Previous National Day events

Since 2011, the SSPG has organized each National Day in conjunction with a leading partner organization. Organizations with an important anniversary coming up or which would like to use the National Day to provide a special experience for their members are welcome to register their interest with the SSPG.

2022: Swiss Wrestling Association
2021: Organisation of women’s organisations Alliance F
2020: Presence Switzerland streamed all over the world (celebration only with 200 people because of Corona)
2019: Swiss Firefighter Association (150 years) and Association of Swiss Communes (“Year of militia work”)
2018: 70 organizations committed to social cohesion in Switzerland.
2017: 100-year anniversary of Pro Senectute (welfare organization for the elderly)
2016: 150-year anniversary of the Swiss Red Cross
2015: Gästival (“Guestival” – 200 years hospitality in Central Switzerland
2014: Jungwacht Blauring (youth organization)
2013: Schweizerischer Fussballverband (Swiss Football Association) – Alex Miescher, General Secretary
2012: Pro Juventute (child welfare charity) – centenary year
2011: Schweizerischer Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband SBV (Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired) – centenary year

Since the late 1940s, the official National Day address on the Rütli has always been given by a leading Swiss personality. Until 2005, the speakers tended to come from the central Swiss canton but since then efforts have been stepped up to promote a more inclusive all-Swiss, multilingual approach. 1975 saw the first address given by a woman. The official address will have been given by the Swiss Federal President three times since 2005.

1949 Alfred Blunschy, Schwyz
1950 Gustav Muheim, member of the Council of States and the SSPG Rütli Commission
1951 Emil Landolt, SSPG president and Mayor of Zurich; and Mayor Fässler of Le Locle
1952 R. Sidler, Schwyz; and H. Villiger, Erstfeld, Cantonal Council member
1953 W. Kurzmeyer, Cantonal Council member, Lucerne; and army chaplain Louis de Momtmollin, Môtiers
1954 J. Hess, Engelberg, director of education and member of the SSPG Rütli Commission
1955 A. Käch, Chairman of Cantonal Council, Lucerne
1956 G. Odermatt, Sarnen, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1957 E. Z’Graggen, Hergiswil, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1958 Emil Landolt, SSPG President and Mayor of Zurich
1959 Alfred Weber, Altdorf, Member of Cantonal Council
1960 Josef Isenschmied, Chairman of Cantonal Council, Lucerne
1961 Fritz Husi, Einsiedeln, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1962 Remigi Blättler, Hergiswil, Nidwalden, Member and Chairman of Cantonal Council
1963 Hans Gasser, Lungern, Obwalden, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1964 Emil Wipfli, Erstfeld, Member of the Council of States
1965 Prof. Paul Kramer, Schwyz
1966 Alfred Gräni, Member and Chairman of Nidwalden Cantonal Council
1967 Hans Ming, Sarnen, former Member of the National Council and member of the SSPG Rütli Commission
1968 Xaver Leu, Lu, Member of the Council of States
1969 Alois ab Yberg, Schwyz, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1970 Hermann Sigrist, Flüelen, Uri, Member of Cantonal Council
1971 August Keiser, Hergiswil, Nidwalden, Member of Cantonal Council
1972 Oskar Imfeld, Lungern, Obwalden, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1973 Albert Krummenacher, Department of Military and Police, Lucerne, Member of Cantonal Council
1974 Xaver Reichmutz, Schwyz, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1975 Hildegard Simmen-Schmid, Altdorf, Member of Cantonal Parliament
1976 German Murer, Beckenried, Nidwalden, Deputy Chairman of Cantonal Council, Beckenried, Nidwalden
1977 Alfred von Ah, Giswil, Obwalden, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1978 Peter Knüsel, Meggen Lucerne, Member of Cantonal Council
1979 Rudolf Sidler, Schwyz, Chairman of Cantonal Council
1980 Hansheiri Dahinden, Member of Cantonal Council, Chairman of Canton of Uri Department of Justice
1981 Bruno Geiser, Chairman of Canton of Nidwalden Department of Justice, Ennetmoos, Nidwalden
1982 Hans Hess, Sarnen, Obwalden, Member of Cantonal Council
1983 Hans Rudolf Meyer, Mayor of Lucerne
1984 Hans Rudolf Meyer, Mayor of Lucerne
1985 Iwan Rickenbacher, Mayor of Schwyz
1986 Franz Steinegger, Altdorf, Member of the National Council, lawyer and notary
1987 Joseph Iten, Member of the National Council, Hergiswil
1988 Alexander Höchli, Engelberg, Deputy Chairman of Obwalden Cantonal Council
1989 Robert Bühler, Chairman of Lucerne Cantonal Council and Member of Council of Sates
1990 Joseph Wiget, National Archivist, Schwyz
1991 Ulrich Bremi, President of the National Council (700-year anniversary of confederation)
1992 Hansruedi Stadler, Chairman of Cantonal Council, Altdorf
1993 Eduard Engelberber, Deputy Chairman of Cantonal Council, Stans
1994 Niklaus Küchler, Sarnen, Member of the Council of States
1995 Josy Meier, Lucerne, Member of the Council of States
1996 Alberik Ziegler, Uri
1997 Tony Dettling, Schwyz
1998 Edi Engelberger, Stans, Nidwalden, member of the SSPG Rütli Commission
1999 Tony Röthlin, Obwalden
2000 Kaspar Villiger, Member of the Federal Council
2001 Franz Steinegger, Altdorf, Uri, former Member of the National Council
2002 Bruno Frick, Einsiedeln, Schwyz
2003 Edi Engelberger, Stans, Nidwalden, member of the SSPG Rütli Commission
2004 —
2005 Federal President Samuel Schmid
2006 Markus Rauh
2007 Federal President Micheline Calmy-Rey and National Council President Christine Egerszegi
2008 Josef Dittli, Altdorf UR, Member of Cantonal Council
2009 Peter von Matt, professor of literature, Männedorf, Zurich
2010 Annemarie Huber-Hotz, SSPG President, Rütli Delegation member, Baar, Zug
2011 Hansheiri Inderkum, Member of the Council of Sates, canton of Uri
2012 Antonio Hodgers, Member of the National Council, canton of Geneva
2013 Johann Schneider-Ammann, Member of the Federal Council
2014 Jean-François Rime, President of the Swiss Small Business Association
2015 Simonetta Sommaruga, Federal President
2016 Carla del Ponte, former federal judge and ambassador of Switzerland
2017 Walter Thurnherr, Chancellor
2018 Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation
2019 Heidi Z’graggen, member of the Cantonal Council of Uri
2020 Simonetta Sommaruga, Federal President
2021 Viola Amherd, Federal Councillor and Simonetta Sommaruga, Federal President
2022 Nora Wilhelm, social entrepreneur and co-founder of the collaboratio helvetica organization, Marco Solari, President of the Locarno Film Festival