Cantonal Council is the first Central Swiss Parliament to sit again

On Thursday morning, the cantonal parliament of Zug (Kantonsparlament) was the first council to meet again in central Switzerland. In the gymnasium instead of in the Council Hall, and at individual tables instead of in narrow rows of desks.

In order that the necessary hygiene and distance rules could be observed, the meeting took place in the triple gymnasium (Dreifachturnhalle) of the Cantonal School of Zug,.

The gymnasium has been quickly converted into an oversized meeting room, with a carpet, single desks and an electronic voice system. A lunch bag was provided for each desk, with a sandwich, water, an apple, a bar of chocolate and a face mask.

The cantonal councillors also didn’t have to go without coffee: coffee machines were available in the cloakrooms. Access was only allowed for one person at a time, however, and there was no official coffee break.

The government councillors (Regierungsräte) sat in the front row (as usual), and the Presidium and the State Chancellery in the second row.

Photo 1: The cantonal councillors of Zug meet in the triple gymnasium of the cantonal school.
Photo 2: Discussions before the meeting at a distance of two meters

At the beginning of the meeting, the President of the Cantonal Council, Monika Barmet (CVP) pointed out that the meeting was taking place in the hall which the Council had itself advocated. In 2014, the Council had decided that the cantonal school Zug should be given a triple gymnasium for the expansion of its sports facilities - not just two single gymnasiums, as the government council (Regierungsrat) had proposed. "At the time, nobody knew that we could once profit from this place in this way," said Barmet.

Other parliaments will also meet soon
The Lucerne City Parliament (Stadtparlament) will meet again for the first time on 14 May. This meeting will also not take in the usual environment: the 38-member parliament meets in the cantonal council hall(Kantonsratssaal).

The Lucerne cantonal parliament (Kantonsparlament), on the other hand, is expected to meet again for the first time on 18 May. In order to comply with the distance rules, the session will take place for one time only in the trade fair (Messe) at the Allmend. The Landrat of Uri has postponed the April session to May and will also meet again for the first time on 18 May.

The Nidwalden Landrat and the Schwyz Cantonal Council will meet again for the first time on 27 May. The Obwalden Council will meet for the first time on 28 and 29 May.