“I’m still full of energy and want to keep going!”

Ruedi Studer and Daniel Balmer

Alain Berset (50) is in a hurry. The SP minister of Health is in the middle of the winter session and has to go directly to the Council of States. The reform of occupational pensions is on the agenda. Nevertheless, he takes the time for a short conversation with Blick – shortly after the elections to the Federal Council and before his next year as Federal President.

Berset is seen by many as the loser of the past week: the division of departments in the new Federal Council forces him to remain in the Interior Department, even though he would have a strong interest in the finance or foreign departments. And he did very badly in the election of the new Federal President. A hint with the fencing of the bourgeoisie that after twelve years in the Bundesrat it would be time to give up his seat in the elections at the end of 2023. Berset himself sees it differently.

Blick: Mr. Berset, you have a busy year ahead of you as Federal President 2023. How do you fuel up until then?
Alan Berset: With lots of fresh air! I spend the holidays with my family, New Year with friends. A few days in the mountains and in the snow are on the program. A little sport, music and reading – no files for once – are also part of it.

What is your motto for your presidential year?
I don’t have a motto. Usually it turns out differently. International tensions such as the war in Ukraine and living together in Switzerland after three years of the corona pandemic keep us busy. Cohesion and fun in social life will therefore be central to my presidential year.

SVP Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer was your opponent in the Corona policy. It will be easier for you as Federal President when the “troublemaker” resigns.
Oh, you know, we’re seven people and we’re not all the same. It was always exciting with my colleague Maurer – in a positive sense. The diversity of experiences, backgrounds and family differences is an asset to a concordance government. Of course, one is not immediately satisfied with every decision. If we all had the same opinion, that would be bad. We are not a feel-good committee, but love arguing and arguing. But always with respect.

In your first year as president, 2018, 19 trips abroad were on the agenda. Do you already have important trips in your agenda?
Thanks for the stats (laughs). True to tradition, the first trip is to Austria, which will also be the case for me. Next year there will be a new important task for Switzerland with a seat on the UN Security Council. I will travel as much as it takes for the country. After the pandemic years, it is important to maintain more direct contacts again. Just like in a circle of friends, a personal aperitif is different from a video call.

Are you planning a trip to Ukraine?
Not at this moment. But if necessary, we will organize such a trip.

In 2017 you were elected Federal President with 190 votes, this time only 140. How do you explain the poor result?
In any other country it would be considered an excellent result (laughs). But I didn’t expect otherwise. In between, the pandemic reigned and there were tensions in society. Not everyone was satisfied with the Federal Council’s decisions.

If you ask around, it was a civil nod that you should resign after your presidential year.
It would not be in the spirit of consensus for the other parliamentary groups to decide the fate of the federal councilors in this way. So I don’t see it as a signal. You should stay as long as you have the strength and central projects – and it will benefit the country.

Will you remain in the Bundesrat after 2023?
I have important projects that are far from over.

Are you staying longer than 2023?
My goal is clear: I want to continue working afterwards and help my files move forward. From 2023 I will be the oldest and at the same time the youngest. I’m still full of energy and want to keep going! But you also have to remain humble. Life can change quickly, as we recently experienced with Simonetta Sommaruga.

You will stay in the interior department. It was rumored beforehand that you would like to transfer to the finance or foreign affairs department. Why didn’t that work?
There is always speculation about the distribution of departments, I am not going to say anything about that. Our job is to set up the team in the way that is best for the country. My passion for EDI is still great, I really enjoy it here!

The AHV revision has passed, the corona pandemic has been overcome – what else do you want to tackle?
much more! In the health sector, there are important construction sites, such as the uniform financing of outpatient and inpatient services. This is a generational project that can eliminate many false incentives! In addition, two popular healthcare cost initiatives with counterproposals are pending. In old-age provision, the emphasis is on reforming the second pillar and improving pensions for women and people on low wages. What the States Council now wants is far removed from what the Bundesrat proposes. This is not going to be a walk.

Do you fear that Corona will become a challenge again in your presidential year?
The corona pandemic was an event of the century and an incredible challenge that we did not do badly. I am convinced that the acute phase is behind us (Berset hits wood). There will still be waves, but we are well prepared and the population has good immunity to deal with it.

Then after this strenuous Corona time with the Federal Presidency you are almost looking forward to a wellness year.
This is actually more applicable to the year in progress. The year in which we were able to get out of crisis mode. Now it’s that time again: full throttle!

You emphasize your satisfaction with staying in EDI. Your party is much less happy with the department division. The SP fears that Albert Rösti could slow down the energy transition.
As a department head, you have a certain amount of influence. But then there is always an open debate in the government, but also in parliament. To get off the path of energy transition, the entire government would have to change its mind. I don’t think that’s realistic. Switzerland is a country with great continuity, for almost 175 years. This also includes the policy of the Bundesrat.

Many see continuity in jeopardy as there will be four Latinos on the Federal Council. Should the German-speaking Swiss be afraid?
Parliament decided on this composition of the Federal Council – with full knowledge of all factors. This government has changed again and again without jeopardizing its continuity. Our settings are very stable. That is also our strength. Moreover, nowadays we are all so strongly networked that regional origin hardly plays a role anymore. The same applies to the urban-rural factor. I live in a small village myself, with a cheese dairy directly across the street – at the same time it is part of the agglomeration of Freiburg with about 100,000 inhabitants. I have also spent most of my professional life in cities. Nowadays we no longer fit into such templates, everything is open and in motion. I really don’t see a problem here.

Nevertheless, especially the bourgeois side emphasizes that a Latin majority in the Bundesrat should only exist during a transitional period. This puts pressure on you to leave your spot quickly.
Once again: Parliament has chosen this composition. That was a conscious choice that should be respected. The institutions in Switzerland are so accepted because they provide a lot of peace and stability. You have to give this government a chance to develop.

Speaking of opportunities: you are the deputy of Federal Councilor colleague Ignazio Cassis at the Foreign Affairs Department, where the relationship with the EU remains the major problem. Do you also see a chance for an early breakthrough here?
Stable relations with the EU are of crucial importance to us. That is not always easy. However, with the bilateral path we are highly integrated. You can twist and turn it however you like: geographically we are in the middle of the European continent. The ongoing exploratory talks have indeed led to developments.

Last question: You made headlines this year with your aviation. Do you have any other secret hobbies?
Not that spectacular. I also really like sailing. I have always been interested in transportation. As a child I had a model railway and my goal was to become a machinist. But I missed that.