsere werten Jugendfreundschaften zu pflegen und unsern Kindern mit den uns vertrauten Orten , kulturellen Stätten und Veranstaltungen bekannt zu machen !
Das Mitstimmrecht schätzen wir zwar / halten uns aber davon fern aktiv mitzustimmen, da wir ja eben : nicht mehr DORT leben .
Es ist aber sehr beruhigend auf dem Laufenden zu sein !
My contribution: I visit Switzerland every 2 years with my grand daughters and we spend a lot of money on train rides, rental cars, hotels if needed, restaurants, gifts, fashion and more.
I do not care to much about the vote privileges, because I do not keep up with all the election needs and wants. I still have family there, and as long as they are alive, I will visit.
My Swiss wife is giving her Swiss family and friends a American view of the world, via weekly telephone calls, and monthly skypes, plus postal letters. She reads Swiss Review and lots of other international news, plus swiss.ch on the internet. She's dual citizenship and votes in both Switzerland and the disunited States. -Eric Burr, Mazama WA USA
Dear Asparagus, Great to hear it. Your wife is on a good course!
It used to be that people like me, having immigrated to Canada in the late 60 early 70, would have a close knit within this Swiss community living here, and we certainly served as good ambassadors for Switzerland. In my case I was even a cofounder of a Swiss choir (Jodelclub) and we participated in many events spreading a lot of things which were SWISS. Moving forward and with technology advancing as it did and the travelling patterns moving around in the world of ours, people at large have acquired a good knowledge of any part of our globalist planet which means that the input of the Swiss living here has become irrelevant.
Having said the above, and voicing my own opinion regarding my contribution presently in return which allows me to vote and stand for election, I have a different optic at this time of my life since I do not believe that I should place my vote for any of the issues on the agenda since I have been living over (50) years in Canada and as such, and whatever is voted on, I do not have to live the consequences.
Last but not least, I have remained very much Swiss which is displayed by the fact that I am visiting family and friends a number of times every year. I am also very grateful to have been brought up in Switzerland where I received all the tools at school which allowed me to succeed as an immigrant in Canada.
The negative part of the developments in terms of the living costs as well as the strength of the Swiss currency or for that matter the weakness of the Canadian Dollar, it is getting harder to muster the courage to travel to CH these days and the old age pension payments (AHV) for the few years I have been working in Switzerland have not increased.
Just the same I am still a very proud Swiss and I make it known at every occasion I have talking to my Canadian friends.
Not only the Swiss abroad, but also those of us who have lived and worked in CH and who are still passionately interested in everything to do with Swiss life.
However, in view of the astronomical price of everything in Switzerland, especially cost of living [meat, dairy products etc.] as well as the phenomenally ever-rising cost of health care, we could never afford to live there nowadays. It seems this applies to many people who have left. Additionally, after six years of working in CH, my AHV monthly payment is laughable at only CHF160.00, which has only increased 2.00 during 14 years [even worse than the British pension}!
I second the comment on the Swiss Pension. It is certainly not an amount that any person could reasonable live on. The Pension Find requires a rethink and reset.
Hello,
I'm very surprised by this reader's question: the premise of the question is that the Swiss abroad (there's a problem here: the Swiss abroad are not a homogeneous group, there are expatriates sent by companies/organizations/etc., migrants, dual nationals, people who live in both countries partially, with at least 6 months and one day abroad, etc.) have "abandoned" their country.
I find this wording shocking, it comes from a trial of intent, which is why I won't answer this question (and I have a lot of answers to give about what I bring to my country) until it has been reworded with a little more nuance.
Bonjour,
Je suis très étonné de l'énoncé de la question de ce lecteur: la prémisse de cette question est que les Suisses de l'étranger (déjà là, il y a un problème, les Suisses de l'étranger ne sont pas un groupe homogène, il y a des expatrié.es envoyé.es par des entreprises/organisations/etc., des migrant.es, des doubles nationaux, des personnes qui vivent dans les deux pays de manière partielle avec au moins 6 mois et un jour à l'étranger, etc) auraient "abandonné" leur pays.
Je trouve cette formulation choquante, cela part d'un procès d'intention, c'est la raison pour laquelle je ne répondrai pas à cette question (et j'ai beaucoup de réponse à donner sur ce que j'apporte à mon pays) tant qu'elle n'aura pas été reformulée avec un peu plus de nuance.
Hello, I've deliberately left the reader's question untouched, as it is indeed a little provocative. But, as you say, the reality is far more nuanced. In any case, I'd be curious to know what you think, and I hope you'll take the time to answer. :)
Bonjour, j'ai volontairement laissée intacte la question formulée par le lecteur, car elle est effectivement un peu provocante. Mais, ainsi que vous le mentionnez, la réalité est bien plus nuancée. Je serais en tout cas curieuse de connaître votre avis et j'espère que vous prendrez malgré tout le temps de répondre. :)
Hello,
Thanks for the clarification.
I exercise my right to vote in all votes and elections (I hope that my ballot paper for the second round of the elections to the Council of States will arrive in time) for several reasons:
The first may seem abstract, but it is certainly the most legitimate and universal: our nationality implies rights AND duties. I'm subject, like everyone else, to the duties of a Swiss citizen, and it seems only natural that I should also have recourse to my civic and political rights.
The others are personal: what happens in my country directly affects my family back home. So I support them in the causes that matter to them. What happens in my own country also affects me directly, since I'm linked to it through part of my professional activity from my country of expatriation to Switzerland.
To know what I bring to my country: I'm an unofficial ambassador for my country on a daily basis abroad; I make up for the lack of social and financial support for dependent people by constantly travelling back and forth between my home and my family's home to honor my role as a caregiver - which means I don't overload the network of possible helpers so that lonely people can be taken care of - ; as a first-generation expatriate, I have of course paid my taxes and AHV in Switzerland, so I have contributed to the common good and continue to do so; I shed light in Switzerland on some of the other parts of the world I visit; I support national teams and individual national sports teams, Swiss culture, Swiss transport services, gastronomy and the hotel trade when I visit parts of our beautiful country or show it to foreign acquaintances, and so on.
In short, I make the same contribution to my country as a citizen living in his canton, voluntarily and consciously.
Bonjour,
Merci de la précision.
J'exerce mon droit de vote à toutes les votations et élections (j'espère d'ailleurs que mon bulletin de vote pour le second tour des élections au Conseil des États arrivera à temps) pour plusieurs raisons:
La première peut paraître abstraite, mais elle est certainement la plus légitime et universelle: notre nationalité implique des droits ET des devoirs. Je suis soumis comme tout un chacun aux devoirs du citoyen suisse, il me semble naturel d'avoir également recours à mes droits civiques et politiques.
Les autres sont personnelles: ce qu'il se passe dans mon pays affecte directement ma famille restée au pays. Je les soutiens ainsi dans les causes qui leur importent. Ce qu'il se passe dans mon pays m'affecte aussi directement, puisque j'y suis lié en exerçant une partie de mon activité professionnelle depuis mon pays d'expatriation à destination de la Suisse.
Pour savoir ce que j'apporte à mon pays: j'en suis un ambassadeur inofficiel quotidien à l'étranger; je pallie le manque de soutien social et financier aux personnes dépendantes en faisant des allers-retours constants entre mon lieu de vie et celui de ma famille pour honorer mon rôle de proche aidant - ce qui permet de ne pas surcharger le réseau de possibilité d'aides afin que les personnes esseulées puissent être prise en charge - ; comme je suis un expatrié de première génération, j'ai bien sûr payé mes impôts et mon AVS en Suisse, j'ai donc contribué au bien commun et continue de le faire; j'apporte un éclairage en Suisse sur certaines autres parties du monde que je cotoie; je soutiens les équipes nationales et les nationaux de sports individuels, la culture suisse, les services de transports suisses, la gastronomie et l'hôtellerie lorsque je visite des coins de notre beaux pays ou que je le fais découvrir à des connaissances étrangères, etc.
En résumé, j'apporte la même chose à mon pays qu'un citoyen installé dans son canton, de manière volontaire et consciente.
Thank you very much for your detailed and pertinent reply. Just out of curiosity, may I ask what country you live in? Best regards.
merci beaucoup de votre réponse détaillée et pertinente. Simple curiosité: puis-je vous demander dans quel pays vous vivez? Cordialement.
I'm based in Germany, so I can easily cover Central and Eastern Europe.
Kind regards
Je suis basé en Allemagne ce qui me permet de couvrir facilement l'Europe centrale et de l'est.
Bien à vous
Thank you! :)
Merci ! :)
Hello, I'd like to ask you to take part in one of our "Let's talk" discussions. Would you mind if I contacted you directly at the e-mail address you provided in your profile? Kind regards
Bonjour, j'aimerais vous demander de participer à l'une de nos discussions "Let's talk". Seriez-vous d'accord que je vous contacte directement à l'adresse e-mail que vous avez renseignée dans votre profil? Bien à vous
Yes, of course!
Oui, bien sûr !
Hello, I've sent you two e-mails to the address in your profile (m**@*-**g.ch), I hope you've received them? Sincerely
Bonjour, je vous ai envoyé deux e-mails à l'adresse de votre profil (m**@*-**g.ch), j'espère que vous les avez bien reçus? Cordialement
Very well said. Thank you on behalf of all of us patriotic Swiss living abroad.
Good evening, far from our Switzerland for 14 years, I am struggling for the elections . Who. Is the potential candidate to represent us, the Swiss abroad? Thank you
Bonsoir, loin de notre Suisse depuis 14 ans, je peine pour les élections . Quel. Est le potentiel candidat pour nous représenter, nous les suisses de l'étranger ? Merci
Hello, you can find all our coverage of the federal elections on our [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/%C3%A9lections-f%C3%A9d%C3%A9rales-du-22-octobre-2023-en-suisse]SPECIAL PAGE[/url]. Here, we place particular emphasis on issues affecting the Swiss abroad. Specifically, we have published [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/qui-sont-ces-suisses-de-l-%C3%A9tranger-qui-briguent-une-place-au-conseil-national-/48814772]THIS ARTICLE[/url] on Swiss abroad candidates in the elections.
Bonjour, vous pouvez retrouver toute notre couverture des élections fédérales sur notre [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/%C3%A9lections-f%C3%A9d%C3%A9rales-du-22-octobre-2023-en-suisse]PAGE SPECIALE[/url]. Nous y mettons un accent particulier sur les thématiques qui touchent les Suisses de l'étranger. Plus concrètement, nous avons publié [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/qui-sont-ces-suisses-de-l-%C3%A9tranger-qui-briguent-une-place-au-conseil-national-/48814772]CET ARTICLE[/url] sur les candidat-es Suisses de l'étranger au élections.
The system does not provide for any member of parliament representing Swiss abroad. In theory the "Council of Swiss Abroad" is supposed to represent views of Swiss people living all over the world and has a mission to encourage the expat Swiss to vote in Swiss elections. Not very realistic when you have to send your ballot in by post. Recently this body is coming under criticism for being self-serving and unrepresentative.
I fled Switzerland in order not to end up in the social welfare trap, because the IV has declared me a malingerer! Yes, the oh so social Switzerland has managed to expel me! And there are still many things wrong, even for Swiss abroad, which is bad enough! e.g. it was not possible for me to renew my ID/passport during the Corona period, although I would have needed it here for many things! Neither the consulate abroad, nor the DFA had a solution for this! But hey they are there for me in case of emergency!? It's also great that you can't even continue to pay your AHV from an EU country like Hungary, thanks to missing contracts! And there we should have no voting rights? Although it is for many, thanks to the abolition of electronic voting, anyway no longer possible to take part in it, because the postal service, in many countries works too slowly and those in Switzerland are not able to send it earlier for these regions, which is just a joke! So yes, it is probably necessary that there still some more would have to be done, if one would take the 5th Switzerland only, in the relationship cost yes the consulates eh too much! But the questioner is actually eh only interested in whether we still tax coal!
Ich bin aus der Schweiz geflüchtet um nicht in der Sozialhilfefalle zu landen, denn die IV hat mich zum Simulanten erklärt! Ja, die ach so soziale Schweiz hat es geschafft, mich zu vertreiben! Und es ist noch vieles im Argen, auch für Auslandsschweizer, was schlimm genug ist! z.B. war es für mich nicht möglich, während der Coronazeit meine ID/Pass zu erneuern, obwohl ich die hier für Vieles gebraucht hätte! Weder das im Ausland stehende Konsulat, noch das EDA hatte dafür eine Lösung! Aber hey sie sind ja für mich da im Notfall!? Auch ist es ganz toll, dass man aus einem EU-Land wie Ungarn nicht mal mehr seine AHV weiter einbezahlen kann, dank fehlender Verträge! Und da sollen wir kein Stimmrecht haben? Obwohl es ja für viele, dank dem Abschaffen der elektronischen Wahl, eh nicht mehr möglich ist, daran Teil zu nehmen, da der Postweg, in vielen Ländern zu langsam funktioniert und die in der Schweiz nicht in der Lage sind, das früher abzusenden für diese Regionen, was einfach nur ein Witz ist! Also ja, es ist wohl erforderlich, dass da noch einiges mehr getan werden müsste, wenn man die 5. Schweiz erst nehmen würde, im Verhältnis kosten ja die Konsulate eh zu viel! Aber den Fragesteller interessiert ja eigentlich eh nur, ob wir denn noch Kohle besteuern!
I'm always astonished by this kind of relatively primitive reaction....
If I live my retirement in another country, it's also because Switzerland doesn't allow me to live financially in Switzerland. I know more and more people in this situation, forced to move abroad to live decently.
It's a facet of Switzerland ... "rich" that eliminates its poorest and most modest pensioners....and that's a dark facet of Switzerland that we don't talk much about!
So I don't benefit from Swiss welfare. Which in itself justifies my usefulness and my right to participate in Swiss politics.... to try to improve it...
Je suis toujours étonnée de ce genre de réactions, relativement primaires....
Si je vis ma retraite dans un autre pays, c'est aussi parce que la Suisse ne me permet pas de vivre financièrement en Suisse. Je connais de plus en plus de personnes dans cette situation, obligée de s'expatrier pour vivre décemment.
C'est une facette de la Suisse ..."riche" qui élimine ses plus pauvres et ses retraités modestes....et ça, c'est une facette sombre de la Suisse dont on parle peu!
Je ne profite donc pas de l'aide sociale suisse. Ce qui déjà en soi, justifie mon utilité et mon droit à participer à la politique suisse....pour tenter de l'améliorer...
Thank you for your opinion. I recommend that you read our articles on "financial" expatriation. [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/societe/pour-fuir-la-pr%C3%A9carit%C3%A9--les-seniors-choisissent-l-expatriation/46943378]CELUI-CI[/url] deals with the expatriation of seniors for financial reasons, and [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/societe/suisses-de-l-%C3%A9tranger_fuir-au-costa-rica-pour-%C3%A9viter-l-aide-sociale/45375738]CELUI-LA[/url] with expatriation to avoid welfare.
Merci pour votre avis. Je vous conseille de lire nos articles sur les expatriations "financières". [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/societe/pour-fuir-la-pr%C3%A9carit%C3%A9--les-seniors-choisissent-l-expatriation/46943378]CELUI-CI[/url] traite de l'expatriation des séniors pour des raisons financières, et [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/societe/suisses-de-l-%C3%A9tranger_fuir-au-costa-rica-pour-%C3%A9viter-l-aide-sociale/45375738]CELUI-LA[/url] de l'expatriation pour éviter l'aide sociale.
Hello
I think that we Swiss abroad are first and foremost ambassadors for our country. We're like an open window on the world, spreading the word about Switzerland all over the globe.
At work, in a French company for which I left Geneva 26 years ago, all my colleagues know my origins and often call me "Le Suisse". They are ready to recognize, through me, the commitment to seriousness and precision that characterizes Helvetians. It's part of the reason they trust me on a daily basis, and why they come to me for advice when it's time to decide on questions with vague answers.
As a first-generation expatriate, I still feel viscerally Swiss. I come back regularly and feel so much at home! I instill our country's values in my children. They are, of course, enrolled at the embassy and also take part in political life, according to their aspirations. How fortunate we are to be able, constitutionally, to participate remotely in the development of our country!
Bonjour
Je pense que nous, Suisses de l'étranger, sommes avant tout des ambassadeurs de notre pays. Nous sommes comme une fenêtre ouverte sur le monde, nous faisons connaître la Suisse partout sur la planète.
À mon travail, dans une entreprise française pour laquelle j'ai quitté Genève il y a 26 ans, tous mes collègues connaissent mes origines et m'appellent amicalement souvent "Le Suisse". Ils sont prêts à reconnaître, à travers moi, l'engagement de sérieux et de précision qui caractérise les Helvètes. C'est en partie pour cela qu'on me fait confiance au quotidien et qu'on vient me demander mon avis lorsqu'il s'agit de trancher sur des questions aux réponses trop floues.
Expatrié de première génération, je me sens toujours viscéralement suisse. Je reviens régulièrement au pays et je m'y sens tellement bien chez moi ! J'inculque à mes enfants les valeurs de notre pays. Ils sont bien sûr inscrits à l'ambassade et participent aussi, selon leurs aspirations, à la vie politique. Quelle chance nous avons de pouvoir ainsi, constitutionnellement, participer à distance à l'évolution de notre pays !
It's a question I've often asked myself. Born 78 years ago in France to a father who never wanted to give up his Swiss nationality, I've always considered Switzerland a second home. When, one day in 1968, my principal (I was a teacher at a school in Lausanne) gave me my call-up for recruit school, I felt a kind of pride and gratitude. (Due to bilateral agreements, I had to do this national service in France. In fact, abroad as a cooperant). So, what do I bring to Switzerland? Nothing, according to some of the comments. And yet that's not my feeling. And it's not just because I vote regularly, in full knowledge of the facts! But I think that by spreading around me (in France and in Africa where I live) all those values of respect, tolerance, freedom, ecology etc. etc. that my father taught me and that I used to come back to every year during my vacations in the canton of Vaud, I'm being useful to Switzerland. Many comments revolve around money. By encouraging my acquaintances to consume Swiss products, by telling them about our polytechnics, etc., I'm making my tiny contribution and I'm proud to have (also) a red passport.
C'est une question que souvent, je me suis posé. Né il y a 78 ans en France d'un père qui n'a jamais voulu abandonner sa nationalité suisse, j'ai toujours considéré la Suisse comme une deuxième patrie. Quand, un jour de 1968, mon directeur (j'étais enseignant dans une école à Lausanne) m'a donné ma convocation pour l'école de recrues, j'ai éprouvé une sorte de fierté et de reconnaissance. (En raison d'accords bilatéraux j'ai dû faire ce service national en France. En fait, à l'étranger comme coopérant) . Alors, qu'est-ce que j'apporte à la Suisse ? Rien, d'après ce que je lis dans certains commentaires. Et pourtant ce n'est pas mon sentiment. Et ce n'est pas seulement parce que je vote régulièrement; en toute connaissance de cause ! Mais je pense qu'en distillant autour de moi (en France et en Afrique où je vis) toutes ces valeurs de respect, de tolérance, de liberté, d'écologie etc etc... que m'a apprise mon géniteur et que je retrouvais chaque année pendant mes vacances dans le canton de Vaud, je suis utile à la Suisse. De nombreux commentaires tournent autour de l'argent. En incitant mes connaissances à consommer des produits suisses, en leur ventant nos écoles polytechniques, etc... j'apporte ma minuscule pierre à l'édifice et je suis fier d'avoir (aussi) un passeport rouge.
Cross-border commuter reinstated in the nationality on my father's side (Swiss grandmother), just in case it's useful one day or to show off with my identity card, I don't actually derive any benefit from it, nor do I contribute anything to Switzerland, nor should I have the right to vote, which I rarely use because of the high stamp fees. That says it all...
Frontalier réintégré dans la nationalité côté paternel (grand-mère suissesse), au cas où ça serve un jour ou pour frimer aussi avec ma carte d'identité, je n'en tire en fait aucun bénéfice, n'apporte rien non plus à la Suisse et ne devrais d'ailleurs pas avoir le droit de vote que j'utilise rarement à cause des frais de timbre élevés. Tout est dit...
Thank you for your contribution! As you yourself point out, the fact that you have the right to vote does not oblige you to use it. But the possibility exists for all Swiss citizens abroad to have the same civic rights as Swiss citizens "at home". This is an important aspect of democracy. :)
Merci de votre contribution! Comme vous le signalez vous-même, le fait que vous ayez le droit de vote ne vous oblige pas à en faire usage. Mais la possibilité existe et permet à toutes les citoyennes et citoyens suisses à l'étranger d'avoir les mêmes droits civiques que les Suisses "du pays". Il s'agit là d'un aspect important de la démocratie. :)
I came to Italy for love.
I regularly follow the news, various broadcasts and movies on the rsi channel.
I vote regularly.
I send charity to the solidarity chain because I consider it the safest and most correct.
I have searched in my province, Piacenza, through the Swiss gazette for any other compatriots in the area to make a small group. But unfortunately no one has ever announced themselves!
I regularly go to Zurich to my daughter and keep very informed about everything I knew and mute over time.
Antonella
Son venuta in Italia per amore.
Seguo regolarmente il telegiornale, varie trasmissioni e film sul canale rsi.
Voto regolarmente.
Invio beneficenza alla catena della solidarietà perché la ritengo la più sicura e corretta.
Ho cercato nella mia provincia, Piacenza, tramite la gazzetta svizzera, eventuali altri connazionali in zona per fare un piccolo gruppo. Ma purtroppo nessuno si è mai annunciato!
Vado regolarmente a Zurigo da mia figlia e mi tengo molto informata su tutto ciò che conoscevo e muta col tempo.
Antonella
Join the conversation!