A table in front of a three-part window front; sitting, standing and gesticulating around a man in the middle. This description applies to two images: Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper – and the photo of the Federal Council 2023.
Well, there are more people on Da Vinci’s masterpiece, but otherwise there are plenty of parallels. The resemblance between the two images is not without some irony. According to Federal President Alain Berset (50), the photo of the Bundesrat should show “that the members of the Bundesrat, despite different points of view, work well together and work together for Switzerland”, Da Vinci’s Last Supper shows the moment when Jesus prophesied to his disciples the night before his crucifixion: “One of you will betray me.”
Betrayal instead of cooperation
If you look back at the past weeks and months, the reference is not a bad one – albeit unconsciously: the mood in the state government was bad and marked by mistrust, which was heard everywhere. The intrigue surrounding the Federal Council elections in early December and division of departments was more reminiscent of ice-cold power politics and intrigue than of “joint efforts for Switzerland”. Berset in particular came under the wheels quite a bit.
The symbolic allusions also speak for a relationship of the images. The significance of even the tiniest finger pointing at Da Vinci has been disputed for centuries, but Federal Council of Vaud photographer Matthieu Gafsou’s photo is also bursting with symbolism.
compass and constitution
In the photo taken in the Bernerhof, the ‘home’ of the new finance minister and strong woman in the government, Karin Keller-Sutter (59), the seven members of the Federal Council and Chancellor Walter Thurnherr (59) form a college but also interaction in small groups.
According to the press release, the landscape in the background is intended to symbolize the outside world and “the actions of the Federal Council with those of the people.” On the table are a compass, a map of Switzerland and a bound copy of the federal constitution – also symbolic. 2023 celebrates the constitution and celebrates its 175th anniversary. A poem by Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz is written on the sheets of paper flying around the room. They are said to represent the chaos and tension in the world.
Ambitious student, strong man
For the first time, the two new federal councilors can also be seen in the official photo of the state government – and the symbolism is not very flattering, at least for SP woman Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (58): While she is diligently notes as a new student who still has to learn, SVP man Albert Rösti (55) is already fully integrated and sometimes bangs his hand on the table.
However, the strong personality in the photo is Defense Minister Viola Amherd (60). She supports her hands energetically on the table, the leather lapel of her jacket underlines the role of the ruler. Even President Berset, in whose place Jesus sits in Da Vinci’s painting, looks up to his Vice President.
And even the fact that water glasses in the shape of chalices are on the table can be taken as a reference to the biblical story. The big question that remains unanswered: which of the federal councilors is the traitor Judas?