Right-wing firebrand Steve Bannon advocates for a popular revolt against central banks and governments. What does Switzerland's finance sector have to do with his plans?

Fired from the White House after just eight months and ousted from far-right media outlet «Breitbart News» earlier this year, Steve Bannon has taken to the speaking circuit to talk up the populist movement. He brought his tour to Switzerland this week, after visiting Italy and praising the country's voters for their anti-establishment stance.

Why did he choose Switzerland for one of his first public appearances since a bitter falling-out with U.S. President Donald Trump? The far-right firebrand said he views Switzerland as the forerunner to the rise of populism in the U.S. and across Europe, praising the landmark 1992 rejection of Europe's economic area spearheaded by conservative politician Christoph Blocher.

Trump before Trump

«Dr. Blocher stood up, one man alone, against the establishment. He is Trump before Trump,» Bannon said to whoops of approval from the sold-out audience of 1,500 people organized by Swiss weekly «Die Weltwoche». Besides lavishing praise on Blocher, Bannon delivered a broadside of the financial and political system as well as the business world.

«Central banks in the business of debasing your currency, central governments are in the business of debasing your citizenship, central technology conglomerates are in the business of debasing your own personal sovereignty,» he told the crowd, which included roughly 80 media representatives.

Behind-the-scenes Chaos

A former Goldman Sachs banker and entertainment producer, Bannon was fired as senior White House strategy last August. This January, he and Trump fell out publicly when the extent of Bannon's cooperation with a book describing behind-the-scenes chaos in the White House.