For years we argue, yell at each other, the plates are smashed, there is a “kick”. At some point it becomes clear that a divorce is needed. Then there is rest.
But shortly before the divorce date, the quarrel starts again. Then it’s about money. Especially if the partner takes this money to the new one.
In this case to the canton of Jura, the ex-wife’s name is Moutier. Unnoticed by the public, Bern and Jura disagree over the cost of moving the municipality from the Bernese Jura to the canton of Jura.
The youngest is close by
According to information from Blick, Bern wants to give less of the money it receives from the financial liquidation than the Jura would like. But the youngest canton of Switzerland – like so many young people – is often strapped for cash. He would like more support from Father State. According to unconfirmed information, it is about five million francs. According to reports, Bern only wants to pay 24 million instead of 29 million.
Now the federal government must arbitrate. The Ministry of Justice, led by Karin Keller-Sutter (58), is – for the time being – responsible. In January, the newly elected Federal Council member Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (58) will take over the department, the full Federal Council decided on Thursday.
Attacks by the Béliers were a long time ago
Baume cutter? Isn’t that the Jura woman who campaigned for the entire Bernese Jura to be moved to her canton? Precisely! – A constellation in which some Bernese wonder whether the FDJP can make impartial decisions.
A renewed flare-up of the Jurassic issue must be avoided. The attacks of the Jurassic separatists, the Béliers, were a long time ago (see box). With the election of Baume-Schneider, Switzerland has finally reached the canton.
The canton of Jura was founded on January 1, 1979. The conflict between the French-speaking separatists and the canton of Bern, which flared up again after World War II, was finally going to end – but to this day it is not over.
The dispute goes back a long way: at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, parts of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel were transferred to the canton of Bern. Since then, many in the Bernese Jura regions have felt oppressed by the German-speaking majority in the canton.
The great anger at the Bernese became apparent in January 1993: a 21-year-old separatist wanted to plant a bomb in Bern’s town hall, but it went off too early on the edge of the old town. The young man died as a result. He was Bélier, a member of the militant separatist youth organization.
As a result, the canton of Jura, Bern and the federal government entered into a dialogue to resolve the Jura conflict. But there are still efforts to bring communities from the Bernese Jura to the canton of Jura.
On March 28, 2021, a majority in Moutier voted for the last time to change canton. “The legal question has been solved!”, was shouted afterwards.
But it is not that simple: there is currently a discussion about when the canton change should take place. And for money from the national financial settlement system. Sermin Faki
The canton of Jura was founded on January 1, 1979. The conflict between the French-speaking separatists and the canton of Bern, which flared up again after World War II, was finally going to end – but to this day it is not over.
The dispute goes back a long way: at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, parts of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel were transferred to the canton of Bern. Since then, many in the Bernese Jura regions have felt oppressed by the German-speaking majority in the canton.
The great anger at the Bernese became apparent in January 1993: a 21-year-old separatist wanted to plant a bomb in Bern’s town hall, but it went off too early on the edge of the old town. The young man died as a result. He was Bélier, a member of the militant separatist youth organization.
As a result, the canton of Jura, Bern and the federal government entered into a dialogue to resolve the Jura conflict. But there are still efforts to bring communities from the Bernese Jura to the canton of Jura.
On March 28, 2021, a majority in Moutier voted for the last time to change canton. “The legal question has been solved!”, was shouted afterwards.
But it is not that simple: there is currently a discussion about when the canton change should take place. And for money from the national financial settlement system. Sermin Faki
Baume-Schneider says nothing
It would be an irony of history if the choice of the Jurassic alone led to renewed arguments. The sympathetic neo-Federal Councilor does not want to say to Blick whether she wants to withdraw from the legal issue. “I’m not in office yet,” she says. It is not appropriate to say anything.
At the Ministry of Justice, which will take over the SP politician in three weeks, the Federal Office for Justice (FOJ) is the responsible point of contact. It informed that with Moutier’s transfer to the Jura the Jura issue was closed. “It is now up to the cantons and local stakeholders to settle the various outstanding issues in the interest of the population.” However, the federal government is still available for mediation.
And then the FOJ admits, “The role of the Attorney General will be clarified at a later date.”
Content Confidential
When asked, the canton of Bern only says that talks between the cantons are well advanced. But the canton admits that these talks “also include the issue of financial settlement”.
Although the change of canton is scheduled for 2026, “the detailed content of the negotiations between the governments and their timetable are confidential until the decisions of the two governments are available,” Bern notes.
In the Jura it sounds similar: the negotiations were calm and constructive – and “with the utmost confidentiality”. But the Jura also confirms that questions of financial settlement are a problem.
Perhaps Baume-Schneider can ensure that the legal question suddenly no longer arises. As she told the newspaper “Bund” in 2013, in her youth she disliked the Bernese dialect and when shopping in the village shop she “pretended as if I did not understand a word of German”. Meanwhile, she likes to speak Swiss German. So she could build bridges.