Such an honorary conferral of the passport has no basis in Swiss law, the Federal Justice Office announced on Tuesday, after it was contacted by the daily Südostschweiz newspaper.
The idea of honorary citizenship was reportedly raised by current Swiss President Ueli Maurer earlier this summer.
Maurer asked his government colleagues to consider Schwab, 81, for the honour as the World Economic Forum (WEF) prepares for its 50th edition next January in Davos. The idea was also initially discussed by officials at the regional and federal level after the 2019 WEF.
This came despite the fact that there is no tradition in Switzerland of granting national titles or awards. The idea was even questioned by the chairperson of Maurer’s political group, the right-wing People’s Party: “Mr Schwab’s services are undisputed, but the award of honorary Swiss citizenship to individuals is un-Swiss,” Albert Rösti told the SonntagsZeitungExternal link in August.
Schwab himself, who is German and a long-term resident of the commune of Cologny in Geneva – where WEF is headquartered – has consistently turned down the thought of applying for Swiss citizenship.
In an emailed statement, Schwab said that he has lived in Switzerland for more than 60 years and feels at home and rooted in the country. However, he indicated that he has never applied for Swiss citizenship and “always felt like a European with my national identity being secondary.”
According to the WEF websiteExternal link, Schwab holds 17 honorary doctorates, as well as national medals of honour including the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun of Japan, the Grand Cross with Star of the National Order of Germany and the Knight of the Légion d’Honneur of France. He was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
More
More
Switzerland mulls honorary citizenship for WEF founder Schwab
This content was published on
According to the newspaper, Maurer has asked his Swiss cabinet colleagues to consider conferring the honour on the German citizen. This would be an unusual move as Switzerland has no tradition of awarding national titles or awards. The idea is reportedly being supported by the canton of Graubünden, which has hosted WEFExternal link’s flagship event…
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Swiss helicopter rescue pioneers safe autopilot approach system
This content was published on
Swiss air rescue company Rega has received approval for a new kind of instrument flight system for approaching a hospital.
Algerian to face trial in Switzerland for ties to Islamic State
This content was published on
A 51-year-old Algerian man has been charged by the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office for involvement in the banned terrorist group.
Sylvain Saudan, ‘skier of the impossible’, dies aged 87
This content was published on
The Swiss father of extreme skiing pioneered descents from the Alps to the Himalayas – and became the sport’s first star.
Hayek family buys additional Swatch shares for nearly CHF11 million
This content was published on
Following the acquisition of registered shares worth over CHF20.6 million on Monday, the Hayek family made another purchase on Tuesday.
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.
Read more
More
Switzerland mulls honorary citizenship for WEF founder Schwab
This content was published on
According to the newspaper, Maurer has asked his Swiss cabinet colleagues to consider conferring the honour on the German citizen. This would be an unusual move as Switzerland has no tradition of awarding national titles or awards. The idea is reportedly being supported by the canton of Graubünden, which has hosted WEFExternal link’s flagship event…
This content was published on
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is set to expand with the addition of 120 staff and a new wing to its Geneva headquarters.
Rising accommodation costs threaten Switzerland’s WEF host status
This content was published on
The World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos could be forced to move from Switzerland if accommodation costs continue to rise, its founder warns.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
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.