Philippe Bender: «My values? Freedom, democracy, nation».»

The Valais counts Philippe Bender among its famous historians. A specialist in radicalism, he welcomes us to his home in Fully to answer a few questions about his passion, his vision and the current situation of the Valais Liberal-Radical Party (PLR), of which he is a member.

Le Regard LibreYou're a historian specializing in radicalism, a political movement within the liberal family of thought. Why this passion?

Philippe Bender: Historians have to go to the sources, to multiple documents of all kinds, and criticize them according to the rules of the art. He must be rigorous, even if he devotes himself to the history of the party of his choice. There is much to learn about the evolution of the liberal and radical movement since 1830. Firstly, it's the largest intellectual movement in Switzerland and the Valais. Secondly, it has forged mentalities and constantly influenced politics and the economy.

What have been the major issues and moments in the history of this movement?

For a long time, one of the major issues in Valais was the relationship between Church and State. To challenge the established order, the confusion of the two powers, spiritual and temporal, or to question the vulgate taught, made you look like a «marginal», and could close doors. Religious and political minorities were kept out of the spotlight for decades. Take the case of the Ecole Libre du Châble, or the history of Protestants. Today, it's the Muslims who are ostracized, or the atheists who are mocked. The Protestant Church was only recognized as equal to the Catholic Church in 1973, following Vatican II. But not everything has been settled, particularly in terms of taxation, and the Valais is taking slow steps towards religious peace and a pluralist society.

Do you think that the Valais PLR, which is absent from the cantonal government, is making the most of its current status as an opposition party?

Being in the minority in the Valais of 2015 is an incentive to excel. However, in 2017, we'll be judging the «crossing of the desert» that began in March 2013 with the ousting from the government. I'm a «proportionalist» at heart. The State is nobody's property: it belongs to all those who make it up. It must be open and diverse. I'm in favor of sharing power between the main components.

What are the key values you hold dear?

Freedoms, democracy and the nation.

Let's start with freedoms.

The Valais is weighed down with resentment. We owe our greatness to our freedoms: freedom of thought, freedom of conscience, freedom of association, freedom of establishment... A human being without freedoms is merely the slave of his passions, or the prisoner of his material existence. Freedoms form an indissoluble whole. You can't be economically liberal and yet be closed to the evolution of society and culture. Unless you cultivate postures or images with no real force. The tyranny of the dominant single thought is the worst.

And democracy?

But democratic institutions are the necessary framework for living together. A weak state benefits no-one; that's not what the Liberal-Radicals, who created modern Switzerland and Valais, want! Secondly, other people have the same dignity as I do. Authentic pluralism means accepting the competition of ideas, beliefs and values, even when society and the rule of law need a spiritual glue.

As for the nation?

Switzerland is our common nation. What would the Valais be without Switzerland? Conversely, Switzerland would be nothing without its cantons and communes. We were spared both world wars. We could have suffered a different, tragic fate. But beware: true patriotism integrates, artificial nationalism excludes.

You've just read an interview conducted by Sébastien Oreiller and Jonas Follonier and published in Le Regard Libre N°10. Debates, analyses, cultural news: subscribe to support us and get access to all our content!