(MENAFN- Swissinfo) This weekend, the new Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) will hold its inaugural meeting at the Federal Palace in Bern as part of the“SwissCommunity Days” event. More than half of the council members are new, and the proportion of female delegates has increased significantly. This content was published on August 21, 2025 - 09:00 4 minutes

In my work, I focus on topics that are relevant to Swiss citizens abroad – from political developments in Switzerland and their impact on the diaspora to social, economic, and cultural issues. Before joining SWI swissinfo, I worked as a local journalist for the Aargauer Zeitung. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Multilingual Communication and, as is typically Swiss, completed an apprenticeship as a commercial employee.

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This weekend is a double celebration for the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA). The meeting on August 22-23 marks the start of the new 2025-2029 legislative period of the CSA.

A new format will also be introduced via the SwissCommunity Days event, described as a platform for exchange between diaspora members, federal authorities and elected representatives, which will partly replace the previous Congress of the Swiss Abroad.

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Over 70 new delegates

The list of newly elected members of the CSA shows that the body has been fundamentally revamped. Over half of the council seats – 71 out of 140 – have been filled with new faces.

The increased number of female delegates – 49, up from around 30 – is also striking. This is presumably due to the online direct elections which, in addition to a pilot test in 2017, were held in over 40 countries this spring.

The council will also be more youthful. In countries such as Germany, an increasing number of younger representatives won seats in direct online elections. The impact of this new composition on the council's work should become clearer over the course of the legislative period.

Focus on the political concerns of the Swiss Abroad

The inaugural meeting will take place in a highly symbolic setting: the federal parliament building in Bern. On the first day of the SwissCommunity Days event, the elected councillors will join various workshops.

The focus will be on issues such as,“What are the structures of the OSA and the council?”,“What are the most important concerns of the Swiss Abroad?” and“How can delegates best represent their community?” .

The official confirmation of the elected delegates and the election of the OSA board will not take place until the second day. The adoption of a resolution on the upcoming vote on the electronic identity (e-ID) scheme on September 28 is also on the agenda.

>> The OSA sees the e-ID as a possible instrument for strengthening the political rights of the Swiss Abroad.

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