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André Regli represented diplomatic Switzerland abroad for 36 years – most recently as ambassador to Portugal. A conversation.
André Regli dedicated his professional life to Swiss diplomacy. From 1985 he worked in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA – among other things as ambassador to Chile and Brazil. He retired in October and lives again in his home village of Andermatt. In conversation, he looks back and explains how the many years abroad have changed his view of Switzerland.
SRF News: During your long career you have worked in different countries on four continents. Is there a destination that you particularly liked?
André Regli: I worked in Latin America for a long time. This is a continent that is often forgotten economically and politically, but which is beautiful, with lots of nice people. That has always attracted me.
Legend:
André Regli (right) in July 2005 with the then Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker. A diplomatic crisis arose between the two countries because the Swiss Confederation had temporarily accepted the former Chilean resistance fighter Patricio Ortiz Montenegro.
Keystone
Most recently you were ambassador to Portugal, where your work was shaped by the corona pandemic. How was it?
In addition to the earthquake in Chile (2010: over 500 dead), it was the situation that challenged me the most. I would have imagined the last two years of my career differently. Due to Corona, diplomatic work has been reduced to practically zero.
We in Switzerland are much more individualistic. It should not be the case that the government condemned a vaccination from above.
Instead, the focus was on administrative work, looking after Swiss nationals in Portugal or Portuguese people who wanted to return to their home country from Switzerland. The phone rang for days at times. It was an uncomfortable and difficult time.
From our point of view, the high vaccination rate in Portugal is surprising. Almost 90 percent are fully vaccinated, in Switzerland it is just under 67 percent. How do you explain this difference?
On the one hand, Portugal learned from the mistakes made over the past year. When the government opened everything shortly before Christmas, the ambulances were queuing in front of the hospitals. On the other hand, the Portuguese have great confidence in the government.
Legend:
Pictures that went around the world: Due to the corona infections, a dozen ambulances were queuing in front of the largest hospital in Lisbon. January 2021.
Reuters
We in Switzerland, on the other hand, are much more individualistic. It should not be the case that the government condemned a vaccination from above. That may be one reason why a relatively large number of people do not get vaccinated. That is incomprehensible to me. It’s not just about yourself, it’s about society as a whole.
You are now retired and have been living in Andermatt again since October of this year, where you grew up. How has Switzerland changed?
Basically, Switzerland is a fantastic country. What our ancestors and we did to make this country so livable is fantastic. I was always happy to represent our country. However, I also notice that we have become a bit frugal lately and have the feeling that we don’t need the others.
Maybe we are too well to think that we are only a small piece in the puzzle of this world.
As if we could solve all the world’s problems on our own. I am talking about European policy, refugee policy and the health system. Maybe we are too well to think that we are only a small piece in the puzzle of this world.
Is this place still home to you?
I knew several ambassadors who, a few months before retirement, still did not know where to settle. It’s a dreary idea. It was always clear to myself that I was coming back. For me, home is the place where you feel good and where you have roots. Since my partner is Brazilian, we will surely also spend a few months a year in Brazil.
Interview conducted by Thomas Heeb.