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So this Sunday emergency meeting of the Federal Council. It is at the end of weeks of exchanges between the federal government and the cantons.
On Thursday, Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga (60) made an urgent appeal: “Now it is five minutes to twelve”, to the population and called for new measures against the virus. At the same press conference, however, the Federal Council immediately handed over responsibility for these decisions. “The cantons have a duty,” said Interior Minister Alain Berset (48), a statement that the population has heard on countless occasions.
Responsibility rejected
The top health director, Lukas Engelberger (45), in turn, with a sideways glance at Sommaruga, added significantly: “But I can also imagine that the federal government could once again play an increasingly important role and adopt national measures “.
Welcome to federalism, you might say. But it was not only the federal government and the cantons that continued to push the hot potato from one place to another. Important decisions within individual cantonal governments, which would have been used to curb the unhindered spread of the virus, were also blocked: in recent weeks there have been intense discussions between the economics and health departments. “Neutral decisions are hardly possible, we have noticed it very strongly here,” said the employee of a cantonal government in eastern Switzerland.
This process also caused outrage among scientists. Geneva Taskforce virologist Isabella Eckerle on Twitter: “Switzerland is internationally recognized for having done a particularly bad job in tackling the second wave. It’s not really something to be proud of. “
Leadership figures are missing
Psychology professor Adrian Bangerter (50) sees an urgent need for action if the population wants to implement the measures again: “In the spring we had the combination of a concrete danger and clear leadership from the federal government. That is missing now. To mobilize people, you need both: a feeling of threat and a strong figure. “
At the beginning of the crisis, the man from BAG, Daniel Koch, took on this role. He embodied the Corona crisis and was generally known as “Mr. Crown »known. His word carried weight. “In emergency situations, many people turn to these leaders,” explains Bangerter. Now this instance is missing.
Every day counts
It is also clear to immunologist Daniel Speiser (65) of the crown federal task force: “The federal government must take on more powers again. The discussions between the federal government and the cantons continue, but at the moment some things are not going in the ideal way. Federalism is a good thing, but now high-level national regulations are needed. “
So that the number of cases does not continue to increase drastically, the state government has to do its job in its meeting today. Speiser: “We don’t have any more time. Every day counts. “
