His last big trip as a federal councilor takes him to Oman: 21 cannon shots for Berset

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As soon as he boards the Federal Council plane, which is still on the tarmac in Belp BE, Alain Berset (51) exchanges his suit for a blue shirt, which he unbuttons. The atmosphere on board is relaxed. It is the birthday of head of communications Christian Favre and Berset takes the opportunity to toast with his wife Muriel, his bodyguard and members of the delegation.

After three legislative periods, Alain Berset has announced his resignation. He’s not nostalgic, he says. ‘Why should I regret anything? I gave it my all and achieved everything I had to do.” Twenty years of federal politics has been a privilege. “I came to the Federal Council when I was 39. From that moment on it was clear to me that there was a beginning and an end and that this end would come within eight to twelve years.”

Bare feet on the carpet

After a short overnight stay in Abu Dhabi we head to the south of the Arabian Peninsula. Oman and Switzerland celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. Berset, now in a statesman’s suit, with a concentrated expression and small glasses on his nose, marks the notes prepared for him as Federal President on board the Falcon 900. His diplomatic advisor once again points out the intricacies of the Omani protocol, after which Berset steps onto the red carpet on the asphalt of the capital Muscat.

The 68-year-old Sultan Haitham bin Tariq is doing everything he can for Berset’s visit: the roads are closed so that the Mercedes convoy can drive to the royal palace. There are forty horsemen of the royal guard stationed there. The national anthem is sung on the palace grounds, followed by 21 cannon shots. In the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Berset can marvel at the largest chandelier in the world and walk barefoot on the 60 by 70 meter hand-woven carpet. Nothing is too good to say «His Excellency Dr. Alain Berset,” as the protocol puts it.

Bling in Dubai

In the evening there is the magnificent state banquet in the royal palace. The musicians, hidden behind traditional wooden grilles, the Mashrabiyyas. The dishes reflect Omani, Afghan and Iranian influences. But be careful, the meal only starts when the sultan discreetly gives the signal. What does the SP minister think of this lavish reception? «You know, I feel comfortable everywhere and adapt to the environment. Whether at a state banquet, an aperitif with the population or at a large conference. You can’t do politics if you don’t like contact with people. We discussed institutional and personal issues with the sultan. These types of meetings make it possible to bring humanity and depth to the diplomatic relationship.”

The tranquility and sophistication of Oman is followed by the bling-bling of Dubai. The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in the city of climate sins. Of all people, Sultan Al Jaber, the local minister of industry and chairman of the state oil company’s board of directors, sits in the chairmanship. He leads negotiations between 200 countries. “I understand the concerns about this location and the size of the event,” says Berset. “There are two options for the critics: either you propose an alternative. But which? Or there are no more meetings. And that would be a catastrophe.”

170 heads of state and 80,000 participants throng Expo City. The Minister of the Interior jogs from one meeting to the next: two fifteen-minute bilateral talks with UN Secretary General António Guterres and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He then reaffirms Switzerland’s membership of the G7 climate club. He then takes part in a conversation about financing the fight against climate change. In between, Berset finds his way through the icy, refrigerated corridors of Expo City thanks to an usher who points him in the direction. And if things don’t go as fast as Berset, the former French-speaking Swiss junior champion simply sprints in the 800 meters.

Berset will give a speech to his colleagues from all over the world and will put the finishing touches to this event in the VIP area. The greats of the world are crowding out. Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, talks to Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on a beige couch. Tony Blair, the former British Labor leader, is also there. And John Kerry, the US president’s special envoy for climate protection, walks briskly through the salon as Bill Gates is followed by photographers.

“The change of pace will be brutal”

Then comes Berset’s performance: the guest from Switzerland takes the stage to make a plea for climate protection. “This is the last moment to act, the last moment if we really want to achieve our goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Yet you almost get the impression that a certain fatal accident is spreading, a feeling that not everyone really believes in it anymore. And this is not good news.” Berset promises that Switzerland will provide around 170 million francs to the countries most affected by climate change.

After the marathon of the past few days, the question arises in the car from Dubai to Abu Dhabi: is the Federal President afraid of an empty calendar? “The change of pace will be brutal. Maybe it will be more difficult than I think,” says Berset. “But I find it interesting that I can almost observe myself from the outside. I see it as an experiment.”

And what will he miss most? «My team and the intellectual stimulation. The overlapping topics and elements that you have to deal with at the same time, with a fairly high degree of complexity.” Is that the condition for his next job? Berset laughs: “I will definitely look for things that satisfy this hunger.” He does not want to say more about future projects. Oh yeah. He has already bought a new pair of skis.

Editor: Lynn Scheurer

Source:Blick