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“Schlyyfstai” sings lovingly but pointedly about the Basel Federal Council – criticism of the “authorities” is well received by Jans.
Basel had to wait 64 years until the city canton could appoint a Federal Councilor again. The people of Basel are correspondingly proud of “their” Beat Jans. Just proud? Nearly.
Legend:
The Schnitzelbangg “Schlyyfstai” sings about the neo-Federal Council and also takes aim at the local patriotic feelings on the Rhine bend.
Katja Koopmann
The Schnitzelbank – known for its musical quality – dedicates its entire performance to Beat Jans. It goes without saying that the person being sung about also gets rid of his fat. The Schnitzelbangg refers to him as “Kaiser Jans”.
“Criticism of those in power is mandatory, racism is taboo”
What’s piquant: Justice Minister Beat Jans himself is sitting in the audience when the “Schlyyfstai” sing their almost 10-minute program. How does Jans react to such swipes?
Legend:
Being exposed to criticism during carnival is not entirely new for Jans: Before he became a Federal Councilor, he was the Basel government president.
SRF
Even if the punchlines are generally loving, there are also laughs at his expense.
I think it’s a very nice tradition to hold a mirror up to the people in power.
For Jans, the fact that those in power are targeted with spicy words is part of the essence of carnival, as he tells the SRF Tagesschau on “Morgestraich”. “It’s good to hold a mirror up to the people in power and tell them where the criticism is. I think that’s a very nice tradition that definitely needs to be maintained.”
However, there are also clear taboos, Jans continues: “What is not possible is for ordinary people, groups, ethnic groups, religions to be denigrated; Racism is not welcome.”