These conflicts slow down Swiss policy on the crown

Dispute instead of unity: these conflicts slow down Swiss policy on the crown

The politics of the crown seem chaotic. Conflicts at all levels make it difficult to fight the pandemic and put Switzerland in a bad position in an international comparison.

The situation was clear in spring. On March 16, the Federal Council resolved the extraordinary situation and put the country in a kind of paralysis that lasted for several weeks. The affected industries complained about the consequences of the shutdown, but the population behaved in a disciplined manner and ensured that the first corona wave was quickly broken.

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We are now in the middle of the second wave, but we are far from the relative unity of spring. A skirmish for competencies and mutual accusations ensure that the number of cases remains high and is already increasing again in some regions. The policy of the Swiss crown is characterized by numerous lines of conflict. An overview:

Berset vs. Maurer

This contrast is a bit simple. But as Minister of Health, Alain Berset is making fighting the pandemic a priority. While the Minister of Finance, Ueli Maurer, focuses on the consequences for the economy and the federal treasury. “In view of these sums of money, I no longer feel comfortable as finance minister,” he told NZZ in late April.

In the second wave, the fronts softened. For a long time, Berset saw the cantons as an obligation, while Maurer softened his resistance to further support measures. But the crisis has strained the principle of collegiality and with it trust in the Federal Council. The constant indiscretions to the media also testify to this.

Bund vs. Cantons

In response to pressure from the cantons, the federal government gave them the initiative to fight the pandemic in June. They did little of that. In the summer they failed to prepare for the cold season by building test and trace capabilities. The consequence of this is the federal cacophony in the second wave and a jumble of measures.

The Federal Council concluded that it had to “take the reins again,” as Simonetta Sommaruga said Tuesday. The cantons reacted with disgust: “However, a large majority does not agree with the approach of the Federal Council,” the state government itself said when the new measures were announced on Friday.

Francophone Switzerland vs. German switzerland

French-speaking cantons were much more affected by the first wave than German-speaking Switzerland. When the number of cases skyrocketed in October, they reacted quickly and once again shut down much of public life. The German-speaking Swiss cantons, on the other hand, tried to cope with the second wave without interfering with the economy.

It didn’t work, which is why French-speaking Switzerland, which wanted to relax again, reacted outraged to Tuesday’s announcement. Their ire was directed at their former “model federal adviser” Alain Berset and not least the “Laueris” in German-speaking Switzerland, by whom they once again feel let down.

“Hard” vs. “Soft” cantons

There are also lines of conflict in German-speaking Switzerland. An example is the neighboring cantons of Basel-Stadt, where restaurants, bars and other facilities have been closed since November 23, and Aargau, where the governing council remained inactive despite the alarmingly high number of cases and awaited the new measures. of the Federal Council.

Instead of colluding in a spliced ​​region like northwestern Switzerland, all the cantons are cooking their own soup and thus confusing the population. Another example is the neighboring cantons of Graubünden, where restaurants have been closed and mass tests ordered, and St. Gallen with its laissez-faire policy.

Politics vs. Skeptiker

The Corona Skeptics are a noisy and sometimes prominent bunch (Marco Rima, Andreas Thiel) busy, but manageable. After all, they are so well organized that the referendum against Parliament’s Covid law is apparently coming. The law has been in effect since September, but the vote will likely only take place on June 13, 2021.

So it would be primarily a symbolic process, and that is exactly what could lead skeptics to unexpected success. If we are out of the woods by then thanks to vaccines and warmer temperatures, the vote could become a “memo” for the mismanagement of politicians in the face of the pandemic.

Politics vs. Sciences

“During these weeks, my confidence in politics has been affected,” ETH Lausanne epidemiologist Marcel Salathé tweeted in March, when politics reacted hesitantly to the corona wave. With the confinement, the relationship relaxed. Salathé, in particular, repeatedly praised the Federal Council’s coronation policy.

Others were more critical because the policy “sleepwalked” into the second wave, despite warnings from the federal task force, for example. Its former president Matthias Egger warned in June of a renewed increase in the number of cases. Some members were outraged via Twitter, such as Bernese epidemiologist Christian Althaus.

Politics vs. economy

The relationship has been tense since the start of the pandemic, albeit with nuances. While associations such as Economiesuisse were quite cautious, Corona’s measures were downright diabolical, especially for representatives of the national economy. Retailers, restaurants and tourism were particularly outraged.

The trade association reacted to the new tightening with a strong message. The Federal Council must finally provide evidence that there is an increased risk of infection in the restaurant sector, retail trade and also in the workplace. Other associations such as Gastrosuisse require at least compensation for lost income.

Science vs. Sciences

There is no consensus even within science. German physician Sucharit Bhakdi and his wife Karina Reiss became heroes of Corona skeptics with their book “Corona False Alarm”. Also in Switzerland, several medical professionals have voiced criticism of the crown measures and advocated a “differentiated infection.”

Economy vs. economy

There are also deviants in the ranks of the economy. At a scientific level, this affects some 60 economists who have asked the Federal Council in an open letter for a second blockade, in addition to fiscal measures. It is more compatible with the economy than the permanent “muddle”.

Individual sectors have at least been open to this, such as the hotel and tourism industries. For them, only a new blockade can reduce the number of cases so much that foreign tourists dare to go to Switzerland for the winter holidays. Now the ski areas are open, but guests from abroad are likely to be largely absent.

The many conflicts make it difficult to fight the pandemic and also deter a weary population from the crown. Ultimately, it is the nursing staff in hospitals, as well as nursing homes and nursing homes, who suffer. You were already “running into your gums,” Alain Berset told “Blick.” And there are still some difficult weeks ahead.