2024-02-28 18:19:00
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Like its former Federal Councilor Blocher in 2005, the SVP is once more once morest Swisscom’s foreign investment.
When Swisscom buys abroad, things quickly become political: every purchase fundamentally carries risks. In addition, the Swisscom networks must be crisis-proof and the federal government, as the majority shareholder, has a de facto right of veto.
The state government has already vetoed it once. That was in 2005 when Swisscom wanted to take over the Irish telecommunications provider Eircom. “The Federal Council acted – and prevented Eircom,” said then Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher.
The Federal Council is keeping a low profile
Now, 19 years later, it’s regarding Vodafone Italia. The responsible Federal Councilor is Albert Rösti – like Blocher from the SVP. What does he say as head of the Environment, Transport and Communications Department?
Rösti tells his head of information, Franziska Ingold: “Due to the ongoing negotiations and the stock exchange regulations, the Federal Council will not comment further.” After all: the government has dealt with the issue, says Ingold.
It can be concluded from this that the Federal Council has apparently allowed Swisscom’s Italy plan to continue. Otherwise Swisscom would have had to communicate differently today.
Rösti’s party once morest the expansion plans
But Rösti’s SVP doesn’t want to let the plan continue. “We are very critical of the issue,” says National Councilor Thomas Hurter.
Simply buying something so that you can make a profit is a bit too short-sighted.
Previous purchases by Swisscom in India, Malaysia and Germany had resulted in losses, said Hurter. And at Fastweb, the now profitable Swisscom subsidiary in Italy, Swisscom had to write off over a billion francs in previous years.
Swisscom must not be weakened. “Simply buying in so that there are profits is a bit too short-sighted,” said SVP National Councilor Hurter. He therefore does not rule out that his party will demand that the Federal Council veto the expansion plans in Italy.
Center, SP and FDP are open
No other Federal Council party goes as far as the SVP. Center National Councilor Martin Candinas is open to the Vodafone deal. But with profits abroad, Swisscom has to upgrade in Switzerland, he emphasizes. For example, with fast internet in rural regions. “At least with part of the profit,” says Candinas.
The Left is definitely up for such requirements – for example SP Vice President Jon Pult. He is not once morest the purchase itself: Swisscom is 49 percent private and has to make a profit, even if he doesn’t like it.
After all, Swisscom is already active in Italy, emphasizes the SP National Council. However, Pult wants more information from Swisscom.
Even privatize Swisscom completely?
No ifs and buts come from the FDP. Politicians don’t have to get involved, says Councilor of States Hans Wicki. He thinks it would be even better to discuss the complete privatization of Swisscom. After all, the telecom market is in Switzerland and, as is well known, there are several competing providers.
The Federal Council already wanted to completely privatize Swisscom. That was almost 20 years ago, shortly following his veto on the purchase of Eircom in Ireland. At that time, the National Council let the plan fail.
Now Swisscom’s Italy plan is reviving the old discussions.
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