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The federal government and the cantons are taking drastic measures to combat the pandemic. These measures, and with them decision makers, are now harshly and regularly criticized. The truce, when the parties backed the state government in unison, was broken in the spring and since then the dispute over the course of crisis management has shaped politics.
But now, amid the second corona wave, scientists from the Covid task force are being dragged into the political feud. That is, those impartial experts who, for example, support the Federal Council with their knowledge before making its decisions. This was also the case on Tuesday when the Economic Commission of the National Council (WAK) met in Bern for an extraordinary meeting. The national advisor of the FDP, Regine Sauter (54, ZH) took the opportunity to request the inclusion of representatives of the company in the working group. This despite the fact that the expert group is explicitly designed as a scientific working group and representatives of business associations in the Federal Council are very well listened to. Not only in times of crisis.
The application was unsuccessful, but reportedly just barely: Commission President Christian Lüscher (56, FDP) had cast the casting vote. Upon request, Sauter justifies his request by stating that measures to combat the crown must be balanced and that the health and functioning of the economy must be taken into account. And with the fact that companies would have to implement these measures in practice. In which Sauter is right, but this applies to almost all residents of Switzerland.
In the end, the Federal Council decides
“Yes, in the end the Federal Council decides and interest representatives will surely find ways to articulate their point of view,” says the Zurich native. “But how do you say: do one thing and don’t leave the other.”
The SVP went even further on Tuesday. She launched a radical lawsuit: Esther Friedli (43), National Councilor of St. Gallen, even asked the WAK to dissolve the task force. This proposal did not find a majority either. Friedli confirms the application to SonntagsBlick. Its drive is also economic in nature. “I come from the hospitality industry and experience the consequences of contradictory statements closely,” he says. When the task force called for all restaurants to be closed a week ago, countless hosts canceled reservations. Friedli and his partner, former senior vice president Toni Brunner (46), race in Toggenburg.
He is not aware of any study, he adds, “that says restaurants are driving this pandemic.” Restaurants are closed in French-speaking Switzerland and the number of cases is still higher than in German-speaking Switzerland. “We have strict protection concepts in the restaurant industry and we are concerned about the health of our guests and employees,” says SVP National Counselor.
Ueli Maurer disturbs expert belief
That is why it maintains its demand to dissolve the working group or change its mandate. Friedli is now considering presenting a corresponding proposal in the next session: “Scientists and experts give their opinion anyway. They can do that too. But not on the official behalf of a working group that is supposed to advise the government but has no responsibility. “Scientists are not aware of the effects of” such signals. “” It is about existence!
Friedli is not alone in this attitude. As BLICK reported, criticism of the task force is also strong in the Federal Council. Finance Minister Ueli Maurer (69) complained last week at an online event from his senior vice president about the “belief of the experts.”
However, the pragmatic line of the state government shows that it is by no means the health experts who put the seal on the state by themselves. One end of the task force could take the stage from the SVP’s point of view by one or another unpleasant voice. A quicker end to the exceptional situation can hardly be achieved. On the contrary.
