Delegate Assemblies – There are clear differences between the FDP and LPG – New in the ecological course

To find differences between two parties, sometimes it is enough to take a look at the delegate assemblies agenda: for example, the FDP had planned today to decide on two agricultural initiatives to be voted on on June 13 as a package, so both in the same pot to throw away. The GLP, on the other hand, had reserved a separate discussion and vote for each of the two initiatives. A different weighting and therefore a significant difference.

The objectives of the initiatives

But what do the two initiatives want? The potable water initiative requires, among other things, that only those farms that do not use pesticides receive direct payments. The pesticide initiative for its part calls for a ban on all synthetic pesticides.

So first to the LPG: that green liberals want to be a green party is already evident from their name. And the voting behavior of its parliamentarians also shows that LPG belongs to the green field on environmental issues. The slogans that the party has produced today also fit this: a yes to the drinking water initiative and a vote for the pesticide initiative.

Of course yes to the drinking water initiative

With 160 to 7 votes, the green liberals clearly backed the clean water initiative, because they are based on liberal methods, hence the party’s tenor. In the case of the pesticide initiative, which is based on bans and therefore less suitable for green liberals, there was at least one vote.

Now to the FDP: The situation there is a bit more complicated. Because the FDP also wants to be green. So there was the party chairperson, Petra Gössi, two years ago, and the party rank and file followed her and first approved a FDP climate document and then said yes to the revised CO.₂-Law.

FDP goes less far

But with the FDP the ecological course goes much less far than with the LPG. To prove this, just take a look at today’s delegate assembly: of all people, it was a green liberal, namely National Councilor Kathrin Bertschy, who represented supporters of the clean water initiative in the FDP. -DV. In favor of a no, however, was a man from the FDP: National Councilor Jacques Bourgeois. Another significant difference.

The rank and file does not follow the party’s leadership

Both the leadership of the FDP national party and the conference of cantonal party presidents recommend the rejection of both initiatives. However, we don’t yet know what the party delegates decide, because not everyone at the delegates meeting agreed to vote on the two initiatives as a package.

Therefore, an amendment was tabled: Now the FDP delegates have until tomorrow night to formulate separate slogans for the drinking water and pesticide initiatives. – Obviously, at least a part of the FDP party base is more environmentally conscious than the party leadership.

Rafael from Matt

SRF-Inlandredaktor

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Since 2011 national editor of Radio SRF. Also moderator of the discussion program “Forum” on SRF1. He previously worked for the SRF newsroom and SRF 4 News as an editor and presenter. He studied German and historian.