Swiss Review 6/2020

Swiss Review / November 2020 / No.6 39 From plane to train Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) needs train drivers. The air- line Swiss hasn’t enough work for its pilots in the current climate and is ready to let staff go. SBB and Swiss are now evaluating whether airline pilots could also be employed as train drivers. Both professional associations (pilots and train drivers) are strongly in favour of the idea. (MUL) Sanctions against Belarus Switzerland has voiced its criticismof the repressivemeas- ures taken against the people in Belarus since President Alexander Lukashenko’s dubious election victory. Switzer- land has also increased the pressure on the Belarus govern- ment by approving sanctions, mainly in the form of finan- cial and travel restrictions for former and current office holders. A number of Swiss companies operate in Belarus, such as train manufacturer Stadler Rail. (MUL) Changes at SRF Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) is under pressure to cut costs. It also wants to appeal more to the younger demo- graphic. Hence the idea to shed jobs and increase the broad- caster’s online presence. At the same time, a number of long-standing radio and television programmes are to be axed. The modernisation drive initiated by SRF boss Nathalie Wappler is proving controversial. By stepping up its online presence, the taxpayer-funded SRFwants to com- pete with private broadcasters. Politicians across the spec- trum have reacted with dismay. (MUL) Slight increase in pensions Given that wages and prices are rising, pensioners are to re- ceive a modest pension increase from 2021. The minimum pensionwill rise by 10 Swiss francs to 1,195 francs permonth, the maximum pension by 20 francs to 2,390 francs per month. Supplementary benefits will also go up. The Federal Council approved these measures in October. The total an- nual cost of this increase is 441 million francs. (MUL) Bombs under a farming village Thousands of tonnes of munitions lie in an underground depot buried under rocks beneath the mountain village of Mitholz (canton of Berne). The army now want to clear the ageing ordnance, because they believe it poses a seri- ous danger to the people living there. However, the com- plicated nature of the operation will turn Mitholz into a ghost town for an entire generation. A ten-year evacua- tion will be necessary. swissinfo has further information (in English): ogy.de/mitholz (MUL) Darius Rochebin Last summer, RTS’s star journalist, Darius Rochebin announced that he was leaving Switzerland and heading for Paris. After 20 years pre- senting the “Téléjournal” news programme, Geneva’s media darling was to enter the fierce world of French broadcasting. It was an occa- sion for everyone to express their appreciation for this elegant gent, able to fire out tough questions without provoking his interlocutor. Howdid hemanage it?With a dose of the East: Darius’ Iranian origins combine to create a smooth yet pugnacious character. The Swiss pub- licmourned his transfer to France, however flattering itmay have been for him. They accused RTS of failing to retain its best people, or worse, of having pushed their hero off the Swiss airwaves. But Rochebin him- self explained that he did not leave under a cloud; quite the contrary. The presenter is now working for the channel LCI. Every evening, fromMonday to Thursday, he rolls out his sense of rhetoric, interview- ing French politicians and stars. In the first episode of “20H de Darius Rochebin”, the Genevese journalist asked theMinister of the Economy, Bruno LeMaire, if his astounding lack of charisma, as noted by former President Sarkozy, had changed at all. All without angering the min- ister. Quite an achievement. He also surprised Professor Didier Raoult, expert in infectious diseases, by asking him if he kept busts of himself in his garden. A guaranteed buzz! Off the air, Darius keeps going. He notably ruffled the feathers of French cinema iconCatherineDeneuve, accusing her of being completely disagreeable after an interview. A gift for social media. Now in Paris, Darius Rochebin poses any question he wants to VIPs, from his distant Swiss cultural roots, this politically moderate land that was unable to keep him. STEPHANE HERZOG Top Pick News