Basel celebrates Federal Councillor Beat Jans into the night
Published: Thursday, Dec 21st 2023, 22:20
العودة إلى البث المباشر
Basel celebrated the new Federal Councillor Beat Jans (SP) with a large reception on Thursday. The festivities began at the SBB railroad station. After a procession through the city, the population and many prominent guests continued celebrating with Jans in the Volkshaus.
It began in the afternoon shortly before 3 p.m., when a special train brought Jans and numerous guests to Basel. The procession then continued towards the city center. Carnival sounds could already be heard at Christmas time. Around 550 drummers and pipers from various carnival cliques, guild bannermen and the police music accompanied the 59-year-old Federal Councillor in a procession to the market square, where the public were offered mulled wine and Läggerli.
Jans enjoyed the first part of the procession, which led from SBB station to the market square, with his wife Tracy: he waved, accepted flowers and shook countless hands. There was always applause. "Bravo Beat!" or "Super!" was the repeated response from the audience.
Jans christens a bus as a namesake
"I am touched, I am overwhelmed - what a wonderful reception," said Jans during his speech on the market square. He said it was a great honor to take on the new role in Bern, even if it was not easy for him to leave Basel.
"We are delighted that you have been elected, even though we will miss you a lot here," said Lukas Engelberger (center), Vice President of the Basel government. Federal Councillor and Jans' party colleague Elisabeth Baume-Schneider was also present at the ceremony. She said she was convinced that the Federal Assembly had elected an excellent and outstanding Federal Councillor in Jans.
The Federal Councillor was in for a surprise at the market square: a new electric bus from Basel's public transport company (BVB) now bears his name. "Who would have thought that Beat Jans would one day christen an electric bus with his name?" said BVB Director Bruno Stehrenberger and presented Jans with a bottle of champagne for the christening.
Switzerland as the "new boss"
The parade continued to Claraplatz, where a DJ played music and free beer was served. The celebration continued in the Volkshaus right next door. Numerous of Jans' party colleagues were present as guests, including the SP party leadership with Cédric Wermuth and Mattea Meyer, National Councillor Jacqueline Badran and Graubünden National Councillor Jon Pult, who came second on the SP ticket in the race for the Federal Council seat with Jans on 13 December. The President of the Council of States Eva Herzog, the new Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi and cabaret artist Emil Steinberger also joined in the celebrations.
"Dear boss, hello Basel" - with these words, Jans greeted the people in the Volkshaus. "Now I am turning to a new boss - but I will carry Basel in my heart," he said at the end, earning plenty of applause in the hall.
It continued with concerts in the Volkshaus and on Claraplatz. Some places partied until late in the evening. Bars and restaurants were allowed to stay open without restrictions on Friday night. The canton allowed restaurants to celebrate the day with a free night.
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