But this model is now called into question

This case is a bit like a coup de grace. The burden of too much for a Helvetia who can no longer scandals and controversies repeated. Since the decision of Berlin to give the green light to purchase, with a mysterious informant, a CD containing the names of some 1,500 fraudsters of the German tax authorities, all holders of a Switzerland account, it is the consternation on the shores of Lake Geneva. "People have the impression to type on it for reasons which are not necessarily justified," summarizes Michel Habib, researcher at the Swiss Finance Institute. They often say: "". They feel a deep sense of injustice. Even the Socialists, who are opposed to banking secrecy, found that the Switzerland is being battered in recent months. Here, it is a sense of relentless dominates, as an international community which seems to exorcise the crisis at the expense of a small country of 7.6 million people, suddenly passed comfortable status of neutrality to that of sacrificial victims.

The temptation of the theory of conspiracy

"From this point of view, the year that just ended has been experienced as a national tragedy", summarizes Pierre - Yves Frei, author of a book entitled "The fall of bank secrecy". Everything is happening in this generalized discontent since the incessant attacks against Swiss banking practices to the unanimous accusations against the voting against the erection of new minarets through the controversy about the arrest of Roman Polanski. Never or almost Switzerland had done so the headlines of the international press. All salt on the wounds of Swiss pride. "One feels mount a deaf anguish in a portion of the population", said Pascal Sciarini, a specialist of the Swiss political system at the University of Geneva. The impression that this period will leave indelible traces.

After the case of dormant funds, in the 1990s, when several Swiss financial groups had been accused of not making money from the victims of the nazis who have opened accounts between 1933 and 1945, Bern "had the impression of having put in place a system that prevents its banks again be accused of hiding questionable money", says Pierre-Yves Frei. Las, the Confederation "is not managed to take advantage of this the game this time, Sébastien Guex, a Professor of contemporary history at the University of Lausanne is concerned.". "It seems that any system withers and cracks. With the avalanche of criticism, the thesis of the conspiracy, classical in such a context, is Flores.

Strategy of the patch

Hunting the tax evader and his Swiss accounts "With the crisis, many countries suffer from a lack of liquidity and seek all possible means to fill their huge deficits", said Daniel Heuer, Director of the Chamber of commerce Swiss. But the time is rather poorly chosen to bring the rich Confederation. "The Swiss economic system, which was remarkably stable, was badly shaken last year, note Jean-Yves Camus, a political scientist of the Institute of international relations and strategic (Iris). Full employment no longer exists.

But more serious. At the end of this terrible year 2009, "the people of Switzerland starting only to realize that she lives in reality a tiny country completely isolated on the international stage while the rest of the world lives in a multi-stakeholder model," explains Pascal Sciarini. A particularly painful awakening. "The modern Switzerland is built around the idea that it was a special case," analysis Sébastien Guex. "The country was neutral, rich and strong." Its inhabitants were a little the elected people. But this model is now called into question. Neutrality is a concept which is increasingly difficult to justify when an increasing number of rules are imposed by the European Union, the United States or the g-20. Any debate on banking secrecy and the manner in which Bern was forced in one night to change its banking system prove.

The question is now whether the local political elite is rising to the challenge and launched in the country. But the answer is far from assured. "The ruling class mentality change little here", said Hans Ulric Jost of the University of Lausanne. "We drive a strategy of the patch," completed in the columns of the daily "Le Temps", Geneva tax expert Xavier Oberson, who participated in the working group set up to defend the interests of the Switzerland in the negotiations of the double taxation conventions (CDI). "We plugs the holes one after the other, but we do not we report that the tire begins to be doggone deflated.". But no one is where we propose a spare wheel. "The reality is that Berne appears outdated by events. "The real problem is the inability of the Federal Council to anticipate and respond to crises," slice Pascal Sciarini.

Attacked from all sides, poorly defended by the political parties traditional and worried about his future, the Swiss public opinion seeks a way out by opting for a certain radicalization. The success of the nationalist arguments of the many incorrectly named Democratic Union of the centre (UDC) confirmed this trend. In 2007, this movement became the first party of Switzerland with 28.9 of the vote. In loss of speed since this date, he recently resumed colors in the polls with the referendum against the construction of new minarets. "This vote is a way for people to show that it is unhappy with criticism coming from abroad," said Henri Schwamm, who co-wrote a book called "The Swiss financial, the other strategy" with Philippe Braillar. The Switzerland seems today in a vicious circle. More criticism against him multiply, its inhabitants are likely to succumb to nationalist theses, if not racist. "The SVP already wants to organize a new vote which would return to their country of origin foreign offenders and, in the current climate, I can bet you that this decision will be approved at 60," said Sébastien Guex.

This withdrawal is not new. "Since the 19th century, the extreme right-wing anti-democratic has always attracted about one-third of the vote in this country, said Hans-Ulric Jost." When the right of initiative was launched in 1871, the first vote focused on the prohibition of the ritual slaughter of animals by Jews. And he received a majority of the votes. "Pascal Sciarini said nothing when he explains that"the myth of the Switzerland is based on the defence against foreign oppressor. "

Resistance to change

"Identity withdrawal continues to widen," said Pascal Sciarini. To avoid this phenomenon, it should be a substantive discussion on the nature of the Swiss identity but I am not very optimistic, because the current polarization of the political landscape tends to radicalize the population. This is worrisome. "This University is not the only to make the alarm signal. "The country is going through a troubled period, said Jean-Yves Camus, Iris. It is indisputable. It should be avoid to launch against the Switzerland of sanctions similar to those that had been imposed to the Austria after the success of Jörg Haider in the polls. It would be extremely counterproductive to stigmatize the Switzerland. Look condescending abroad is not a good policy.

Today, the impasse seems total. International organizations, Brussels in mind, seem not decided to release their pressure against Berne. Running, the Confederation may accept a disappearance very important, or even total, its banking secrecy. This victory however would make many embittered Swiss. And it should not change the bad habits of the fraudsters. "Financial groups will continue to do their small graft ranging in the emerging countries of the third world", concludes Hans Ulric Jost. In refusing to evolve with the times and to be clinging to and against all on "traditions", the Switzerland gave his criticism stick to beat. But it is now impossible to go back...

What is changing with this crisis is that, for the first time, the Confederation will be obliged to deal. With an economy which is based in two-thirds on exports, the country can no longer live alone, judge Pierre-Yves Frei. Its inhabitants know well. Resistance to change however will be long to fall.