Roger Köppel on Swiss Patriotism

August 1st is the Swiss national holiday. In an interview conducted by Anne Fournier and Ron Hochuli, Roger Köppel, chief editor of the weekly 'Weltwoche', considers Swiss patriotism. "Our national holiday ... is above all an occasion for fireworks, lanterns and grilled sausages. All this illustrates our relationship with the State. August 1st is a day for citizens and translates into little parties, private and anarchic, reflecting the diversity of Switzerland. ... There exists in Switzerland something I call constitutional patriotism, which is for me the most enlightened form of patriotism. It does not imply any nationalism or nostalgia for the past. It entails a sober and rational feeling of belonging which is concretised by the patriotism of barbecues."

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