2023-07-04 11:15:02
The public was there this weekend to discover the backstage of federal Bern. According to the organizers, 70,000 curious people flocked to the capital on the occasion of the open doors of the Confederation for the 175th anniversary of the Constitution.
On Saturday, visitors sometimes had to wait several hours in order to be able to discover the rooms of the National Council and the Council of States, noted a journalist from Keystone-ATS. In front of the other federal buildings and the headquarters of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), several hundred people had to queue to enter in a joyful and relaxed atmosphere.
Project manager Andreas Schilter regrets the long waiting times. “We are sorry that not everyone was able to visit what they hoped for,” he said in a press release issued by the organizers on Sunday.
Security checks are unavoidable at a big event like this, he explained. All visitors over the age of 16 were required to show identification. Most of the visitors were understanding and there were no notable incidents.
Ingot and gold book
For the occasion, a smartphone application made it possible to visit the premises without calling on a guide. A dozen Confederation buildings were open to the public until late Sunday afternoon.
Visitors were able to talk to political figures including the President of the Confederation Alain Berset, the President of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) Thomas Jordan and the Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, who spoke on Twitter of a “fed exchange with the public”. The public was also able to interact with the approximately 800 employees present during the weekend.
According to the organizers, several things caught the attention of visitors, including the Guestbook with the signature of Queen Elizabeth II, a touchable SNB gold bar, menus for guests of the State at the Hotel Bellevue Palace and the open doors of the offices at the Palace of Parliament.
Government “Chalet”
At the press center, the vice-chancellor of the Confederation and spokesman for the Federal Council André Simonazzi explained the workings of government communication, he tweeted on Sunday.
Under the Dome, the German-speaking satirist Michael Elsener gave a performance alongside the Minister of Health Alain Berset. The President of the Council of States Brigitte Häberli-Koller and her counterpart from the National Council Martin Candinas were also present.
In the west wing of the Federal Palace, visitors were able to discover the “chalet” in which the federal government sits. In the east wing, for example, the history of the intelligence services was revealed to the public.
Also in the street, musicians, orchestras and a storyteller performed on stage. Activities for children and sports performances were on the program, including an intervention by Swiss customs service dogs.
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