Author: Maarten Koning

The Bulletin of the Parliament

In 2016, it will be 125 years since the debates in the Swiss parliament first appeared in public in the three official languages (German, French and Italian).

The debate began immediately after the new Constitution of 1848. It would take until 1891 for the first Bulletin to see the light of day: Amtliches Bulletin der Bundesversammlung, Bulletin officiel de l’Assemblée fédérale, Bollettino ufficiale dell’Assemblea federale.

Previously, that publication was mainly a matter of journalism by the first pioneers of the civil service.

They began to publish at the end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth century, at the time of the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803), the old Confederation (1803-1813 and 1815-1848) and the new Confederation after 1848. Gradually it became increasingly professional.

In 1799 the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803) had established a publicly accessible archive for matters at the federal level, which was revived after 1848. Here, too, the aim was to give interested parties effective access to federal matters.

After 125 years, the Bulletin still occupies a prominent place in this archive, although paper and printing ink has made way for video, internet and integral broadcasts of all parliamentary assemblies.

Initially, the content of the Bulletin was limited to discussions on referendums (possibly from 1874 onwards) and Initiatives (from 1891 onwards).

It was not until 1971 that all discussions in the parliamentary assembly were literally and completely reproduced. Nowadays, all council meetings can be followed directly, the Bulletin is available online, and the archive of the parliament is digitised.

The Tunnels of the Gotthard

In the context of the opening of the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the Forum of Swiss History in Schwyz is exhibiting from April 16th until October 2nd, 2016, about this gigantic construction project, the biggest yet in Switzerland. The two earlier Gotthard tunnel projects – the railway tunnel and later the road tunnel – were technological masterpieces, but the new base tunnel breaks all records.

A mountain massif tunnelled three times within 150 years for traffic facilitation is unique. The exhibition explains why and how the three tunnels were built in response to changing economic and political circumstances.

Comparisons show that the Gotthard tunnels set new technological standards and brought profound economic and social changes. Visitors learn about the mountain’s history, from the medieval bridle paths to Switzerland’s most costly and prestigious construction project. This mountain has become more like an imposing edifice traversed millions of times yearly.

The exhibition’s first part explains how the three tunnels have changed the traffic flow across and through the mountain massif.

As numerous documents and objects make clear, the Gotthard route is Europe’s most important transport artery, giving rise to national ambitions and leading to consequences for the region.

The exhibition’s second part illustrates the tunnel systems’ economic relevance and cultural influence. Once one of the most important links between north and south, the old medieval bridle path over the Gotthard pass has been converted into Switzerland’s most costly construction project. Fifteen million tons of goods annually are carried by rail through the Gotthard, while seven million cars cross the Alps by this route.

(Source and further information: Forum Schweizerische Geschichte www.nationalmuseum.ch).