Christmas time is donation time! This also applies to Ignazio Cassis (61), who is stepping down as Federal President. The Ticino resident can donate up to CHF 5,000 from the presidential fund “in support of those in need or charitable organizations”. Entirely at your own discretion.
The FDP magistrate donated the piece to Swiss Solidarity in the spring – for the benefit of the Ukrainian people. Swiss Solidarity has so far raised nearly 130 million francs. The 5,000 francs is a relatively small contribution, but with a great symbolic effect.
“Terrible War”
“The terrible war in Ukraine has shaped me and my presidential year,” Cassis explained to Blick. “When millions of Ukrainians had to flee their homeland, I felt it was important to set an example.” On the national day of solidarity in favor of the Ukrainian people, he witnessed “the incredible solidarity” of the Swiss, the Ticino resident recalls. “It was heartwarming to see how much solidarity we showed with Ukraine: more than 50 million francs were collected that day – more than ever before!”
At the same time, many Swiss households took in refugees from Ukraine. “I am proud to be president of a country that shows so much solidarity,” said Cassis. “In the Ukrainian capital Kiev, I was able to see with my own eyes how much the Ukrainian population depends on our support.”
The foreign minister is referring to his trip to Kiev in October, where he also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (44). Earlier, Cassis had visited the settlements of Ivankiv and Borodyanka in the Kiev region. He was “shocked by the offensive war against civilian infrastructure and touched by the resilience of the Ukrainians”.
For young people, women’s shelters or mountain people
The so-called presidential donation has a long tradition. The respective federal presidents are pushing for the grant to be made to institutions that are important to them.
Last year, SVP federal councilor Guy Parmelin (63) took into account six aid organizations in different language areas of Switzerland, with the majority of the presidential donation benefiting young people in difficulty. Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (62) sent the 2020 Christmas biscuits to women’s shelters. Because during her studies in Freiburg she herself worked in a women’s shelter.
The presidential donation from Finance Minister Ueli Maurer (72) previously benefited Swiss mountain aid. SP magistrate Alain Berset (50), who will assume the role of federal president again next year, took into account three social and cultural institutions in his home canton of Freiburg in his first year as president in 2018.