"Poverty is often invisible here"

Every year the Luzerner Zeitung Group, which provides news and information for the six central Swiss cantons, organises a Christmas Appeal to help families and individuals affected by financial problems or poverty. This year it fell to Manuela Weichelt-Picard, the head of the Zug cantonal government, to launch the appeal, about which she was subsequently interviewed by a journalist.
 
When she was asked how she saw her role in launching this year’s appeal, she said she had been delighted when asked to do so. “Central Switzerland must also be a home for those who are less well off,” she said. And to ensure it is, solidarity from all of us is required, not just state help. Financial need and poverty are often a regarded as a stigma here and thereby are often invisible. This does not mean, however, that poverty does not exist in wealthy Switzerland,” she said.
 
Having had it pointed out to her that last year the appeal brought in a record amount, she was asked whether she thought so much generosity would be evident this year.
“I cannot foresee what funds this year’s appeal will bring in, but I am happy for every franc spent in the right place. I know that, thanks to the appeal being professionally organised, every request for financial help will be carefully considered. Might I add that, in my opinion, it is not the amount of money the appeal raises which means whether it is a success or not; it is the gesture one is making. Here we have people helping people, showing sympathy with others less fortunate and demonstrating social responsibility. This is the real message,” said Weichelt-Picard.
 
When the Alternative-Green Party politician who heads the Department of Inner-Cantonal Affairs was asked what Christmas meant for her and whether it was a time in particular for helping and sharing, she said that it was important to show solidarity with people who, for no fault of their own, had got in to dire financial straits, perhaps through illness, a case of death or some other family tragedy, throughout the year and not just at Christmas. “Just as all cantons have to monitor their incomes and outgoings, it is in my position as head of the cantonal government that I allow this solidarity to determine my policy, doing my best to ensure excessive costs do not fall on the shoulders of the weakest,” she said.
 
And does she donate money herself at this time of the year?
“I donate money at all times of the year and I do so willingly. I consider it a privilege to be in the position to be able to do so. What it is important is not to forget that many of the working poor will be able to benefit from this appeal. Let us not forget that, despite working full-time, many people live either on, or below, the poverty line, and this is applies particularly to those who work in the catering, construction, cleaning, care and retail sectors.”
 
As to what she would like for herself during Advent, she said having the opportunity to slow down, having time to contemplate matters and becoming more aware of the other side to things.