Basel celebrates its President of the Council of States Eva Herzog
Published: Wednesday, Dec 6th 2023, 17:30
Volver a Live Feed
A party was held in Basel on Wednesday afternoon in honor of the new President of the Council of States, Eva Herzog (SP). Drumming, whistling and rapping as well as sausages and beer were served at the market square.
She will now have to remain neutral in her new office for a year, said Herzog. However, she still wanted to say something - namely that a little "verbalization" would be good for Switzerland. She mentioned the canton's "pioneering role", for example in environmental and social policy.
In his speech, Basel's President of the Government Beat Jans (SP) quoted the inscription "Hie Schweiz Grund und Boden" ("Here is Switzerland, land and soil") at the town hall. These words were used to welcome the Swiss envoys for the accession talks in 1501. The fact that the two Basel cantons now had both a female President of the Council of States and a male President of the National Council this year was the "fruit of successful integration".
Beer instead of champagne
As a gift, he presented Herzog, who always prefers a "Stange" to a "Cüpli", with a barrel of local beer. He also presented the new President of the National Council of Basel, Eric Nussbaumer (SP), who was also present, with a beer stein so that he could drink along in the Federal Palace.
The public celebration was accompanied by carnival cliques and guild games with the sounds of pipes and drums. In addition, the Basel rapper Svmthox performed a few songs at Herzog's invitation. Sausages were distributed to onlookers.
The celebrations began in Liestal, where a ceremony was held in Nussbaumer's honor. The party then made its way to Birsfelden and from there to Basel on two boats. The program still includes an official ceremony in the Stadtcasino and a gala dinner in Basel's St. Jakobshalle.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic