Merz sees “fine silver lining” to economic crisis
President Hans-Rudolf Merz on Saturday called the global economic crisis an opportunity for courage and ingenuity.
In the traditional Swiss National Day address, Merz, who also holds the finance portfolio in the seven-member cabinet, urged more humility and a willing to help the less fortunate.
“We must admit that we have gone overboard,” Merz said, referring to the financial crisis. There was a “fine silver lining on the horizon,” he added.
“We must begin with ourselves,” he said. The speech was broadcast on radio and television across Switzerland.
In their speeches, Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and Economic Minister Doris Leuthard said Switzerland had to strike the right balance between freedom and solidarity.
They both also outlined their visions for Switzerland recovering from the economic crisis.
Ueli Maurer, who holds the defence portfolio, called on Switzerland to have more self-confidence and to stand up to its critics. It was his first national holiday as a cabinet minister.
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