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Bound in Valais German
Talk as if your beak has grown: that is what SVP Landraad Lukas Reimann (41) dreamed of. He proposed that in future national council members would be allowed to vote in Swiss German in the Council. It was not only the French-speaking Swiss who did not think this was a good idea. Center faction leader Philipp Matthias Bregy (45) from Upper Valais immediately demonstrated what could happen to the council – and recited a poem in the broadest “Wallisertian”:
«Fascht üsser Atu heintsch alli glosut,
what the Tunic Ettro plays there;
and the Tschifru-Muri the nim’ gitosut,
and that Kathri tells us Christz.
And the Müehma Sänza rides a churru,
anoints d’Luwisa äschubleichi chunt;
I want a quick quote from Chilchuturru
‘It’s just twelve o’clock, the violin hour!’
The room was in an uproar. And Reimann’s initiative was defeated by 164 votes to 20.
For a glass of Amherd
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A discussion about the Information Security Act does not necessarily promise the best entertainment. But when a few bottles of wine come into play, things look different. During the debate last September, the Green Glarus state councilor Mathias Zopfi (40) promised his council colleague Hans Wicki (59, FDP) from Nidwalden “not just a bottle of wine”, but “a box of six with a golden “Mäscheli” on it and also a watch ‘If he showed him where in the new law it said what Wicki claimed.
He did not let that discourage him. “The bet still stands,” he said. If the court were to one day rule as he now predicts, “I would expect the bottle, but only a bottle with a gauze pad.” With such tasty promises, Valais federal councilor Viola Amherd (61) immediately became thirsty: “Off the record I would like to say: when the bottles open, I would like to be there too!”
Missed your own farewell
SVP Council Member Roger Köppel (58), who has since resigned, was particularly notable for his absence from the National Council. He repeatedly topped the inglorious list of the biggest truants in the Federal Palace. Yes, he even missed his own farewell! As is tradition, Martin Candinas (43), President of the National Council, personally recognized all retiring parliamentarians on the last day of the old legislature. When the topic came to the editor-in-chief of “Weltwoche”, there was a lot of laughter: “Roger Köppel has been excused from today’s meeting,” said Candinas. You could say: at least consistent.
Köppel and technology
But Köppel also provided a lot of entertainment for those present in 2023. In order not to exceed speaking time, Köppel set a timer on his mobile phone during an EU debate in the spring session. Of course this happened quickly and somehow couldn’t be finished.
“Wait a minute, I have to turn off this phone and I don’t know how to do that now,” he said to SP colleague Roger Nordmann (50) when he wanted to ask a question. “I’m completely overwhelmed. But only technologically.” Nordmann simply said: “Maybe it’s Brussels.”
Dad, the operator
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Outgoing Chancellor Walter Thurnherr (60) is known for his humorous and witty speeches. In 2022, he gave a high school graduation speech titled “Fart Proud!” for high school students in Glarus. (“Sketch proudly!”). His closing speech on the day of the elections for the Federal Council also caused a lot of laughter in the room. When his son was 7 years old, he proudly said at dinner that he wanted to be an excavator operator, Thurnherr said. «I nodded in agreement and asked him if he actually knew what my job was. “Yes, Dad,” he replied without hesitation, “you’re an operator.”
Federal Council broken
As president of the Council of States, Brigitte Häberli-Koller (65) had the task of chairing the meetings in the small chamber this year. Giving speakers the floor, keeping an eye on the time and ensuring peace in the room: it is a job that is sometimes reminiscent of the duties of a teacher. There was laughter when Häberli unintentionally cut off Federal Councilor Albert Rösti (56) in September. She believed that Rösti had completed his vote on the next step in the expansion of national roads after 15 minutes – and that the Federal Council had just taken a breather. “Can I come to the conclusion?” Rosti asked with amusement. Okay, but accelerate!
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
