US President Obama impresses the Hallenstadion

class=”sc-3778e872-0 cKDKQr”>

There was a lot of laughter on Saturday in the Hallenstadion in Zurich-Oerlikon. The special thing about it was the person who made the audience laugh. Because on the podium in Zurich was none other than the 44th president of the US – Barack Obama (61).

The former US president has invited to an “Evening with President Barack Obama”. Or in the words of the German moderator Klaas Heufer-Umlauf (39), who led the evening: “An evening that we will not forget for a long time.”

At 8 p.m. sharp and with thunderous applause, the audience welcomed Obama. “It’s an honor to be here”, he said his first words to the Swiss audience in the hall. For some very well-paid ranks – tickets cost up to 564 Swiss francs – Obama then chattered from the sewing box.

The US is a steamboat, not a speedboat

What is it like to be president of the US? “The Oval Office is smaller than it looks on TV,” the Democrat joked as usual. That’s how he got the first laugh – many more were to follow that night. At the latest with an anecdote about his two daughters Malia (24) and Natasha (21) from their teenage years, the laughter erupted again.

However, serious subjects were also discussed in the further course of the performance. Obama admits that there are many machines behind the US government. Moving this machine is harder than you think. “When you turn the wheel of this ocean liner, it doesn’t change direction as quickly as a speedboat.”

He is particularly concerned that democracies around the world are going astray. For Obama, however, there is a very concrete solution: “Give young people hope. Get them on board and show them what our system should actually look like.” Because: “You can’t make change if you don’t have hope.”

However, Obama sidestepped the big, topical issues as skillfully as if he were traveling in a speedboat, not a steamboat. The war in Ukraine was only mentioned in passing. “What Putin is doing with this war – humanity is lost.” The US presidential election was also not mentioned.

Evening with Obama? Hour with Obama!

However, the “Evening with Obama” turned into just an “Hour with Obama” – much to the chagrin of the guests. Moderator Klaas asked the man one last question: “How do you want people to remember you?” Obama’s response was quick: “Like a good father. good husband. good citizen. Someone who makes mistakes and learns from them.”

He is sure that one day he will think about how he was in the park with his daughters. “It was a day worth living for.” Those in power, like Putin who dropped a bomb on a children’s hospital, often forget that.

When asked about his political ancestry, Obama declined to name the Nobel Peace Prize or any similarity. It’s still too early for an obituary anyway, the 61-year-old said cheerfully, which made him laugh again.

Obama then said goodbye as punctually as he appeared. He left the stage shortly after 9pm – the thunderous applause that greeted him at the start of his performance was in no way decimated.

Source: Blick