The Federal Assembly Celebrates the 175th Anniversary of the Constitution with Solemnity and Humor
Published: Tuesday, Sep 12th 2023, 12:40
Actualizado el: Viernes, Oct 13th 2023, 14:12
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The United Federal Assembly gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the enactment of the Federal Constitution. The ceremony included speeches, music, and even humour, with National Council President Martin Candinas opening the festivities and handing over the gavel of the chair to the comedic duo Gilbert & Oleg. Representatives from cantonal governments and ambassadors from neighbouring countries were also in attendance, and the original Federal Constitution was on display in a showcase in the middle of the room. In his speech, Federal President Alain Berset noted that the Federal Constitution of 1848 was born out of a spirit of compromise, and that compromise is not the path of least resistance but the only way to build a shared future. He also noted that the Constitution was a masterpiece, but incomplete, as it excluded women and denied certain rights to Jews, such as freedom of settlement. Ständeratspräsidentin Brigitte Häberli-Koller also highlighted the lack of rights for women in the original text. National Council President Martin Candinas praised the two-chamber system based on the US model, in which the National Council and the Council of States are equal. Federal Court President Yves Donzallaz noted that the Federal Court created by the Constitution in 1848 only met once a year and had no fixed seat. In the afternoon, the public was invited to a folk festival on the Federal Square, where the artwork "Tilo" was unveiled at exactly 18.48. The artwork, created by the artist couple Renée Levi and Marcel Schmid, consists of 246 ceramic plates that reflect light differently. In the evening, a musical ceremony with a speech by Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider was held in the Berner Heiliggeistkirche in Bern. The 175th anniversary of the Federal Constitution was celebrated with speeches, music, humour, and a folk festival. The ceremony highlighted the values that have shaped the unified and democratic Switzerland over the past 175 years, and the importance of compromise in building a shared future. The original Constitution was also on display, and the artwork "Tilo" was unveiled in the afternoon.nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
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