“Swisscommunity Days”: many new faces in the Swiss Council from abroad

This weekend. Moreover, the Council of the Swiss from abroad (CSE) meets for its constitutive session at the Federal Palace in Bern-for the first time as part of the new “Swisscommunity Days”. For example, This new legislature starts with a fundamentally renewed diaspora parliament and displaying a more feminine face. Moreover, – "swisscommunity days": many new faces

“swisscommunity days”: many new faces

It is a double restart for the organization of the Swiss from abroad (OSE). Therefore, On the one hand. Similarly, the new legislature 2025-2029 of the Council of the Swiss abroad begins with the meeting of August 22 and 23. For example, On the other hand. Meanwhile, the “Swisscommunity Days” introduce a new format that replaces – at least in part – the Congress of the Swiss from abroad as it existed so far.

More than half of the renewed seats – "swisscommunity days": many new faces

The list of elected candidates shows that the CSE has been fundamentally renewed. Consequently, With 71 of the 140 seats, more than half of the seats have changed holders.

There is also an increase in the proportion of women. Meanwhile, This development is probably due to the direct online elections. Furthermore, which were organized this spring in more than 40 countries – in addition to a pilot “swisscommunity days”: many new faces project carried out in 2017.

A rejuvenation should also be felt. For example, In countries like Germany, online direct elections have enabled a larger number of young people to win seats. Nevertheless, The concrete effects of this new composition on the work of the Council will manifest themselves during the legislature.

Focus on the political concerns of the. fifth Swiss – "swisscommunity days": many new faces

The constitutive session of the CSE will take place this weekend in a place loaded “swisscommunity days”: many new faces with symbols-under the dome of the Federal Palace. The first day of the “Swisscommunity Days”. newly elected advisers and advisers will be prepared for their function through various workshops.

At the center of discussions are questions such as: “What are the structures of OSE and Council?”, “What are the main challenges of the fifth Swiss?” Or “How can delegates best represent their community?”

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It is only on the second day that the elected delegates will be officially confirmed. as well as the election of the OSE steering committee. The adoption of a resolution concerning the vote on electronic identity (E-ID). on which Switzerland “swisscommunity days”: many new faces will decide on September 28, is also on the agenda of the CSE meeting.

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A new format for Congress

With the “Swisscommunity Days”, the OSE replaces its previous Swiss Congress from abroad, which was held annually. In the future, Congress will only be organized once per legislature. The dare thus reacts to the decline in the number of participants and to the decline in sponsorship funds.

The new format aims to allow a targeted working meeting of the Suisses Council from abroad – as the president of OSE had already announced. Filippo Lombardi, in 2024 in Swissinfo. And to add: “The transition session is used for the exchange and transmission of best practices.”

The meeting of the coming council will be an extended meeting: the new council. the outgoing council will sit together in Bern to mark the change of legislature.

The political aspect of the Council

The annual meeting of the Swiss abroad fulfills a “swisscommunity days”: many new faces double function. On the one hand. a social function, offering the Swiss from abroad the possibility of exchanging their experiences and forcing contacts during their stay in Switzerland.

On the other hand. this meeting always has a political function: that of reaffirming the existence of the fifth Swiss against official Switzerland, and of representing and making known the specific interests of the diaspora.

This political aspect is at the heart of the CSE commitment.

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What is the Council of Swiss abroad?

The CSE considers itself as the representation of the more than 800,000 Swiss abroad worldwide. In his own words. he acts as the “Parliament of the fifth Swiss”, which takes into account the concerns of the Swiss community abroad and defends these concerns to the Swiss public and the authorities.

The council meets three times a year: two sessions take place in face -to -face; the third exclusively online. It is possible to participate and vote online during two of the three sessions.

Among the 140 members of the council, 120 come from abroad. The Committee also includes “swisscommunity days”: many new faces Swiss politicians. politicians who defend the interests of what is called “fifth Swiss” within the federal chambers.

With this new CSE, it is a new chapter that opens: younger, more feminine and more diverse than ever.

Text reread and verified by Balz Rigendinger, translated from German using AI/OP

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