TALK vom 28. Februar 2018 mit Pierre Alain Schnegg

Yes, what is completely different is that I am now in office. I have a good feeling about that. You have to reserve a few hours for the campaign. Sometimes it's not easy, but it's like a stock exchange you have to do. For me it's clear: work first, do the official business, that also serves for popularity and acquaintance.

For me, work is work. I never used dossiers to position myself for the campaign. What is important is finding the right solution, the best solution for our population.

I don't know if I have fulfilled them – that will be decided by the population. But at least I was fully engaged. I took on many dossiers, we started many projects, a few we have already completed. There is a lot happening in my directorate. It is important because we live in a world that moves quickly, especially in health and social care. We need to be able to move.

It does not bother me at all. What is interesting for me is to make the right decisions and achieve results. I want to achieve that the canton is not well represented in social welfare. We are at a special stage. If I look at social welfare: first, of all cantons in Switzerland, none implement the guidelines as effectively. Now we are strongly attacked. But there are large differences between cantons, and that is good – each canton has different needs. For me, there are many dossiers we are working on now, such as the asylum system, integration of refugees and social welfare recipients. We need to find good, strong solutions for these people, to give them a perspective to become independent.

I assess the situation roughly as I expressed in the Grand Council debate on the relief package. That means that too much money flows into an institution and is misused. It is not only in public institutions but in every organization. The Spitex organizations on the front lines do a great job; the various personnel working with the people do something perfect. But on other levels, there are many places where we can ask questions. Now this whole story came to light, and it shows how one can operate with social institutions, and that is questionable.

Yes, exactly. We reacted by realizing that too much money flows into these organizations, and we want to organize the money flows differently so that the money really reaches the right places. That is where we are responsible. How a Spitex organization wants to organize itself, who decides who sits on the board or in the association – that is not the canton's responsibility. We have taken a decentralized solution in the canton of Bern. One could start discussions whether it is right or wrong. But now the sponsoring organizations must take their responsibility and do their homework, because behaving like these organizations did with the examples you cited is absolutely not correct, especially not for the employees and the patients.

I believe we have changed the rhythm a bit. Today there is much better cooperation between the executive and legislative branches, between the government council and the grand council. It is also important that when we develop a project at the government council level, the grand council does not have to try to change everything again. That the grand council changes a project is absolutely normal, but only if it gives its habilitation. That would be a shame for our canton. We need to develop. It is known that three members of the government council are retiring, so the council will be newly composed. If every member leaves, we have two candidates with two current members who are older and experienced – with Mr. Ammann, I would say those are two experienced members. They have completed their tenure. Then we have three apprentices, so out of seven persons, five are relatively inexperienced. Is that an advantage for the canton of Bern? I can see advantages or disadvantages in every situation. I am someone who sees opportunity and advantages. This is a great chance to do certain things a little differently in the future, to approach problems from a different perspective. It could be very positive for the canton of Bern. Of course, experience is also very important, but we still have experienced members in this government, and I believe the mix will quickly show positive results.

We are in a democracy, and it is important that the population has a choice. The population will decide who is best for this seat. We will have the answer on the 25th. The motivation is high.

I work very gladly in the directorate I am in now. But that is a decision for the entire government council.