Selinski’s speech – Heads of State spoke in the Swiss Parliament – News

Varaha Venkata Giri (India) 1970

For more than 100 years, there have been no speeches by foreign speakers during parliamentary sessions in Switzerland. This privilege was first granted to Indian President Vara Venkata Giri in 1970. It is not known why the ancient taboos were broken at that time.

Jerry performed part of his state visit. In his ten-minute speech, he spoke admiringly of Swiss democracy and highlighted Switzerland’s contribution to world peace through its neutrality and India through non-alignment.

Vaclav Havel (Czech and Slovak Federal Republic) 1990

As the second foreign head of state, the President of the Federal Republic of Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel, made a speech in the Swiss Parliament in 1990. After the fall of the Wall and the reunification of Eastern Europe a year earlier, the performance generated a lot of media interest. The parliamentary visit took place outside the session and therefore occupies a special place.

Eduardo Frey (Chile) 1995

In 1995, 25 years after the President of India, Eduardo Frey, officially received the President of Chile at a meeting in the National Council Chamber. Frey had Swiss ancestors. Five years before the visit, Chile had returned to democracy after years of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. The visit was accompanied by criticism from the left of the council for not conforming to the Pinochet era.

1998: Oscar Luigi Scalfaro (Italy) / Roman Herzog (Germany) / Thomas Klestil (Austria) / Prince Hans-Adam II (Liechtenstein)

At the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the modern federal state in 1998, four heads of state appeared before the Swiss Parliament with other guests.

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Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro during his speech in the Chamber of the National Assembly.

KEYSTONE / Alessandro Della Valle

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Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein addresses the Swiss Parliament.

KEYSTONE / Alessandro Della Valle

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Austrian Federal President Thomas Klestil with Federal Chancellor Arnold Köhler.

KEYSTONE / Alessandro Della Valle

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German Federal President Roman Herzog on stage in the National Council Chamber.

SRF

Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, German President Roman Herzog, Austrian President Thomas Klestil, and Prince Hans-Adam II, Head of State of Liechtenstein, represented the neighboring countries. Senate President René Maunoury attended on behalf of France.

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Hungarian President Arpad Gonz after his speech in the National Assembly Chamber.

KEYSTONE / Alessandro Della Valle

Arpad Joncz (Hungary) 1999

The last time a head of state spoke at the Federal Councils was in 1999 with Hungarian President Arpad Goncz. The occasion was the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe.