Twenty years following joining the United Nations, Switzerland will be propelled to the Security Council for 2023-2024. The country should easily obtain two thirds of the votes of the 193 member countries: Switzerland is seeking with Malta the two seats of the Western European bloc without any competition. The vote should take place at 4 p.m. Swiss time.
Our recent articles on the subject:
■ Ignazio Cassis: “It’s never a formality”
In front of the press on Wednesday evening in New York (Thursday morning in Switzerland), Ignazio Cassis remained cautious but confident. “It’s never a formality,” said the President of the Confederation. Five countries are candidates for five non-permanent seats on the Council. Switzerland is the only one to run with Malta for the two seats of the Western European bloc. To be elected, it is necessary to obtain at least two thirds of the voices of voting countries among the 193 States of the organization.
According to Ignazio Cassis, the result does not matter as long as it exceeds the number of votes required. However, he says he has “an idea” of who might not vote for Switzerland, without naming anyone. The crisis in Ukraine and the Swiss attitude on the sanctions once morest Moscow can play a role, he admitted.
■ 25 additional positions to represent Switzerland
The candidacy and then the probable mandate of Switzerland on the Security Council require 25 additional posts. Among these collaborators, a dozen joined the Swiss mission to the UN in New York. Most of the expenses are absorbed internally by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), but the additional cost is estimated at 5.3 million francs.
In total, the envelope between 2020 and 2025 should reach nearly 25 million francs, two thirds of which are financed by the FDFA. The Federal Department of Defense (DDPS) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) will also have to resort to additional resources.
■ One red seat to a blue seat
Switzerland will begin its term on the UN Security Council next January if elected on Thursday. But it will enter on October 1 in a provisional period. The presidents of the UN executive body are then supposed to relay to Switzerland all the important documents on its meetings. But “it will be necessary to see, certain States make retention” on certain files, explained to the ATS a person in charge of UNO, specialist of the Security Council. On the other hand, Switzerland will keep its red seat in the room until next January. It is only then that it will take place for two years on the blue seats where the 15 members are found, including the five permanent and the 10 non-permanent.
■ In the eyes of the SVP, “the death knell of Swiss neutrality”
SVP parliamentarians demonstrated Thursday morning on the Federal Square in Bern a few hours before the planned election of Switzerland to the UN Security Council. They held up a banner that read “Switzerland is definitely a party to the war”. For the party, this decision “will sound the death knell for Swiss neutrality”.
Today, in New York, the death knell of Swiss neutrality will sound. The gravediggers of the latter (PLR, PS, Greens,… https://t.co/R3FWa2TX6Q
— UDCch (@UDC Switzerland)January 09, 2022
