The governing Landammann Roland Dähler opens the Landsgemeinde
The government and officials have taken their seats and Roland Dähler, the governing magistrate, will hold the opening speech. Although Dähler has been the governing Landammann since 2019, it is the first Landsgemeinde that he leads. Mrs. Stadthalter Monika Rüegg Bless also takes part in the march for the first time.
Roland Dähler, governing Landammann.
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As always, the first part of the speech is in written German. Dähler looks back on the past two years, when the pandemic challenged the canton. Dähler addresses the division in society into those who support vaccination and those who oppose it. The ideological discussions should be ended as soon as possible.
«Appenzeller people must not allow themselves to be divided. We have to stick together. That’s the only way we can move forward.”
Roland Dähler commemorates the war in Ukraine. “I am deeply dismayed that there can be a war of aggression in Europe today.” The suffering of the people makes him stunned, sad and angry. The hope for peace soon and the offer to help the Ukrainian refugees remain.
He also greets the guests of honor. He addressed special words to Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter. He doesn’t really wish bad things on anyone. “But if I’m honest, I was hoping a little bit that you’d be stuck in a traffic jam when you drove from Gossau via Herisau to Appenzell.” He is criticizing the fact that the federal government has postponed the construction of an Appenzellerland motorway feeder for years. The Federal Councilor and the assembled people smile.
Christian Wulf, former German President, Christoph Mäder, President of Economie Suisse, and Thomas Hefti, President of the Council of States, are also present at the private invitation.
Before the discussion of the agenda begins, Roland Dähler asks for a moment of silence to commemorate those who have died since the last Landsgemeinde and had done a lot in the service of the Innerrhoden public.
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