What do Céline Dion, Switzerland’s fourth national language Romansh and Swiss television all have in common? 10 years ago: Switzerland and Austria were the hosts of the 2008 European Football Championships. The same year saw Kosovo declare its independence from Serbia. Switzerland was the first country to recognize Pristina and to start diplomatic relations with Europe’s youngest country. 30 years ago: This was the last time Switzerland won the Eurovision Song Contest. Responsible for this was one Céline Marie Claudette Dion, then a little-known singer from French-speaking Canada. Her song “Ne partez pas sans moi” helped the Swiss win the coveted trophy. 50 years ago: Students went out on the streets to protest. And Swiss public television broadcast the very first colour television pictures into people’s homes, from its studio Bellerive in Zurich. 80 years ago: On February 20, 1938, Swiss men (women only received the right to vote in 1971) voted by 92% in favour to make ...
