Summary

Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi honored the insurance cooperative Mobiliar Bern on the occasion of its 200th anniversary as a partner of the federal government. In his speech, Rossi emphasized three central connections: the geographic proximity on the Federal Mile, the shared cooperative spirit, and shared responsibility for future generations. Mobiliar embodies the principle "the common good before private interest" and makes an essential contribution to society through prevention, research, and cultural promotion.

Persons

  • Viktor Rossi (Federal Chancellor)
  • Stefan Mäder (Host, Mobiliar)
  • Michèle Rodoni (Host, Mobiliar)

Topics

  • Cooperative tradition in Switzerland
  • Neighborly relations between Federal Government and Mobiliar
  • Social responsibility and anticipation
  • Cultural promotion and prevention

Clarus Lead

The Federal Council views Mobiliar Bern as an institutional partner that embodies central Swiss values. Rossi emphasized that both the cooperative and the federal government are based on the principle "the common good before private interest" – a concept that has characterized Mobiliar since its founding in 1826. The geographic proximity on the Federal Mile symbolizes a "pleasant and healthy" neighborly relationship that manifests itself in shared responsibility for climate change, artificial intelligence, and social developments.

Detailed Summary

Federal Chancellor Rossi opened his speech with a personal anecdote: a longtime card player from Mobiliar had invited him to the anniversary celebration. This humorous introduction served as a transition to a deeper analysis of the parallels between insurance work and state activities – both require character in difficult times.

The first pillar of the speech addressed neighborhood. Rossi referred to a quote by German poet Friedrich Rückert: "First look to your neighbor, then build your house!" The West Federal Building was occupied in 1857, while Mobiliar only moved to Bundesgasse in 1898 – a 40-year time difference that Rossi commented on humorously. Today, a "meeting zone" in the form of a small fortification characterizes the neighborly axis between the Federal Council and the insurance cooperative.

The second pillar was the cooperative spirit. Rossi quoted from the 1826 statutes: "May the prosperity of the Swiss insurance company hereby established prove that every proposal based on civic virtue is assured of happy success." This concept followed the tradition of Montesquieu – "Le bien particulier doit céder au bien public". The cooperative tradition runs through all of Swiss history: from the federal confederation through federalism and the militia system to semi-direct democracy. Rossi emphasized that the four linguistic regions would not be viable in isolation and therefore required common, federative elements. The French-language quotation from the Federal Constitution (Article 6) underscores this responsibility: each person contributes according to their abilities to the fulfillment of state and social tasks.

The third pillar was responsibility and anticipation. In light of tectonic political shifts, climate change, and artificial intelligence, the federal government and Mobiliar must act with foresight and involve all generations. Mobiliar demonstrates this not only in its core business but especially through the "Mobiliar Forum" – a platform for innovative ideas – as well as through engagement in prevention, research, culture, and sports.

Key Messages

  • Mobiliar embodies the Swiss cooperative spirit: the common good before private interest
  • The federal government and Mobiliar are geographic and ideological neighbors on the Federal Mile with pleasant cooperation
  • Anticipation and forward-looking responsibility are central to addressing global challenges (climate change, AI, political shifts)
  • Mobiliar makes an essential contribution to society through prevention, research, culture, and sports

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: What concrete indicators demonstrate that the neighborly relationship between the federal government and Mobiliar is "pleasant and healthy"? Were quantitative metrics (cooperation projects, joint initiatives) collected?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent could the Federal Chancellor's long-standing personal card-playing friendship with a Mobiliar employee influence the objectivity of the federal government's relationship with the cooperative, especially since the Federal Council is normally "reserved" at anniversaries of private institutions?

  3. Causality/Alternatives: Is the cooperative spirit truly a unique selling point of Mobiliar, or do other Swiss insurance companies practice similar principles? What alternative organizational models could Mobiliar have pursued?

  4. Feasibility/Risks: How concretely are the abstract concepts of "anticipation" and "responsibility to future generations" translated into operational strategies of Mobiliar and the federal government? What measurable goals exist?

  5. Source Validity: The speech cites statutes from 1826 – were these documents verified in their original form, or are they interpreted paraphrases?

  6. Side Effects: Could the strong emphasis on cooperative spirit and solidarity lead to critical questions about profitability or efficiency controls being underrepresented?

Sources

Primary Source: Speech Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi – 200 Years of Mobiliar Bern – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/pAXZleubDU0b-iPh68hSB

Verification Status: ✓ February 9, 2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: February 9, 2026