In 1999, Achille Casanova asked me if I would like to take over his staff for communication strategies and analyses.
I didn’t know at the time that the staff consisted only of me and that several predecessors had failed at this task.
A central task was to coordinate the communication of the departments.
That was then, and probably still is today, simply an impossibility.
Nobody wanted to look at the cards.
My trip to the Federal Chancellery lasted around three and a half years.
It was worthwhile on many levels, not only because I was able to learn a lot from my mentor Achille Casanova.
Achille was a master of communication, a charmer who used the peculiarities of language to satisfy journalists.
If the room was full of journalists (room 286 at the time) and there was nothing to communicate, Achille would speak long and unctuously in French (as he did when Expo.01 was postponed, which had not yet been decided by the Federal Council).
If facts had to be communicated with as little emotion as possible, German was the main language (e.g. the Swissair grounding).
He could get really emotional in Italian.
In general, Achille was the best lobbyist for Ticino’s concerns in all of federal Bern.
He only lost his independence when Ticino was involved in Federal Council business.
I learned from Achille Casanova how a good administration has to work and what tricks and ruses it can use.
Unfortunately, I have only met a few officials who share his ethos and skills.
It was impressive how quickly he was able to read into a Federal Council matter.
He always knew with great certainty where the dog was buried.
But Achille was also a master at playing for time.
My assignment was to write a report on the “Engagement of the Federal Council and authorities in the run-up to federal votes”.
Part of the brief was not to finish too quickly.
After all, Achille Casanova saw no benefit in Parliament taking action on the matter (which it later did, but ultimately to no avail).
When the responsible commission asked questions, a new argument was always found as to why the report was delayed.
At one point, Achille Casanova told the commission that an employee had fallen off a horse and sprained her foot.
The information was true, he just concealed the fact that the employee no longer had anything to do with the report.
I first learned from the Federal Chancellery that a deadline is relative and not mandatory.
In politics, this knowledge can be crucial.
Achille was a sociable person who could fill a room and inspire people.
There was a lot of laughter in the team, the doors were always open, you could talk about anything and yet you had to recognize that there were certain tacit agreements.
Smoking was allowed during meetings with Achille, which the non-smokers had to tolerate.
The variable salary components were also the same for all employees. This saved Achille Casanova many discussions and disappointments.
Achille Casanova was a Federal Council spokesperson with stature who gave the Federal Council a face, in good times and in difficult times.
Following in his footsteps is an almost impossible task, as we are currently witnessing.
A great communicator, a creator and designer has passed away.
We all wish that Achille could have enjoyed his life for a few more years.
Unfortunately, illness has won the day.
I wish the bereaved family much strength during this difficult time.
I will always remember Achille fondly and thank him for an instructive time and many funny moments.