The Greens forego a Federal Council candidacy. Group leader Aline Trede, President Balthasar Glättli and Vice President Lisa Mazzone said at a press conference on Tuesday. An attack on the seat of Ueli Maurer (SVP) in the Federal Council is therefore avoided.
The reasons for this are not the lack of suitable candidates or fear of the challenge. Rather, they criticize that the “power cartel” in the Federal Palace is a set-up game. It was already clear in advance that the seat would remain with the SVP, a candidacy would have no chance and was therefore a waste of time and energy.
The representatives of the Greens – the fourth-strongest party in the country since the last elections in 2019 – need this energy in these times: For the fight for a fair and sustainable climate policy in and outside of parliament. And especially to continue riding the Green Wave, to prepare for the 2023 elections and to use this “climate election”, as Glättli called it, to her advantage.