Of SVP agitators, SVP aggravators – and the dispute over federal president Guy Parmelin – Switzerland

“We give the virus the greatest pleasure when we fight,” US President Guy Parmelin warned Wednesday. It is “very, very important that we continue this path together.”

Less than two hours later, Parmelin’s own party, the SVP, harshly criticized the Federal Council. This seems to have “completely lost contact with reality,” he criticized. Some SVP politicians chose clear words on Twitter. Group leader Thomas Aeschi, for example, accused the Federal Council of driving “Switzerland into poverty”.

National Councilor Senior Vice President Roger Köppel addressed SP Federal Councilor and Health Minister Alain Berset: “The Berset Boulevard Superstar is closing Switzerland due to ‘uncertainties’ about the new mutation of the virus.” The decision was not made by Berset, but by the entire Federal Council.

The aggravating factors of SVP

In contrast to the first shutdown, criticism of the Federal Council from various parties has rained lately. That of the SVP is particularly fundamental and high-pitched. Already at the end of December, he asked that the restaurants be opened immediately, and the consequences for the staff.

At the same time, ironically, the party has several cantonal health directors who made national headlines with their toughening up. Bernese Pierre Alain Schnegg, for example, was the first to ban major events in October.

Jean-Pierre Gallati of Aargau was quick to close the shops before Christmas. In Zurich, health director Natalie Rickli made it known several times that she was in favor of tougher measures. And Thurgau health director Urs Martin, also a senior vice president, said Thursday that he understands the recent Federal Council decisions.

But aside from SVP politicians in executive offices, the SVP leadership’s position on the crown crisis appears to have wide support within the party, especially after the renewed adjustment. Conversations with SVP politicians show that the attitude of the national party is supported in terms of content, only the brusque tone is occasionally criticized.

Pulling the rope around the federal president

Guy Parmelin is also in conflict. As federal president, he must represent the position of the Federal Council, which is strongly criticized by his party. But how did you position yourself on Wednesday? The “Blick” reported that Parmelin had changed camps overnight and spoke in favor of tightening. The leader of the SVP parliamentary group, Thomas Aeschi, publicly contradicted on Twitter: Parmelin had fought for the extension and tightening of the measures.

Parmelins’ department does not want to comment. The principle of collegiality applies in the Federal Council: All members represent the decision made in public – personal opinions must remain secret.

National Councilor SVP Aeschi suspects that false information is being deliberately spread to drive a wedge between Parmelin and Ueli Maurer. “SVP federal councilors respect the principle of collegiality,” he says. “But if information about the Federal Council meeting is released and I know first-hand that it is wrong, it is my duty as president of the parliamentary group to correct it.”

The fact that only Maurer really resisted the adjustment at the meeting is consistent with the information from the CH Media editorial team. Parmelin has reportedly spoken out beforehand in a joint report against the store closures. He maintains that it is still too early to adjust. At the meeting itself, which he presided over as federal president, he no longer objected to the majority situation.

SVP wants a special session

The SVP now depends on parliament. On Thursday, Aeschi submitted a request to the health commission for a statement to convene an extraordinary session. According to Aeschi, the commission should decide on Friday.

By the way, criticism of Aeschi’s statement about Parmelin was not long in coming. CVP president Gerhard Pfister took the keys: if Aeschi wanted to change to a government / opposition model, he should say so, he decided.