Swiss Review 4/2020

Swiss Review / July 2020 / No.4 3 Imagine a cattle market somewhere in rural Switzer- land. A farmer is offering well-groomed calves and goats for sale. A potential buyer turns up. The farmer and the buyer strike a deal. They then shake hands firmly. This seals the deal and the price they have agreed. A handshake is as good as a contract. Imagine a school class in an urban area. The school bell rings, and the teacher offers a handshake to each one of her pupils. By accepting the handshake, the girls and boys are show- ing respect for their teacher. Pupils in Switzerlandwho refuse to shake their teacher’s hand have, on occasion, been taken to court in a bid to make them comply (which is probably neither smart nor conducive to fostering respect). A ‘friendly match’ between the rival village football clubs starts to get rough. Two players lock horns. The referee tells them to shake hands and get on with the match. Both do what they are told – emulating what Europeans have done for over 2,000 years, ever since the Roman poet Ovid described the handshake as a sign of peace. In Switzerland, the act of shaking hands is a small everyday gesture that helps to build trust – from handshakes following an argument, to the hesi- tant, tender holding of hands between a couple who have just fallen in love. Unfortunately, handshakes are completely out of place in the current cir- cumstances. We have had to stop doing what is second nature. Handshakes at school are no longer obligatory but off limits. A symbol of respect is now deemed to be unhygienic. This is an example of how the COVID-19 pandemic has taken away the simple things that we take for granted – in addition to shattering people’s lives, futures and hopes. Even our everyday rituals have been turned on their head. In this issue of “Swiss Review”, we focus on themajor social and economic convulsions currently affecting Switzerland as a result of the pandemic. But we also look ahead to 27 September 2020 – Switzerland’s first ‘super Sunday’ since politics came out of hibernation. This time, the country’s voters will be called to decide on as many as five important issues. One of these is the rela- tionship between Switzerland and the EU, which is sure to be a very heated debate. The opposing camps are nowhere near close to shaking hands. MARC LETTAU, CHIEF EDITOR Editorial 4 Mailbag 6 Focus on COVID-19 Five questions preoccupying Switzer- land amid the COVID-19 pandemic: How did our country master the crisis after the initial shock? How have older people been affected? How dramatic are the economic consequences for Switzerland? Howhave people been coming to terms with their lockdown experience? How do things look for tourism in Switzerland this summer? 20 Literature series 21 Politics Voters will decide the future direction of Swiss-EU relations on 27 September The Federal Council wants to buy fighter jets – but not everyone is happy After years of debate, paternity leave in Switzerland could soon be a reality 25 Society A ray of hope for itinerant people – discriminatory legislation rescinded in court 26 OSA news 27 news.admin.ch The biggest repatriation operation in Swiss history 30 Books / Sounds 31 Top pick / News Contents A firm handshake Cover photos: Frequent handwashing has become a coronavirus ritual. Photo: iStock “Swiss Review”, the information magazine for the “Fifth Switzerland”, is published by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA).