Geoffroy Baylaender has been a Swiss honorary consul in Montpellier, France, for two years. This hands-on role requires personal commitment, plus an ease with diplomatic protocol and delicate situations – all responsibilities that he embraces. “I’m proud of my country, and this position allows me to serve it in a new way. Before, it was as a member of the military; today, it’s as an honorary consul,” says Baylaender. The 38-year-old grew up in Lugano in the southern canton of Ticino. He moved to the south of France for professional reasons, first to Arles and then, in 2022, to Montpellier. Behind the scenes of Switzerland’s diplomatic network In this mini-series, Swissinfo examines the largely invisible network of Switzerland’s 225 honorary consuls. Who are these individuals who act on behalf of Switzerland from Bordeaux to Brisbane and from Denver to Durban? What motivates them to take on this discreet role that can nevertheless prove very important in decisive moments? Their ...
