Caroni emphasizes the importance of institutions for progress
Published: Monday, Dec 2nd 2024, 18:20
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In his first speech as President of the small chamber, Andrea Caroni, a member of the Council of States from Appenzell Ausserrhoden, emphasized the importance of the institutions for progress on Monday.
The world is both bad and good at the same time, Caroni said in his speech shortly after his election. He expressed concern that far too many people around the world were being oppressed by despots: "Autocracy is on the rise again and the liberal, democratic constitutional state is under pressure."
However, the "professionally gloomy view" of the world taken by politicians should not blind us to all the progress made in the world, said the member of the Council of States from Ausserrhoden. He cited the development of infant mortality as an example.
In 1848, infant mortality in Switzerland was estimated at around 20 percent and life expectancy at 40 years. "Today, statistically we still have 20 good years ahead of us at 65."
The power of reason
The basis of progress is the credo of the Enlightenment: "That man, if we only let him, can use his reason to improve the existence of us all". In order to unleash the power of progress in society, the economy and science, freedom and security are needed: "We obtain these through institutions of coexistence that protect us humans from lack of freedom and threats from the enemies of the Enlightenment."
People are neither angels nor devils per se, Caroni continued: "Which sides they can or are allowed to live out and how we humans fare as a result depends not least on the institutions."
Setting the pace
According to Caroni, Swiss politics is designed to ensure that no one has too much influence. He compared the Council of States to an orchestra. As President, he is neither the lead singer nor the conductor.
Instead, the new President of the Council of States sees himself in the role of the drummer: he stays in the background, keeps the beat and tempo and lays the soundtrack together with the Council Secretariat, the rest of the "rhythm section". This allows the others to "solo individually and harmonize together."
©Keystone/SDA
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