August 1: the Swiss president’s annual address to the diaspora

In her message to the Swiss Abroad, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter underlines the strong growth of the Swiss community abroad. Switzerland has more and more people who see and experience changes that we cannot yet perceive in Switzerland, but which will sooner or later also have repercussions here at home, Keller-Sutter says in her video message to the 820,000 Swiss Abroad to mark Swiss National Day on August 1. Here is the full text of the speech: Dear Swiss Abroad, Your number has now grown to more than 820,000 people, twice as many as in the 1980s. For Switzerland, this means that we have more bridge builders in the world, more unofficial ambassadors for our country. And more people who see and feel developments on the ground that we in Switzerland may not yet be aware of, or not to the same extent, but which will sooner or later also have an impact here in Switzerland. We are living in times of upheaval. Power politics and protectionism are becoming more important than a ...