Today the WEF starts in Davos – (almost) the entire Federal Council is present Nursing shortage in Switzerland – Senior Council sharply criticizes the Federal Council

The World Economic Forum (WEF) starts today in Davos in the canton of Graubünden. Federal councillors Guy Parmelin and Albert Rosti will meet the German Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck. The opening speech is given by the Federal President Alan Berset but only on tuesday.

The many discussion rounds and panels will not take place until Tuesday. However, the program will begin on Monday evening with a ceremony recognizing the work of personalities for their exceptional commitment to advancing environmental protection, food security and climate change. The starting point for this year is: “Collaboration in a fragmented world”.

Almost the entire Bundesrat at the WEF

More than 2,700 political and business representatives from 130 countries will gather over the next five days. This year, 52 heads of state and government want to participate. Among them is almost the entire Bundesrat: according to the program of government members published by the federal government, only Minister of Justice Elisabeth Baume-Schneider will not participate in the WEF. Other guests from the international political elite include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish President Andrzej Duda and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

There are also about 600 CEOs or representatives of the world’s largest companies. WEF’s partner companies include ABB, AIG, Blackrock, JP Morgan, Glencore, Novartis, Walmart and Amazon. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has no interest in attending this year.

The American universities of Princeton, Stanford and Harvard, as well as the British universities of Cambridge and Oxford, ETH Zurich and the University of Tokyo also belong to the WEF community. The most important meetings between the world’s political and business elite take place behind closed doors.

Thousands of police and military personnel from all over Switzerland and neighboring countries are on hand to ensure security. The federal government and the cantons estimate the additional costs for this at around CHF 9 million. The operation is financed from the regular budget of the Ministry of Defense (DDPS).

300 demonstrators demand climate tax

Even before the World Economic Forum officially opened, some 300 people demonstrated for climate justice in Davos on Sunday.

The organizers said the WEF and its members could never keep their promises and instead only cheered on the climate crisis and global inequality. They called for a climate tax on the super-rich and debt relief for southern countries. (con/sda)