In 2025, we on the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) took stock for the first time in the 10 years since the Swiss Abroad Act came into force. Not in words but in deeds – with direct elections in 13 countries to choose our delegates. Forty percent of CSA delegates now have a direct mandate. Ideally, we want to be hitting the 90 percent mark in 2029. This small step for the CSA is a giant leap for the “Fifth Switzerland” as a whole. Proof that our online direct elections work will help us to argue the case for introducing e-voting for all Swiss Abroad – and that this should happen in all cantons by the 2031 national elections at the latest. But it is not just about whether online voting works. Switzerland’s expatriate community and its stalwart associations must also participate in the new system. National and supranational umbrella associations A new era begins must operate effectively to organise elections and oversee orderly election campaigns. In turn, we need election candidates who acknowledge the OSA for what it is – with its rules, its strengths and, occasionally, its weaknesses. It is in all our interests that we work together constructively to do the best for our compatriots abroad. The working atmosphere within the CSA needs to improve, not deteriorate. Besides the CSA’s complete refresh, much has also happened within our organisation, with the transition at the helm of the OSA – from Ariane Rustichelli to Lukas Weber, and then to Daniel Hunziker – as well as a new editor-in-chief of “Swiss Review” and a new head of the Youth Service. We are entering a new era, and I hope that everyone can join in and benefit in their own way. FILIPPO LOMBARDI, OSA PRESIDENT Dear Swiss Abroad, On 20 April 2026, I became head of the Youth Service of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad. After growing up in Ostermundigen, I went abroad to study and work. I did a sports management course and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in the US, and, in doing so, picked up valuable experience at various organisations in the international sports and events industry. New head of the Youth Service – Michel Gerber wants to build international bridges to Switzerland Organisation of the Swiss Abroad Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Berne, Switzerland Phone. +41 31 356 61 25 youth@swisscommunity.org www.swisscommunity.org For example, I worked in sales and customer relations at the Manchester Monarchs, a former team in America’s second-tier ice hockey league. Meeting Swiss sports personalities like ice hockey player Nino Niederreiter further strengthened the affinity I had to my home country. I later worked at the Gillette Stadium in Boston, where my job included responsibilities relating to the Copa América, South America’s quadrennial men’s national-team football tournament. My most recent stint involved sponsorship and sales for the UConn Huskies, which are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing the University of Connecticut. The years I spent abroad have had a lasting impact, deepening my sense of attachment to Switzerland. It was this distance from home that showed me how important cultural roots, shared values, and exchange are within the Swiss expatriate community. These experiences are a particular source of motivation for me in my new role. I want to help young Swiss Abroad to develop a close connection to Switzerland, enthuse them with our values and show them the diversity and beauty of our country. I look forward to building bridges to Switzerland with young people worldwide and continuing the work of the OSA Youth Service with commitment and new ideas. Kind regards, Michel Gerber SwissCommunity Swiss Review / July 2026 / No. 3 35
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