Federal Department of Justice and Police
Bern, May 1st, 2024 – May 1st celebration on the Bundesplatz
The spoken word is valid
Dear Colleagues
Dear comrades
Dear people here on Bundesplatz
The day before yesterday a Belgian told me that Switzerland is a fascinating country. Nowhere else would you emphasize the commonality, the togetherness, when greeting someone.
Griezi each other, Sali tame
I have to tell you: I was very happy when I received the invitation to this May Day celebration.
I was a little worried that I would be invited to the Albisgüetli – at least until they realized that I wasn’t even half an SVP Federal Councilor.
I know where I belong. IM right, here.
Although: So far I have been in Basel on May 1st.
There, on the market square, things are a little different. Redder. It’s greener here. And by that I don’t mean your flags – but the Basel town hall or the Federal Palace.
And something else is different: I have to work today. Labor Day is actually a working day here. With a Federal Council meeting – especially as a leftist, that’s hard work!
I clocked out briefly and have to go back later. So my speech won’t be too long. That’s a good thing,
Because as a Federal Councilor I’m not allowed to say a lot of things anyway.
May 1st is a public holiday. In both Basel, Neuchâtel, Zurich – and in the Jura.
Elisabeth and I were – of course! – still at the Federal Council meeting. Who knows what the five of them will do without us.
Things are better for combs. We celebrate this on May 1st.
We are celebrating. And we demand: bonuses down, wages up!
For various reasons, I can’t say much about the bonuses… Except perhaps: even the entire Federal Council agrees with the goal.
Good, higher wages are important – also because everything is becoming more expensive. Protecting our wages is something we cannot do alone.
Things are better for combs.
This is also why we need strong relationships with a strong Europe.
- A Europe that has gained unity and self-confidence under the great pressure of recent years;
- A Europe that is making progress in terms of climate protection and also in terms of social policy – for example the minimum wage.
We belong to this Europe.
Why this fuss about the ECHR ruling?
I don’t want to spoil the critics of this ruling, but: This was not a decision against the Swiss people, but a decision for the Swiss people.
Why this excitement?
Like you’re blaming the fire alarm for telling you there’s a fire. The good news for all those outraged: We can still decide for ourselves whether we want to delete it. Completely confident.
Speaking of “sovereign”:
Analyzes show that retirees have confidently helped the 13th AHV pension achieve a breakthrough.
There are not only climate seniors, but also pension seniors.
- European seniors would also be a good thing
- Or the wage-earning seniors
A decent wage that you can live on should actually be a human right.
Dear Colleagues
Things are better for combs. We celebrate this on May 1st.
Solidarity! International solidarity!
Is that an empty phrase?
The world is doing badly: crises, climate, catastrophes, wars. In Ukraine and the Middle East. People despair, suffer, die. Thousands. Every day. It’s almost unbearable.
Bad things give a boost to bad things. While the international community almost loses track of all the trouble spots, autocrats and despots enrich themselves and help themselves.
The world is burning. We are doing well in Switzerland.
So stay out? The isolationists strongly advise us: stay out, endure, keep quiet.
- War? – We didn’t start!
- Refugees? – We didn’t call!
- The climate? – Don’t we have to save!
One can always dismiss international solidarity as naive, as the romanticism of socialism unmasked by reality.
But: I quote “it is dangerous to believe that there is no fire just because your house is not burning”.
It’s not burning yet, I would like to add Willi Ritschard.
Actually, in times like these, “things go better” is a gross understatement: only things go better.
We can only solve global problems together.
This also applies to migration. Nowhere are the boundaries of national borders so mercilessly visible. And that we have to help these people. Our system has to work for this to happen. So that the right to asylum applies. It’s my job as Attorney General to make sure of that.
- But I am not “just” asylum minister
- I also fight against domestic violence
- Against organized crime
As Minister of Justice, I am always on the side of the weakest. I experienced it the hard way myself in South America. Where the rule of law does not function and is not democratically controlled, the law of the strongest applies. And the rich always benefit from this – always at the expense of the majority.
Dear Colleagues
- You need to look at the whole and you need to look at the small things.
- On the world and on people.
- The view outside and inside.
The fact that we always keep both in mind is what sets us apart as a leftist.
Another quote from Willi Ritschard:
“I know that we are in the world to look for happiness, not to find it.”
Maybe Willi is right. But if you search, you can also find.
Let’s search together. Optimistic.
Or as we know in Bern: “Happiness starts to happen.”
May 1st is not for complaining. May 1st is a public holiday. – Well at least in Basel. – By the way, there are forces that would like to cancel this very holiday. Why?
I know why: Because they know that we’ll fill up properly on May 1st.
Not just beer. Above all, we recharge our batteries with optimism, strength and motivation.
- A look back shows what we can achieve.
- A look at the present shows what needs to be done.
- Looking into the future – that’s what drives us.
Let’s get started! – Together
I wish you all an optimistic May 1st!
Tshou tame
Address for inquiries
EJPD communication service, [email protected], T +41 58 462 18 18
editor
Federal Department of Justice and Police