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From Park Avenue

to rue de Fribourg...

Interview with
Raymond Loretan

It's difficult to categorize Raymond Loretan. A brilliant man, a former
diplomat;, for a long time he represented his country, Switzerland,
living in Singapore and New York with his family. Eventually, he
decided to leave diplomacy and become a businessman and a politi-
cian, in the latter case representing the Christian Democratic Union, a
party that - one might say - occupies the Swiss political centre. He
is a friendly man. By just talking to him, you know that he is sincere
with a huge heart. However, when he gets upset - something that
does not happen very often - make sure that you are not around.

Soon it will be election time, and Mr Loretan is running for a seat in
the Swiss Senate. We had a chance to meet with him on a very hot
summer's day and to discover the topics close to his heart. It goes
without saying that Switzerland, international relations, as well as
Geneva's international community and the well-being of its different
populations, have a particular place in his heart.

Q: Why did you leave diplomacy tic Party for five years. It is obvious Switzerland, which together with
for the business world? that in my genes I have some kind of the Liberal-Radical Party created the
political virus that comes from my basis for the democratic and federal
In fact, I did not leave diplomacy family. At one point I felt an inner Switzerland as we know it today. It is
for the business world; I left it to go voice telling me to quit diplomacy, also the party that, in the late 1950s,
into politics. The particular busi- where you are merely executing the created the so-called "magic formu-
ness world into which I entered is instructions of your government, and la", allowing all major political par-
the health sector, which is extre- to leave my comfort zone in order to ties to participate in the federal go-
mely regulated in Switzerland. It is enter into political action, where you vernment. That is what we call "the
a domain that also requires politi- can formulate choices and priorities policy of concordance" and this is the
cal action. That is why the Genolier and then try to transform them into reason why all the major parties, even
Group was interested in getting me reality. if they have very different ideologies,
on board. I also set up a consultancy are represented in the Swiss Federal
firm in the field of public relations It was a difficult decision to make -- Government. Our party played an es-
and communication strategy, whose to leave the diplomatic comfort zone sential role in this political construct.
main clients are actors who need to and enter into a world that at the Today, we are the fourth biggest poli-
create networks within the political very beginning I knew little about. It tical party in Switzerland.
sphere. So my move was motivated is true that I left Park Avenue, which
by political concerns rather than eco- was where my residence was located We defend a certain number of
nomic ones. in New York, to find myself living on values, which are mainly indivi-
rue de Fribourg in Geneva. dual responsibility and solidarity;
My underlying motive was that I this means that one must rely first
wanted to be involved in decision- Q: Could you explain what the on oneself and the community and
making processes and action. During Christian Democratic Party repre- only then on the State. This means
my time in the diplomatic services, sents? self-responsibility and concern
I undertook a political interlude for the less-favoured and people
where I became the Secretary -Gene- The Christian Democratic Party in need, according to the so-called
ral of the Swiss Christian Democra- is one of the historic parties of principle of subsidiarity. Family and

22 International