In the picture, seated from left to right: host Frank A. Meyer, Atzuko Muschg, award winner Adolf Muschg, host Lilith Frey. Standing, from left to right: Mario Voigt, Minister President of Thuringia, Andrea Lindholz, Vice President of the German Bundestag, Ignazio Cassis, Swiss Federal Councillor, Maja Hoffmann, President of the Locarno Film Festival, Andreas Isenschmid, publicist and literary critic.

Adolf Muschg was honored today in Ascona with the “European Prize for Political Culture” by the Hans Ringier Foundation. 

“With Adolf Muschg, perhaps the last poet rooted in the era of Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a Swiss citizen is being recognized for the first time — someone who has repeatedly reminded our country of its lived reality at the heart of Europe. Adolf Muschg is a patriot, a confederate — and a European. As an internationally renowned intellectual and author, he embodies democratic reason and critical thinking.
With his life’s work, Adolf Muschg stands for all the values we must once again defend — for the European culture of freedom,” said Frank A. Meyer, President of the Hans Ringier Foundation, commenting on this year’s selection.

Publicist and literary critic Andreas Isenschmid paid tribute to the laureate in his laudatory speech:
“Muschg’s Europeanism is not one of unity and synthesis, as is often demanded today, nor is it one of a forced European identity. Muschg is allergic to the concept of identity — he counters it with aporia, tension, and productive conflict. He is open to deepening the European project, though not in a bureaucratic sense — rather in one that looks to Europe’s historical, ultimately ancient, depth to which a new European narrative would need to refer.”The award ceremony took place during the traditional Dîner Républicain, held annually at the invitation of Frank A. Meyer at the Hotel Castello del Sole in Ascona.

Award Ceremony: Adolf Muschg (left) with his portrait (artist: Tania Jacobi) and host Frank A. Meyer.

About Ringier
Ringier is a leading European media company headquartered in Switzerland with a history spanning more than 190 years. With around 6,000 employees, the group operates over 130 companies in 19 European and African countries. The Ringier portfolio comprises three main business areas: leading media brands, sports media platforms, and digital marketplaces. With a digital EBITDA share of 82 percent, Ringier is one of Europe’s leading media companies. The group remains majority family-owned to this day. More at: ringier.com