Page 26 - DIVA_2_2015

Switzerland
has Q: You will soon leave local politics
been recognized for national politics. What would
as a pioneer in this you like to achieve in that area?
field. At an early
stage, Switzerland My career has always dealt with
took action against national and international issues.
dirty money and I My aspiration is to represent the
think, at least on interests of Geneva in Bern. The
this point, our ban- interests of Geneva are very often also
king reputation is the interests of Switzerland. First of
clean. But you may all, the opening up of Switzerland
always find excep- to the world, as well as maintaining
tions. Sometimes international Geneva, is a priority.
there are isola- Much has been done, but nothing
ted cases that are lasts forever, so you have to keep
highlighted in the working at it.
press but, honestly,
compared to other Then, of course, comes the European
banking
centres political aspects that are essential
in the world, I for us. How do we handle and regu-
think that our re- late our relations with the European
putation can be Union, particularly after the vote on
taken as a refe- 9 February 2015? How do we main-
rence. tain the free movement of persons
which is essential for Switzerland?
banking The implementation of this vote will
Swiss
secrecy is a dif- take place by 2017 and the Govern-
ferent issue. It is ment must find an alternative solu-
true that we had tion that respects the popular will.
to concede ground If the agreement on abolishing the
international organizations, multi- on banking secrecy, stepping back free movement of people enters into
national corporations, institutes, under pressure from outside but force, other bilateral agreements may
the academic world, etc., there is also because of the misbehaviour of be affected too. This will be an extre-
a concentration of knowledge and some of our own banks. Today, the mely difficult challenge for Switzer-
power here that is unique in the automatic exchange of information land with regard to the European
world. It is just exceptional that you is almost an integral part of the bank- Union. It is of the utmost importance
can find almost any kind of inter- ing industry. But these changes have to find a solution, even if it means, as
national expertise in Geneva. That, forced banks to reinvent themselves. a last resort, organizing another vote
of course, also has its price. I am on I am very confident in the Swiss on the same subject. This issue is a
the Board of the Centre for Huma- banks which will adapt quickly to priority.
nitarian Dialogue, a small interna- this new situation. Some have already
tional humanitarian organization done so. I believe that the qualities Yet another priority for Geneva
that is in particular known for its of services we offer, such as human concerns the rail and road infra-
mediation skills. The question of the resources, reliability, management, structure, including the crossing of
level of expense in Geneva is always as well as a stable legal and political the lake. There are many ongoing
something that is under our consider- environment, will compensate for projects whose funding depends in
ation, but we always compare it to the loss of banking secrecy. part on the Confederation. There
the advantages of being based here. are other issues of equal importance:
And in the end the advantages of About the image of the banks in the one is corporate taxation. We are
staying prevail. eyes of the public, I think there has conducting a major reform of cor-
been a great deal of exaggeration. poration taxation imposed on us by
Q: Do you think that the loss of Switzerland is associated with bank- the OECD, and we must also find a
banking secrecy, stricter inter- ing in both positive and negative balance that is acceptable for foreign
national legislation, rumours ways. This is something that will companies so that not only are they
about money laundering, etc., have continue. In terms of reputation, able to reinforce their presence here
damaged Geneva's reputation as I do not believe that these clichés but that new businesses will also be
an international financial centre? have caused much damage. The attracted.
implementation of the new regu-
Not directly Geneva but it has certain- lation will further strengthen the
ly affected Switzerland. We should image of Swiss banking as a serious,
separate the issues. Concern-ing the reliable profession delivering a high
struggle against money laundering, quality of service.

24 International