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Secretary of State Roberto Balzaretti is considered one of the most ambitious and talented diplomats in Switzerland. Negotiated the framework agreement with the EU. The fact that he is now deposed as chief negotiator is causing heated discussions in the Federal Palace.
He is a fighter by nature: whether at his favorite martial arts Taekwondo or at the negotiating table. Roberto Balzaretti made great use of the negotiations with the EU on the framework agreement. But parts of parliament resented the fact that he and his chief federal adviser, Ignazio Cassis, made commitments on wage protection.
Cassis met today with the EU / Efta delegation from Parliament. It is not known whether he informed them of the future of his main negotiator. The “Tages-Anzeiger” announced today that Balzaretti should no longer be responsible for the EU file. This was also confirmed to SRF by various sources close to the Federal Council.
Good or bad for the framework agreement?
Opinions in the EU / Efta delegation on Balzaretti’s dismissal vary widely. “Help the cause,” says National Councilor Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (CVP / BL). It is easier with a new person to ask the EU for more details about the framework agreement. The National Councilor Eric Nussbaumer (SP / BL) speaks rather of a difficult signal for the EU: “We have always sent the best people to the negotiations.” To argue now that you have better negotiating talents is problematic.
A new phase begins
With the removal of Balzaretti, the Federal Council sends an internal political signal. A sign that a new stage is beginning in the negotiations with the EU on a framework agreement. It remains to be seen how new the phase will actually be.
Most Bundeshaus observers assume that the Federal Council will ask the EU to be more precise on three points: wage protection, state aid and the Union Citizens Directive. But the Federal Council will hardly question the framework agreement as a whole, as the parties have done in recent weeks.
Pressure everywhere
Cassis apparently sacrificed Balzaretti under pressure from other councilors and federal parties; foreign FDP politician Hans Peter Portmann is convinced. That doesn’t work at all. “This is a weakening of our Federal Council,” Portmann is outraged. “A power game unworthy of our country.”
Roberto Balzaretti’s new workplace is apparently the Swiss embassy in Paris. There he is supposed to replace Ambassador Livia Leu. Leu will receive a key role in the foreign department. The Federal Council apparently wants to make decisions on this at its meeting tomorrow.
