Jurassian, French-speaking of Swiss-German origin, graduate in social sciences, social worker, director of a university school, passionate about culture, now a professional politician… who is Elisabeth Baume-Schneider really?

«I am a committed woman, mother of two young adult children, passionate about politics, with an insatiable desire to act for greater social justice, better understanding and more respect between minorities and institutions, and also for the positioning of our country in Europe and internationally».

Apart from politics, what are your passions and hobbies?

"A passion for human relationships, especially through the time I spend with my family and friends. As for hobbies, I love literature as well as music, spending time in the garden or, sometimes, doing nothing. This is also a hobby!"

You come from a peripheral region: do you have a different vision of the Confederation and of the politics that are conducted in Bern?

"Yes, let's say yes: I come from a so-called "peripheral" region, close to the border with France. A curious detail is that the Canton of Jura has a longer border with France than with Switzerland. This proximity shows us the need to build relationships of trust with all our partners, be they the Cantons, the Confederation or Europe. It is by cultivating dialogue with our neighbors and working in a complementary way that we can make progress. Then, I would say that my vision of the Confederation is enriched by the differences that feed our national ecosystem, made up of different linguistic regions, a strong economic fabric, prestigious universities, cities, countryside and mountain areas. In short, a remarkable wealth and diversity in a relatively small territory!"

A Jurassian, presumably not pro-Bernese, in Bern, and in the Federal Council chamber at that. Did you think about that when you entered for the first time? What emotion did you feel?

"Being Jurassian is also a way of representing my canton, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. I would also like to point out that, at the time, Ticino was the canton that approved the entry of Jura into the Confederation with the highest percentage of votes in favor! That said, my election to the Federal Council moved me. It aroused in me the desire to live up to the expectations of the Jura population, which has been able to fight for its culture and autonomy, to become a full member of the Confederation."

From working in the social sector, therefore in close contact with people, to federal councilor. Don't you miss the daily contact with people? Doesn't the distance that your current role imposes on you bother you?

"In political work, contact with the realities experienced by the population is essential. Through my education and work in the social sector, I have become aware of the specificity of individual situations and the need to respect the experiences of people who feel on the margins of society. Political relations are not part of the same personal sphere, but are intended to establish trust and quality dialogue. In my role as Federal Councillor responsible for culture, I am in regular contact with the population. I greatly appreciate this closeness, which allows us to discuss the challenges posed to our cultural policy and also many problems in society, in particular the costs of healthcare. The Federal Council must remain close to the population, so as to be able to grasp and understand their expectations and needs, as well as their points of disagreement."

You were Minister of Culture of the Canton of Jura and still are as head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs. Do you have time to inform yourself sufficiently about the Swiss cultural landscape?

"We probably never know enough about culture, but I take the time to watch Swiss films, go to the theatre, the cinema and some music festivals and all this makes me want to learn more! I also want to stress the importance of our linguistic plurality and the need to respect the balance in the representation of our national languages ​​and cultures."

Can you tell us what your tastes are in this area? What do you like and what do you not like?

"As for music, I really love French chanson; I'm also discovering rap with my youngest son. And of course there are my "old" classics like Pink Floyd and other gems! Speaking of literature, I appreciate Elisa Shua Dusapin and, in general, novels that offer personal testimonies. I'm thinking, for example, of "Triste tigre" by Neige Sinno, or the books by Sarah Jollien-Fardel, which deal with painful social issues that need to be talked about.

What don't I like about culture? When it is exploited to serve extremist and dangerous ideas, as some small Holocaust denier or neo-Nazi groups do."

In the popularity and appreciation scale of federal councilors, you are often at the bottom of the list. How do you explain that?

"Of course I don't jump for joy when the survey is published. However, these surveys have no impact on my commitment and my willingness to carry out my mandate within the Federal Council."

After a year and a half in Government, what conclusions can you draw?

«It is a privilege to be able to contribute to the work of the Federal Council, but also to collaborate fruitfully with the cantons, such as Ticino, even on difficult issues. I also note a certain polarization of the political debate, which I deplore." 

Incidents of intolerance and racism in Switzerland, a multiethnic and multicultural country by definition, are multiplying. How could politics, and not just the Federal Council, reverse the trend?

"By sending a very clear message of zero tolerance. Any deviation must be condemned unequivocally. Here too, it is a job that we must carry out in close collaboration with the cantons and cities. Finally, I am pleased that the federal parliament has accepted the principle of an action plan against racism and anti-Semitism, which we will prepare as soon as possible."