The 1st of August in Quotes
Published: Tuesday, Aug 1st 2023, 15:00
Updated At: Friday, Oct 13th 2023, 14:12
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The National Celebrations for August 1st are an occasion for numerous speeches, greetings, tweets and video messages across the country. Swiss President Alain Berset tweeted that "our constitution was created in a difficult time and is full of courage and optimism - something we need more of today". Ständerat and SVP President Marco Chiesa said that the day is one of resistance against oppression and control, while Thurgauer Mitte Nationalrat Christian Lohr tweeted that "no one has a monopoly on home - it belongs to us all". Nationalrat and Co-President of the SP Cédric Wermuth said that although the first page of the Swiss Constitution reads "the strength of the people is measured by the welfare of the weak", 745,000 people in the country still live below the poverty line. Nationalrat and GLP President Jürg Grossen said that the National Day and 175th anniversary remind us not to rest on our laurels, but to keep the courage to change and find new solutions. Ständerat and FDP President Thierry Burkart said that the crises of recent years have shown that freedom, community spirit and prosperity are not a given. Bundesrätin Karin Keller-Sutter said that we must not forget to communicate and seek solutions in difficult times, while Bundesrätin Elisabeth Baume-Schneider said that the Swiss symbols and Constitution are for everyone. Bundesrat Albert Rösti said that in times of monarchies, Switzerland chose democracy, and Bundesrat Ignazio Cassis said that stability and independence are part of the Swiss DNA. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Switzerland on its 175th anniversary of the Swiss Constitution and said that the commitment to democratic values strengthens the bond between the two nations. The messages from the Swiss politicians emphasise the importance of courage, communication, and solidarity in difficult times, as well as the need to remember the values of democracy and freedom that the Swiss Constitution stands for.nn
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