The Zeeland native with roots in the city of Bern has been the cantonal finance director since 2010. Beatrice Simon will retire next year. Reason enough for a visit to your office and a look back into the past and a look into the future, accompanied by a side glance into the hereafter.
Beatrice Simon – the finance director of the canton of Bern, will also be the district president in 2021/22.Photos: Naomi Hodler
Beatrice Simon sits in court almost every day. Before the Last Judgment. There is probably no comparable office of a magistrate in Switzerland, which is connected in a similar way with both this world and the hereafter, as that of the Bernese finance director in Tscharner-Haus at Münsterplatz 12 in Bern.
Office in the birthplace of the legendary Madame de Meuron
In a paneled corner room of the building, where a certain Elisabeth von Tscharner saw the light of day in 1882 and later became famous throughout Switzerland as the legendary Madame de Meuron, Beatrice Simon “commands” the Bernese treasury. And whenever she pauses briefly while studying the files and lifts her eyes, willy-nilly her gaze falls on the opposite cathedral portal with the 234 finely crafted sandstone figures depicting the Last Judgment.
Matthias Mast visits Beatrice Simon’s office for the summit.
At the center of power in what was once the most powerful city-state north of the Alps
To what extent this depiction of a divine judgment that concludes world events, which judges all living and dead and heaven and eternal damnation, influences the work of the government councilor vis-à-vis is beyond the knowledge of the writer. Faith is a private matter and politics is not under spiritual but worldly jurisdiction. But the fascination of this world-famous late Gothic collection of sculptures above the main portal of the Bern Minster, which survived the iconoclasm of the Reformation, is difficult to evade and – like the whole of the cathedral, which was decided in 1420 as a demonstration of power – the times of the once most powerful city state north of the Alps. The time when the patriciate was the real center of power in the sovereign city and republic of Bern.
Always “possible” and close to the people: Government Councilor Beatrice Simon in her office at Münsterplatz 12.
Beatrice Simon’s election had an air of revolution about it
But the times of gracious gentlemen with the aura of divine grace are long gone – today’s Bern government is presided over by a woman without gracious airs, but with a pleasant straightforwardness. “She has an open eye, always looks the other person in the eye and always appears interested and unaffected,” says Peter Wäch, long-time Ringier and Tamedia journalist, about Beatrice Simon. Beatrice Simon has been a member of the Bernese government for eleven years. Your election in 2010 wafted a touch of revolution, as it was the culmination of the BDP split from the SVP on cantonal soil.
Simon like Merkel …?
Tempi passati. The BDP no longer exists; it merged with the CVP to form Die Mitte. But Beatrice Simon still exists. And the fact that, despite the weakening party base, she shone with the best result in all government council re-elections shows: Beatrice Simon hovers over the parties in the Bern area, similar to Chancellor Angela Merkel over the Federal Republic. What mum in Germany is Mueti in the Bern area? Not quite, because in contrast to Merkel, Simon neither makes a diamond nor a “Lätsch”.
The praise of the colleague
On the contrary, Beatrice Simon seems to be in a good mood all the time, her sunny face has become her trademark, even during the hard backbreaking work in the Grand Council and even during the weekly government meetings: “She is a capable person!”, Police Director Philippe Müller praised his colleague in the government council.
From this desk Beatrice Simon “directs” the Bernese canton finances, and when she looks up from the files and looks out the window, …
… she looks at the «Last Judgment» at the cathedral opposite.
Stubborn or Consistent?
Of course, there are also critical voices about the canton’s chief financial officer: Simon is just as stubborn as Merkel, and she wants to save everywhere except … in her finance department, they say – behind closed doors. This begs the question of all questions: How can you determine whether something is a consistent attitude or already stubbornness? You are cordially invited to ask yourself this question …
The tragedy of the cantonal financial policy
With a view to the foreseeable end of her reign in June of next year, a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche is dedicated to Beatrice Simon: “Many stubbornly pursue the path, only a few stubbornly pursue the goal,” said the German philosopher.
Unfortunately, since Napoleon’s troops stole the Bern state treasure, the tragedy of every person who is responsible for the financial policy of the Canton of Bern is that they never achieve the goal of low taxes and a balanced state budget. What Beatrice Simon says about this statement or allegation of the writer, the reader in the «Summit» on jungfrauzeitung.ch to heart 1: 1. So much can be revealed: Beatrice Simon never owes an answer!
The politician meets the journalist in front of the “Last Judgment”: Beatrice Simon with Matthias Mast.
“The servant of the heart” has hardly changed
Let us return to the essence of this woman who – in contrast to many other people who burden themselves with office and dignity – has hardly changed during her term of office. Only the teasing nose piercing has disappeared in the course of their government activities. “She has always remained true to herself and has remained warmly connected to everyone”, praises communications specialist Peter Wäch, adding one more thing: “Beatrice Simon is a servant of the heart!”
What she will do after retirement will remain a secret for the time being to Beatrice Simons
The current top servant of the canton will retire next year. But it won’t completely disappear from the scene: “I have various offers, but I don’t yet know what I’m going to do,” says the district president, adding: “I don’t necessarily have to work in the business sector. I can also imagine taking on a voluntary role in the social field. It’s good to be able to give something back to society after a successful and happy career, ”says Simon. Words that come from the heart and touch the heart.
The summit team experienced a taste of Simon’s cordiality during their visit to the finance minister’s office. Whether in an interview, in front of or behind the camera, in the office or on the short walk afterwards on the Münsterplatz and on the Münster platform, Beatrice Simon is always fresh in spirit, cheerful in spirit and “bland” in expression.
To person
Born on December 21, 1960
Grew up in the city of Bern
After compulsory schooling, commercial apprenticeship
Jobs in various industries and companies (interior design, metal construction, scaffolding, architecture, nursing vocational school, trade and others)
Further training in marketing and personnel management.
Languages: French, English, Italian and Spanish
Married to Helmut Simon since 1982, teacher in her home town of Seedorf.
Parents of two adult daughters.
1995 to 2010 councilor of Seedorf, seven years of which as councilor.
2006 to 2010 member of the councilor, until 2008 vice-president of the SVP parliamentary group, in the same year she moved to the BDP, which she chaired until 2010.
2010 election to the Government Council, since June 2010 Finance Director of the Canton of Bern.
In 2014 and 2018 she was confirmed with the best result in office.
Beatrice Simon will step down from the government at the end of the legislature next year.
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