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The European debate is accompanied by an unsolved puzzle: Where are the supporters of the institutional framework agreement with the EU? From social democracy to liberalism, opponents of the “Insta” are now setting the tone. They are flanked by new formations such as the Allianz Kompass / Europa or the Aargau Autonomiesuisse Entrepreneurs Association. Business-style detractors. No party registration, but with bold entry in the commercial register.
Kompass initiator Alfred Gantner (53), co-founder of Partners Group, a Zug-based asset manager valued in the billions, fills a political void. This grew out of Vogel Strauss’s policy of the Federal Council, the self-blocking of the parties and the fear of the people. The death of the deal is the new popular sport in the Bundesbern; In the seventh year after the start of negotiations, the framework contract seems as desirable as a kiss from Jean-Claude Juncker.
The field of yes, which formally had the support of the state government and could depend on multiple commitments by the sovereign to the European political path of the federal government, has vanished into a ghost.
Progresuisse wants to get involved in the future
After months of stagnation, a new force is emerging on the side of supporters: This week, a diverse team of more than 60 from science, society, business, and politics launched the movement called Progresuisse. The initiators will be made public on Sunday.
The decor and appearance convey the statement: Progresuisse wants to participate in the debate in the future. The central message of the troops: a framework agreement has its price. But no framework agreement has its price and it is higher.
It wants to give voice to “the constructive forces”, it says on the website, “which represent stable and lasting relations with the EU. Progresuisse sees itself as a “constructive actor” to contribute to the debate on the framework agreement.
Prominent names from the business world include corporate lawyer Peter Forstmoser (78), Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce CEO Martin Naville (61), digital expert Stephanie Züllig (46), former Economiesuisse president Heinz Karrer ( 61), Bucher: Chairman of the Board of Directors Philipp Mosimann (66), businesswoman Karin Lenzlinger (61), Ypsomed CEO Simon Michel (44) or President of the private bank Yves Mirabaud (54).
A thick wallet alone is not enough
From the academic field, to date the rectors of the universities of Zurich, Bern and St. Gallen have joined, but also Astrid Epiney (55), European lawyer and rector of the University of Freiburg. Epiney’s colleague Christa Tobler (60) is also there. However, above all, students and young researchers also participate through the Reatch group of experts. One of them is Joel Lüthi (28), a doctoral student in biology at the University of Zurich. It is driven by concern about the creation of networks of Swiss research centers in Europe. “Research without cooperation is like a computer without the Internet: great untapped potential,” says Lüthi.
The alliance with young students and researchers should not be underestimated: if you want to win over the population, a large wallet alone is not enough as long as it presents the image of an Old Boy Network.
Except the SVP, all parties are represented
The list of MPs who joined Progresuisse makes people sit up and realize: all parties are represented except the SVP. With Green Liberal National Councilor Tiana Angelina Moser (41) and FDP State Councilor Damian Müller (36), the presidents of the two foreign policy committees are on board.
With National Councilors Eric Nussbaumer (60), Yvonne Feri (54), Fabian Molina (30) and Councilor Daniel Jositsch (55), the “Euroturbos” of the SP are out of coverage, which should further fuel the proof of fire in the Party: the union leader Pierre-Yves Maillard (52) has already announced a total opposition to the «Insta». And a colleague in the parliamentary group sounds like Christoph Blocher when he talks about the treaty.
It is not surprising that the members of the National Council, Doris Fiala (64), Hans-Peter Portmann (58) and Regine Sauter (54) of the FDP participate. What is striking, however, is the participation of former party chair Philipp Müller (68), a clear signal for his successor Petra Gössi (45), who currently maintains a low profile.
Of the Greens, the Stapi of Bern Alec von Graffenried (58), Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (57) and the National Councilor of the BDP Lorenz Hess (59) from the middle parliamentary group have joined.
No money from the business association
One promoter of the project is the Bernese communications consultant Lorenz Furrer (52), co-founder of the Furrerhugi agency, omnipresent in the federal city. Is it just a PR joke from cunning plot doctors? Not at all, as Furrer points out to SonntagsBlick. He is concerned about the matter. We have no client. The project grew out of many conversations, so it has many mothers and fathers. “And: Even if Economiesuisse welcomes the initiative, it has not received a penny from the business umbrella organization or other associations.” We still have little budget , twice 10,000 francs from two founding members. So we are little David in front of two huge Goliaths, “he tells Kompass / Europa and Autonomiesuisse. The greatest joy is” when we quickly have a large number of progresuisse members. “
Furrer’s biggest blow is the commitment of former federal councilor Doris Leuthard (57). “We need a framework agreement to ensure market access and to consolidate and develop the bilateral route,” says the former CVP magistrate about her decision to participate.
The reference to Leuthard’s position is spicy: in September, the Center’s president, Gerhard Pfister (58), described the agreement in the Tamedia newspapers as the “big lie” of the Federal Councilors: “It has never been!” .
The European trench goes through the holidays
Another former member of the government who, like Leuthard, interferes in the debate and snubs his own party, is Johann Schneider-Ammann (69), his successor at the head of the Department of Economics: In a guest post in the “NZZ” he opposed to the “unbalanced draft” of the leather agreement and complained of the “loss of sovereignty” due to the role of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in the resolution of disputes.
With the exception of the SVP, the European trench runs through all the parties of the Federal Council.
However, it is not just the question of sovereignty that causes headaches in many places. The dispute over wage protection, the possible right of EU citizens to the Swiss welfare state and the discussion about the financing of public institutions are the three points on which the negotiator Livia Leu Agosti (60) in Brussels must obtain “Clarifications”. Whether it is successful or not will have a significant impact on the subsequent discussion.
For Progresuisse, however, the worst case scenario is when Switzerland loses access to the EU market.
