Petition to all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate
Save Swissinfo
and the foreign mandate
Switzerland needs a strong international voice
Petition to all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate
Save Swissinfo
and the foreign mandate!
Switzerland needs a strong international voice
Swissinfo reports on Switzerland in ten languages, independently and fact-based. The government now wants to make cuts, and Swissinfo is at risk of closure. This sends a dire signal, especially at a time of increasing disinformation.
We therefore call on the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to reject the planned cuts to federal funding for the foreign mandate.
A cut would effectively mark the end of the independent international reporting from and about Switzerland. Instead of cuts, there is a geopolitical need to strengthen media presence abroad.
Sign our petition now and help save the foreign mandate!
Relief package 27 and the foreign mandate
What are the foreign mandate and Swissinfo?
Securing information sovereignty – foreign communications are security policy
The Swiss Abroad as
ambassadors for Switzerland
ambassadors for Switzerland
Swiss culture visible worldwide
Auch 3sat und TV5MONDE sind betroffen
Media presence as a strategic resource
Further weakening of the
Swiss media landscape
Swiss media landscape
Who is behind the petition?
Voices against the cut
Laurent Wehrli, parliamentarian (Radical-Liberal Party), President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives
«Swissinfo's reporting strengthens Switzerland's communication with the Swiss Abroad as well as with the global public. It helps Swiss citizens living abroad maintain their relationship and connection to their homeland, regardless of where they live. At the same time, Swissinfo reinforces Switzerland's reputation among political decision-makers and the population worldwide, thus making a valuable contribution to our country's diplomatic presence and promotion.»
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Carmen Trochsler, member of the executive board of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad and member of the Council of the Swiss Abroad from Australia; board member of SwissCham Australia (Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Australia)
«In a world where disinformation and misrepresentations are becoming increasingly prevalent, independent and reliable media are indispensable. They are the foundation of a functioning democracy and a trustworthy voice in the global context – for the Swiss Abroad as well as for a global audience. Swissinfo stands for independent and well-founded reporting and embodies the esteemed Swiss values of quality and reliability.»
Thomas Greminger, executive director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, former secretary general of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
«Swissinfo embodies Switzerland's tradition of openness, neutrality and dialogue. Maintaining this international service means supporting Switzerland's diversity of voices and democratic influence.»
Lukas Weber, director of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA)
«For the Swiss Abroad as well as for an international audience, Swissinfo is a valuable source of background information from Switzerland. The reporting is more nuanced and neutral than that of many other media outlets. I wouldn't want to do without Swissinfo.»
Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, parliamentarian (The Centre)
«Swissinfo connects our country with the Swiss Abroad. It provides independent information, explains popular votes and elections comprehensibly, thereby strengthening political rights. For many Swiss Abroad, it's a direct window into their homeland. Without Swissinfo, they would be missing their bridge to Switzerland.»
Nicolas Walder, parliamentarian (Green Party)
«Swissinfo is the voice of Switzerland around the world. It contributes to our country's reputation and helps maintain ties between Switzerland and the roughly 800,000 citizens living abroad. This is an essential role that deserves adequate support from the Confederation. That is why I strongly advocate maintaining the international service of the SBC.»
Olga Baranova, director of CH++, board member of VMZ
«Swissinfo also contributes significantly to a common identity within Switzerland. For many residents, it is the only public source of Swiss information in their native language. This service builds trust in institutions, strengthens resilience in the face of disinformation and thus contributes to increased security and cohesion in our society.»
David Mörker, OSA vice-president and CSA member from the United States
«Swissinfo is our indispensable bridge between our homeland and the world. It keeps us Swiss citizens living abroad informed, connected and visible. Its loss would weaken Switzerland's international voice and isolate us abroad. Preserving Swissinfo means preserving Switzerland's voice abroad – and making the voice of the Swiss Abroad heard in Switzerland.»
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Jean-Luc Addor, parliamentarian (Swiss People's Party)
«The Swiss Abroad are not ‹half-citizens› but fully-fledged Swiss citizens who represent our country and our interests. Maintaining relations between the "metropolis" and our compatriots abroad remains an important task for the SBC, and Swissinfo in particular, in the digital age. The international service provided by this platform must be continued and exempted from budget cuts. There must be no cutbacks when it comes to relations within the Confederation.»
Georg Häsler, security policy and military expert, colonel in the Swiss army, journalist at NZZ
«Swissinfo is Switzerland's voice in a crazy world. Just like the ‹Weltchronik› during World War II, its reports convey the Swiss angle. Swissinfo therefore contributes to countering disinformation and plays a key role in protecting Swiss interests abroad.»
Gerhard Andrey, parliamentarian (Green Party)
«The unnecessary austerity measures imposed by the right wing are having serious consequences, including for the media landscape. For them, it seems to be more important to further reduce the already very low level of debt than to have an informed society.»
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Prof. Dr. Sacha Zala, president of the Swiss Historical Society
«At a time in which autocratic regimes are systematically using historical distortions to destabilise liberal societies, Swissinfo and the other international services of the SBC provide an important corrective through their high-quality reports on Swiss history, which reach a broad audience both in Switzerland and abroad thanks to its multilingualism. Swissinfo is therefore an outstanding and cost-effective platform for scientific communication that is unrivalled and must be preserved.»
Sibylle Berg, Autorin, Publizistin, Kolumnistin
«Wie wollen wir uns zeigen? Als ein Land, das Banken rettet und der Kunst und Wissenschaft nichts bedeuten? Als ein Land, das sich Steuerbefreiung für Milliardäre leisten kann, aber keinen Beitrag in der wichtigsten Kultursendung der deutschsprachigen Länder? Als ein Land, das sich nicht am Bildungsauftrag Europas beteiligt, sondern nur an dessen Aufrüstung? Als ein Land, dessen Kultur und Wissenschaft unter Ausschluss der grossen Öffentlichkeit stattfinden, so dass es keinem auffällt, wenn sie irgendwann komplett verschwinden - und damit das, was unser Menschsein ausmacht?»
Franz Hohler, Schriftsteller
«Immer, wenn etwas von mir auf 3sat gesendet wurde, bekam ich ein Echo aus Deutschland.
Wir können diese Rauchzeichen aus der Schweiz auch ersticken und hustend um unser eigenes Feuerchen hocken. Dann sind wir wieder die Provinz, die wir nie sein wollten.»
Wir können diese Rauchzeichen aus der Schweiz auch ersticken und hustend um unser eigenes Feuerchen hocken. Dann sind wir wieder die Provinz, die wir nie sein wollten.»
Martin Suter, Schriftsteller
«Ich glaube nicht, dass die Schweiz dadurch sicherer wird, dass sie sich auch kulturell und wissenschaftlich ganz, ganz klein macht.»
Ursus & Nadeschkin, Bühnenkünstler
«3sat ist für den deutschsprachigen Kulturraum wie ein gemeinsames Wohnzimmer – ein Ort, wo wir uns treffen, zuhören, austauschen und verstehen lernen. Ein Ort, an dem Deutschland, Österreich und die Schweiz gemeinsam denken, streiten und lachen. 3sat ist kein Luxus, sondern gehört zur Grundversorgung!»
Paul Riniker, Filmregisseur und Filmproduzent
«3sat ist Kultur, länderübergreifende. Er ist einer der wenigen Sender, den man einfach so einschalten kann und dann nicht mehr ausschalten möchte. Leider ist Kultur aber immer das Erste, was bei Sparmassnahmen geopfert wird. Jammerschade!»
Sign the petition now
By signing this petition, you agree that the SSM may keep you informed. More information here.
