2024-11-02 23:00:00
ThoseGerlafingen steelworks
“Fake News” – SVP-Imark attacks its own Federal Council head-on
The dispute over saving the steelworks escalates: SVP National Councilor Christian Imark accuses Economics Minister Guy Parmelin of making false statements and even threatens consequences.
“I cannot understand this refusal,” says SVP National Councilor Imark to the Minister of Economic Affairs.
Photo: Nicole Pont
- Christian Imark accuses his party colleague Guy Parmelin of spreading fake news.
- Parmelin claimed that there was excess capacity in subsidized steel mills abroad.
- Imark argues that there are only three relevant steelworks in the Swiss area.
- Imark is calling for legal adjustments to keep the Gerlafingen steelworks profitable.
The accusation is violent: “Federal Councilor Parmelin is spreading fake news,” says SVP National Councilor Christian Imark – of all people to the address of his party colleague. Imark even threatens the Minister of Economics with consequences: “If Parmelin continues like this, he will have to expect a miserable result when he is elected Federal President.” It is planned that the SVP Federal Council will be elected deputy at the end of the year and will head the state government in 2026.
The trigger for Imark’s attack is the crisis at the Gerlafingen steelworks, which is in the home canton of the Solothurn SVP politician. 95 jobs were cut in the spring, and a further 120 are now to follow. The consultation process is still ongoing. There is therefore hope that at least some of the jobs will be retained. Stahl Gerlafingen can no longer produce profitably, partly because electricity has become too expensive.
Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin has to listen to strong criticism from his party colleague Christian Imark.
Photo: KEYSTONE
Parmelin speaks of “over 20 steelworks”
The Minister of Economic Affairs disseminated the information, according to Imark, which was false, on the “Rundschau” program on Swiss television. There Parmelin said: “In a belt of 150 kilometers around Switzerland alone” there are “more than twenty steelworks that are massively subsidized by the respective countries and whose production could cover the Swiss market seven to eight times.” Parmelin wanted to express that if the factory in Gerlafingen in Switzerland was closed, there would be no need to worry about not getting enough steel.
“Parmelin simply repeats what his employees tell him,” says Imark. “But that is demonstrably not true.” There are no more than twenty steelworks abroad within a radius of 150 kilometers: “There are only three.” Imark relies on a register for concrete and reinforcing steels from the architects and engineers association SIA. In fact, there are only three factories within a 150-kilometer radius of Switzerland that produce steel products suitable for building houses.
Parmelin counted differently
Parmelin’s spokesman Markus Spörndli says Parmelin relies on documents from the European trade association for the iron and steel industry Eurofer. However, Spörndli makes it clear that the twenty steelworks mentioned by Parmelin could also mean those that do not produce the same steel products as Stahl Gerlafingen. The extent to which the plants mentioned by the Minister of Economic Affairs “are currently in direct competition with Stahl Gerlafingen was not the subject of the statements,” says Spörndli.
Two weeks ago, 500 people demonstrated on Bundesplatz against job cuts and for saving the steelworks. Not only Imark appeared there, but also union boss and SP Councilor of States Pierre-Yves Maillard, SP President Cédric Wermuth and Solothurn politicians. The tenor: steel is systemically relevant. If the federal government saves banks, it must also save the last steelworks in Switzerland from going under.
But the Federal Council sees it differently. He is currently examining various measures, which, according to the plant’s operators, are not sufficient. At the same time, Economics Minister Parmelin emphasizes that the plant is not systemically important. “The closure would be very unfortunate.” However, steel, like most building materials, is a globally traded bulk commodity for which there are many alternative suppliers. “It would therefore be harmful for a small, open economy like Switzerland to strive for self-sufficiency,” writes Parmelin’s department.
Pressure on the Federal Council is increasing
“I can’t understand this attitude of refusal,” says Imark. “Once the plant closes, it will remain there forever.” The SVP National Council emphasizes that Stahl Gerlafingen does not need to be turned into a state-owned company, nor is a state industrial policy necessary. “All it takes is a few simple adjustments to existing laws and regulations.”
Imark is now working with other politicians to help the measures achieve a breakthrough through the parliamentary channel. In September, the National Council voted in favor of immediate measures thanks to voices from all political camps. “Steel is an important raw material that is manufactured in Switzerland entirely from recycled scrap,” says Imark. It is not only unnecessary but extremely inappropriate to become completely dependent on foreign countries for this resource. “The steelworks can certainly be operated profitably.”
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Her subjects, political science. Mischa Aebi brings extensive knowledge in political affairs and Swiss industry dynamics to his reporting.
