In the “arena” of the Crown, the Councilor of States Gmür triumphs against the lawsuits

Review

In the “arena” of Corona, State Councilor Gmür lets the two combatants run

After five broadcasts, the SRF “Arena” is once again dedicated to topic number one: Corona. SP-Badran rumbled against SVP-Dettling. The “golden mean”, as it is so beautifully called, had a great time.

Approximately 375 minutes of near-crownless broadcast later, SRF’s “arena” has returned to, quote from host Sandro Brotz, “issue number one.”

The virus dominates the federal Bern. And the tone has gotten harsher. The Federal Council, especially the Minister of Health, Alain Berset, is accused of dictatorial behavior. The majority of the Economic Commission of the National Council wants to put a muzzle on the Covid working group and next Monday the parliament is debating whether to add March 22 as a specific opening date for restaurants and leisure facilities.

The SVP dictatorship accusations are the starting point for Brotz: “Do you think that in a dictatorship someone could participate in an ‘arena’ that really criticizes it?” He asks the SVP national councilor, Marcel Dettling. Dettling awaited the question: “For a year,” his speech begins, “a committee of seven has ruled our room for a year.” Freedom is the highest legal asset of the Swiss population. “We representatives, we have nothing more to say,” he says confused.

The permanent guest at Dettling’s furthest studio, SP National Advisor Jacqueline Badran audibly grinds her teeth during Dettling’s comments. Last week she had to be furious about the ban on the veil, now she should comment on the dictatorship accusations. It’s like being invited to explain that the earth isn’t flat after all, which is why Badran was upset.

Lukas Engelberger also finds the “SVPschen” dictatorship accusations quite “absurd”. The President of the Conference of Health Directors and at the same time the Health Director of the Canton of Basel-Stadt added: “In 2013, 60 percent of the Swiss electorate approved the Epidemic Law. It also regulates the separation of powers and the functioning of the Federal Council and Parliament. “

But let’s go back to Badran and Dettling. Because they are already in the hair again. A rogue, who thinks it might even be a bit of fun for them. Now hotly debated: Dettling’s refusal to undergo a rapid crown test in the first week of the session. The SVP National Council defends that he felt healthy and considered the examination unnecessary. Badran giftelt: “You just have to go to kindergarten and not spit in a tube.” Furthermore, the SVP always pretends to be a party of the people, but does not even look at the polls. “According to polls, 68 percent support the federal measures or would even toughen them up,” concludes Badran.

Before the plexiglass panels fall due to disputes, Brotz shifts to the next topic: If the majority of the National Council Economic Commission has its way, the Covid working group advising the Federal Council should no longer be able to. make public statements.

Appearance of the “Die Mitte” party in the form of State Councilor Andrea Gmür. Unlike Badran or Dettling, Gmür tries his hand in the mediation position. Yes, sometimes I was not satisfied with the communication from the working group. “The statements of the scientists disturbed the population.” A muzzle is out of the question. However, Gmür cannot resist a small blow to the working group: “If I left the party every time I fail with my opinion, it would have happened a thousand times.”

Now it is the moderator Brotz who mocks the SVP. “Mr. Dettling, it is not Federal Councilor Berset who wants to prohibit freedom of expression here as if it were a dictatorship,” he told the SVP National Council. Dettling responds that the working group did not adhere to the agreements and communicated before the Federal Council had even decided anything. “As already mentioned, this has generated confusion and uncertainty among the population.”

A camera scrolling to the right corner shows Badran’s hands, placed angrily on his hips, and the drinkable Suada immediately follows: “Whatever you want,” the SP National Councilor’s fingers now wave in Dettling’s direction, “a muzzle for the working group, which are methods of dictatorships! “The one who ever deserved a muzzle is the senior vice president.” You create confusion and divide people. “

Drowning the fighters, presenter Brotz passed the word Councilor of States to Gmür. He seizes the opportunity and says with a smug smile: “As always, the truth is in the middle.” Mutual accusations would not help, so far Switzerland has had the crisis under control. Now it is up to the Federal Council and science to give the population a perspective. “Actually, I would like to hear from Mr. Salathé how we can return to a normal life as quickly as possible.

Marcel Salathé, epidemiologist and former member of the Federal Council working group, stands a bit out of the way in Study 8. He stoically supports the discussion about the working group’s muzzle and the scientists who spread uncertainty. When asked by moderator Brotz, Salathé uses the metaphor: “If a specialist tells me that my roof is in danger of collapsing in the next storm, and then repairs it, I will throw it in the next storm and a roof that will collapse. wait, yes Alarmism ahead “.

It is also Salathé who has the last word on Brotz. The occupancy of the intensive care beds, the 14-day incidence, the R-value and the positivity rate, all that, does not look so bad, according to the epidemiologist. The situation remains fragile. “We have new mutants, some of which are more contagious. But we also have better protection concepts, more tests and a vaccine. ”

Brotz von Salathé finally wanted to know if everything could open on March 22. However, in the usual scientific way, this cannot be turned into a catchphrase. “We have to see how the number of cases will evolve in the coming weeks. Politics decides how it is handled. ”

It sure does. Next Monday and at the latest at the next SRF “Arena”.