When we look for role models in the social sector or in urban planning, we often first turn to countries like Sweden or Denmark. And when it comes to cultural exchange or the promotion of the French-speaking world, we immediately think of France, and sometimes Belgium.
Published at 1:21 am. Updated at 7:15 a.m.
And Switzerland? What about our relationship with this country, which has similar challenges to Quebec, particularly in terms of coexisting with digital giants and ensuring the vitality of the film industry?
I took advantage of Federal President Alain Berset’s visit to Montreal to examine these questions in more depth. You should know that Alain Berset is not only President of the Federal Council, but also heads the Ministries of Culture and Health, and is also responsible for numerous other areas of his government.
One of the reasons for his visit to Montreal is the place of honor that Switzerland occupies this year at the French-language film festival Cinemania. After Wednesday’s opening night, Alain Berset traveled back to Ottawa to meet the man he calls simply “Justin,” as well as Governor General Mary Simon and Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge.
“It’s so big here. It scares us. A two-hour drive to somewhere in Switzerland isn’t possible,” he says with a laugh.
As a parliamentarian, Alain Berset traveled to Canada several times. He remembers a “great” stay in Port-au-Persil. But surprisingly, this is the first time that a sitting Federal President has paid us an official visit. It was time.
This meeting, during which we discussed “bilateral relations, the defense of multilateralism and the need to promote respect for international law,” said the Swiss President’s message to X, also aimed to conclude a new co-production agreement between Switzerland and Canada to seal the area of cinematic creativity.
“It is actually a modernization of a long-standing agreement that offers a stable and precise framework for cinema co-productions between Switzerland and Canada,” explains the President. This allows filmmakers and producers not to go into unknown territory every time, to reinvent everything, to renegotiate everything with the authorities. »
Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. In this context, film production must be ensured in the country with 8.7 million inhabitants. “We have a long tradition of state funding for cinema,” continues Alain Berset. This is special because the federal government in Switzerland does not have the main task of dealing with culture. The cantons and cities are initially affected. »
In addition to this federal aid, which amounts to around 32 million euros, there are contributions from the cantons (30 million euros), actors from the private sector and public television.
What is new is the participation of streaming platforms, which now have to pay 4% of their gross revenue into a fund that is intended to support projects in Switzerland.
Alain Berset will step down as Federal President at the end of the year. This is a great opportunity to ask him what cultural achievements he is proud of. “With a lot of commitment, we have succeeded in making the federal government’s cultural policy a formative policy. […] It was greeted with applause not only by the cantons, who told us: “We are the ones doing this!” I said: “I don’t want to do it against you, but with you.” »
Alain Berset announced his resignation on June 21, three days after holding a third referendum on maintaining the government’s protective measures against the coronavirus (the acceptance rate was 61.9%).
Despite this achievement and his great popularity among citizens, Alain Berset is aware that the period that marked the coronavirus pandemic was sometimes difficult for him, as for other health ministers or public health officials elsewhere in the world.
“It was very difficult,” he said. The volume of work became extreme from one day to the next. The political pressure was immense. The consequences of our decisions were immeasurable. And then there was the security pressure of threats from people who felt helpless in the face of this situation and responded with violence against me, my family and my loved ones. I haven’t talked about it much, it’s a bit taboo I would say…”
During this time, Alain Berset one day had words that quickly became a symbol of his philosophy and a kind of unifying slogan for Swiss citizens experiencing easing measures. He said: “As quickly as possible, as slowly as necessary.” »
“I never thought that this sentence would have such a big impact,” says Alain Berset. I think she must have touched the reality of the time. »
A few days after this statement, a communications agency had this phrase printed on T-shirts, which sold like hot cakes. Proceeds from the sale were donated to the charity La Chaîne du Bonheur.
Before Alain Berset flew to Canada, he took part in the radio show Le Grand Soir on Swiss Radio Television. I met a warm and open man who gathered around him people and artists he valued, including his former piano teacher.
Yes, the Swiss president is also a pianist. When the moderator also asked him what he planned to do after his term ended, he said that he wanted to get back into music.
It shows that there is life after politics.