A president with a difference

Leuenberger led the country during an unusually turbulent year Keystone Archive

The president, Moritz Leuenberger, has had a tortuous year in office but rose to the challenge of leading the country through a series of crises.

Leuenberger’s year in the limelight was marked by an unprecedented succession of disasters, including the collapse of the national airline, Swissair, the killing of 14 people by a lone gunman in a regional parliament, a fire in Switzerland’s main transalpine road tunnel, the Gotthard, and the crash of a Crossair plane.

Leuenberger said these unforeseeable events, which started shortly after the September 11 attacks, had forced him to change many of his plans. But he said they had not changed his intention to be “a president for everybody and give a voice to everybody.”

He said it was in times of crisis that he felt the importance of expressing people’s feelings and concerns. He said many people wanted the Swiss president to act as a head of state, much like his counterparts in other countries.

Traditionally, the position of president in Switzerland is mainly ceremonial and does not carry any extra powers. Each of the seven cabinet members takes their turn according to a system of seniority. The officeholder remains in charge of his or her ministry during the one-year presidency.

Personal touch

Leuenberger lent a special flavour to his presidency by showing his fondness for the arts and modern city life as well as by introducing subtle changes to role.

For instance, when the president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, came to Switzerland for a state visit last June, Leuenberger asked the guard of honour not to play a traditional military tune at the reception on parliament square.

Leuenberger also gave a speech at a gathering of gays and lesbians in Zurich, which was frowned upon by some conservatives.

But he also showed an interest in Swiss heritage by visiting the Rütli meadow, which is said to be the birthplace of Switzerland. He also attended a traditional Swiss-style wrestling festival.

Man with a vision

“Leuenberger tried to give this country a vision that sets him apart in a certain way from other politicians,” says Walter Spahni of Farner PR and Consulting, one of Switzerland’s leading public relations companies.

Spahni says Leuenberger comes across as a personality who prefers meetings in small groups and face-to-face discussions. He is seen as a rather shy and not naturally communicative person, Spahni told swissinfo.

“Leuenberger wants to be himself,” Spahni adds. “He said he does not want a sophisticated PR consultant who tells him what to wear, what to do and what to say.”

Spahni believes there is no need for Swiss cabinet ministers to change their habits when they take over the rotating presidency for a year.

Leuenberger shone in his role of Swiss president, says Spahni, when he faced the cameras in the wake of the crises which hit Switzerland: “He was able to show passion and emotions. For once he did not seem to be as aloof as many people perceive him.”

Villiger to become President

The finance minister, Kaspar Villiger, is to take over the rotating presidency from Leuenberger as of January 1.

Leuenberger will remain in the cabinet and continue to head the Ministry for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications. The 55-year old Leuenberger joined the cabinet as a member of the centre-left Social Democratic Party in 1995.

by Urs Geiser