New Year's reception for the diplomatic corps

Your Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio
Federal Councillor
Ms Riniker, President of the National Council
Mr Caroni, President of the Council of States
Your Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen

Ms Riniker, President of the National Council, and Mr Caroni, President of the Council of States, thank you for once again allowing us to hold this reception in the Parliament Building.

I would like to give my sincere thanks to the dean of the diplomatic corps for the good wishes he sent us in his message.

To all of you, Excellencies, thank you for being here today and for your commitment to good relations between your home country and Switzerland.

The start of a new year is a good time to practise some optimism. This is not easy in light of the world situation. If you ask AI where it finds reasons to be optimistic, what does it say? That's right: in the development of AI.

If you asked me, I would say:

Firstly, in the conviction that we can contribute to prosperity, to the preservation of our natural resources and thus also to social peace through our decisions and actions. And secondly, in the conviction that people – despite all the doom-laden prophecies – will strive for freedom and democratic participation. I will return to this topic in a moment.

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

For a number of years now, we have witnessed a return to insecurity manifested by crises and wars. Even in a stable, prosperous country like Switzerland, increasing global volatility, the growing number of international conflicts and an increasing tendency towards economic protectionism are making themselves felt.

Many of today’s conflicts are accompanied by a civilisational regression, with established rules being suspended and the international order faltering. We need a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, a two-state solution in the Middle East and, at a more fundamental level, respect for international law and human rights.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and also of the Holocaust, that absolute breakdown of societal values. Today, we see how anti-Semitism is once again rearing its head. Later this month, commemorating the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp will provide an opportunity to take a firm stand against anti-Semitism.

The end of the Second World War also saw the emergence of the multilateral order, which over the last 80 years has contributed significantly to resolving conflicts, protecting human rights and boosting prosperity. Switzerland consistently advocates for these values.

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

In response to the crises, many countries are seeing a surge in authoritarian and protectionist tendencies. The general notion is one of changing things without improving the situation. Those who find themselves in a predicament should, first and foremost, avoid certain actions such as throwing the baby out with the bathwater, as they say in several European languages. Or, in the Chinese cultural sphere: not eating for fear of choking.

Throwing democratic and liberal values overboard is certainly not the way to address today’s challenges. These values have guided Switzerland since the founding of its modern federal state in 1848. The most important lesson history teaches us is to hold on to that which brings freedom and prosperity, even if short-term trends point in a different direction. Emphasising the merits of the liberal-democratic idea will therefore be the first focus of my presidential year.

But an idea will remain just that if it cannot produce stability and prosperity. This brings me to my second focus. As I see it, this lies in geopolitical stability and economic security. After its term on the UN Security Council, Switzerland will continue to work hard for effective international cooperation – both in multilateral bodies and in bilateral relations with various states and groups of states. As finance minister, I am particularly mindful of the stability of the global financial market, which can only be achieved multilaterally. The very high level of debt of many countries further increases the risk of upheaval in the financial markets.

In addition to reinforcing our continued commitment to values, geopolitical stability and economic security, there is a clear third focus: fostering bilateral relations. For Switzerland, this means in particular maintaining relations with the European Union, our most important trading partner. We are also looking to Washington: the United States is Switzerland's second most important trading partner and the most important export destination.

Furthermore, Switzerland maintains close and thriving relations with many countries – this includes exchanges with our western partners, with Asia and with other parts of the world. Based on its values and interests, my country wants to work with all states to create the conditions that allow people to be confident about the future.

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Switzerland has traditionally placed its trust in its citizens’ determination, innovative capacity and sense of community. These qualities are crucial to the social and economic prosperity of a country. However, they can only flourish if they are given the space they need to grow. I have no doubt that the best solutions are to be found in freedom and democratic participation – not just in Switzerland, but all over the world.

On behalf of the Federal Council and the Swiss people, I wish you a happy and prosperous 2025. And on a personal note, I would like to wish you all peace, safety and good health.