Summary

The political discussions about the 13th OASI pension payment and the reduction in services and benefits for the Swiss Abroad are evidence that the mood in Switzerland has turned against the “Fifth Switzerland”. The interests of the Swiss abroad need to be defended and appropriately be represented, which I would be honored to contribute to.

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Detail

I was born and raised in Liestal, the capital of the Canton of Basel Land. In my teenage years, I was fortunate to be selected as a Swiss foreign exchange student to live with an American host family and attend a Californian high school for one year. Back in Switzerland, I followed my interests and studied Natural Sciences in Zürich and Basel. After my studies, I left home again this time for further scientific training in Boston. Thirty years later, after having met my American wife and rewarding work in academia and the biotech industry researching and developing treatments against severe diseases, I am still living in the USA, as of late in sunny San Diego. To maintain my dear Swiss roots, I make yearly home visits and keep up with politics and news in Switzerland. In my spare time, I love to travel, read, hike and scuba dive.

 

The proliferating negative messaging and indifference regarding us Swiss abroad by the public, politicians, and media in Switzerland concern me. Evidence of this troubling sentiment are discussions to restrict our voting rights, reduce services and benefits for us, and accusations made around the initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment that we are freeloaders. Against this disturbing backdrop, we ought to strengthen the representation of our interests and defend them vis-à-vis the authorities and the public in Switzerland, which I would like to commit myself to as a CSA delegate.

Membership/Active involvement in Swiss Associations/groups
I had been sporadically involved in Swissnex in Boston and the Swiss Benevolent Society of New York when I was living on the US East Coast until recently.

 

Profession

Biotech executive

 

Languages

German, English, French

Interests
Swiss matters, politics, travel, reading, hiking, scuba diving. 

Contact
hpwaldner@protonmail.com

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