The Chairman of the Swiss Council of States gave a lecture at the institution on November 18.

Students of the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC) now understand that Switzerland differs significantly from other democracies with features like direct democracy, federalism and consociational democracy.

The information was given them at the Amphi 300 of the institution in Yaounde on November 18, 2013, by the Chairman of the Swiss Council of States, Hon. Filippo Lombardi, on a working visit to Cameroon at the invitation of Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji.

Lombardi said Switzerland’s direct democracy and federal tradition were unique and the Swiss political system often hard to explain as it seems unthinkable for a country not to be led by a President or Prime Minister. He spoke about his country’s legislature which consists of the National Council and the Council of States, representing the cantons. He however expressed the desire to take home the bicameral system as practised in Cameroon.

The Director of IRIC, Pierre Emmanuel Tabi, told his august guest that the institution is a model on the continent in terms of training in International Relations and Diplomacy, but his students continue to express interest in Swiss institutions especially as the country is host to many international institutes. The Swiss political system that is characterised by direct democracy is a reference, he said.

Pierre Emmanuel Tabi, on behalf of staff and students of his over 40-year-old institution, offered a gift to Hon. Filippo Lombardi, symbolising Cameroon as Africa in miniature. Hon. Lombardi did the same, saying what he was offering to the Director of IRIC was from the Swiss Parliament. He then signed IRIC’s Golden Book before departing.