SwissCommunity Ariane Rustichelli – farewell in a few hashtags Ariane Rustichelli is leaving the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), having overseen its fortunes as director during a momentous time of change. As a final farewell, she has summarised her tenure under the following hashtags. #Milestones “After every milestone, we quickly move on to the next challenge. But looking back, I am amazed at the things that we, the OSA, have helped to achieve – such as ensuring that the Register of the Swiss Abroad remained an integral element for inclusion in the Swiss Abroad Act, facilitating access to banking solutions for our compatriots abroad, and implementing the new e-voting pilots in relation to federal votes.” #Dialogue “Establishing a ‘Youth Parliament of the Swiss Abroad’, or YPSA, was also important. It informs part of the dialogue that we want within the ‘Fifth Switzerland’. Our new website, which puts the Swiss Abroad front and centre and emphasises the community ethos among expatriates, is another way in which we want to promote dialogue.” #Success “Ultimately, others will decide how successful my time was as OSA director. But what I want to say is that success comes from hard work. The imminent elections to the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) are an example, showing how the OSA and its bodies are evolving, and how committed people are in this regard. The CSA will not only be more representative in future – it will also be more fit for purpose.” #Change “The ‘Fifth Switzerland’ is no homogeneous, inflexible entity. It is always in flux. Poverty used to be the main reason for emigrating. Nowadays, young people often go abroad for a few years to pursue their career. Then you have older people leaving Switzerland as well. Only by recognising the various dynamics at play is it possible to represent and support our big and diverse community of Swiss Abroad effectively.” #Support “There are headaches too. The Swiss Abroad are not necessarily flavour of the month in Berne. Many of our parliamentarians no longer see added value in the expatriate community. It feels like Switzerland is withdrawing into itself. Take the pensions debate for example. We need to be more proactive and unequivocal in explaining that Swiss Abroad – who make up ten per cent of the total Swiss population – are not ‘sponging off the system’.” #Challenges “The OSA is prepared for the future. But new challenges will come. It will have to cope with cuts in government funding. Its remit will also become increasingly complex. Nevertheless, many of its future responsibilities are clearly set out. One of them includes fighting to ensure that political participation among the Swiss Abroad is unrestricted and made easier. Because the right to vote in elections and referendums is central to the Swiss identity – and the ‘Fifth Switzerland’ contributes to the diverse spectrum of opinions that are vital for our democracy.” #Gratitude “My departure marks a new start. For the OSA and for me personally. I look forward – but I also look back in gratitude. I am particularly thankful to everyone I had the privilege to work with. Together, we represented and defended the interests of the Swiss Abroad as effectively as possible. And proved that the collective really can make a difference.” Ariane Rustichelli joined the OSA in 2008, where she was initially responsible for marketing and communication. She became the co-head of the OSA’s administrative office in 2014, before taking sole charge of the OSA as director in 2019. After almost 17 years within the organisation, she now wishes to embark on a new chapter in her personal and professional life at the age of 51. The OSA Executive Board has appointed Lukas Weber as her successor. Photo provided 34 Swiss Review / April 2025 / No.2
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