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SVP’s attack on its own federal judge failed: Yves Donzallaz elected
On Wednesday, the United Federal Assembly re-elected all the federal judges who stood up again, including Yves Donzallaz, whom the Executive Vice President recommended that he be voted on.
The chairman of the SVP parliamentary group, Thomas Aeschi (ZG), advocated in vain for the removal of his own judge before the elections. “Each party has the right not to choose its judge.” In a hearing it became clear that their values did not coincide with the values of the SVP. The SVP no longer wants to take responsibility for Yves Donzallaz. “Choose it, you are responsible.”
The other groups harshly criticized the SVP’s approach. Andrea Gmür-Schönenberger from the Mitte parliamentary group (CVP / LU) stated that the party ignored the principle of separation of powers. Federal judge Donzallaz was not guilty of anything. That he is now being publicly punished by his party is inadmissible.
And Tiana Moser (GLP / ZH) claimed that the SVP was shaking the foundations of the rule of law with its approach. The SVP questions the independence of all federal judges. With the exception of the SVP, all parliamentary groups ultimately supported Donzallaz’s election.
Hurni with a brilliant result
Due to the resignation of the president of the Federal Court Ulrich Meyer (SP), a new Federal Judge was elected in addition to the previous 37. Christoph Hurni (GLP) will replace Meyer as ordinary judge. Hurni was elected with 232 of 233 valid votes.
The United Federal Assembly elected federal judges for the 2021-2026 term.
Keller was indisputable
Stefan Keller was elected extraordinary federal prosecutor, with 220 of 223 valid votes. His choice was indisputable. The supervisory authority of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the judicial commission of the National Council and the Council of States supported his election.
As a special prosecutor, Keller had previously enforced the lifting of immunity for US Attorney Michael Lauber. In his role, he should investigate Lauber, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Valais Chief Prosecutor Rinaldo Arnold.
SP failed with request to postpone
The motion of the SP parliamentary group to postpone the elections to the winter session did not stand a chance. SP State Counselor Daniel Jositsch (SP / ZH) argued to no avail that an SVP judge’s recommendation to be rejected, which was no longer acceptable, raised the question of whether the other SVP judges could work independently.
“Anyone who makes decisions contrary to the SVP will no longer be elected. How should we be responsible for having judges who do not decide independently, but primarily in the interests of the party? “
The SP’s parliamentary group demanded that the judicial commission prove before the winter session that doubts about the independence of certain federal judges in the face of any pressure from political parties are unfounded.
No family responsibility
The Councilor for States Andrea Caroni (FDP / AR), President of the Judicial Commission, could not get much benefit from such an examination: “What judge would admit that he dictates his sentences at the discretion of the party? The judicial commission recommends that the elections be held. “
And the chairman of the FDP parliamentary group, Beat Walti (ZH), added that the SP suggests with its motion that each of the federal judges standing in the elections is under suspicion of not making independent judgments.
The other parliamentary groups also rejected the proposal of the SP parliamentary group. With 199 to 42 votes in favor and 6 abstentions, the measure had no chance.
Request for pardon rejected
And finally, the members of the National Council and the Council of States rejected the request for clemency of a Czech convicted of fraud and money laundering.
The clemency commission had unanimously recommended that the United Federal Assembly reject the request. It rarely happens that the Federal Assembly decides on a pardon, most recently in 2008. (aeg / sda)
