The pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the looming energy crisis: the major challenges are putting the government even more at the center of Swiss politics. We are experiencing the hour of the Federal Council. This has consequences for the seven members of the committee, for the coexistence of seven egos from four different parties.
The Sotomo research institute, together with SonntagsBlick, looked into the question of how satisfied the population is with the federal councilors and their performance.
The most important finding: a clear majority of the population no longer believes that there is a team at work in Bern. Almost two thirds (64 percent) believe that the seven members of the Federal Council do not work well together. This is remarkable in a country that sees itself as a nation of will and celebrates social cohesion on August 1st.
Nevertheless, this value is not a surprise, says political geographer Michael Hermann (50), managing director of Sotomo. “There is an obvious rivalry on the board. Targeted indiscretions are used to try to harm each other.” A competitive spirit that has long been felt beyond the narrow streets of Berne and evokes memories of past magistral power struggles. “It’s comparable to the time when Pascal Couchepin and Christoph Blocher were in government. The population registers this atmosphere,” says Hermann. It seems only a matter of time before the next conflict of this little group doomed to cooperate will be fought publicly.
Parmelin and Amherd also on the podium
While the population rates the teamwork as insufficient, opinions on the performance of the individual Federal Councilors differ widely.
The respondents rated the work of the seven heads of department with classic school grades from 6 (very good) to 1 (very bad).
FDP Minister of Justice Karin Keller-Sutter (58) passes everyone. Queen Karin the First scores best with a straight 4. Your work is valued even more highly in French-speaking Switzerland than in German-speaking Switzerland. She also benefits from the fact that, as the St.Gallen security director for many years, she embodies values that are in demand. She maintains her reputation as a hands-on and, if necessary, tough politician, especially when it comes to public safety issues. “KKS” points SVP Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin (62) and Defense Minister Viola Amherd (60, middle) to places two and three. In the course of the F-35 procurement, the Valais radiation woman is currently having an ugly argument with the finance and foreign affairs departments.
The current challenges undoubtedly play into the hands of Keller-Sutter. “She was able to prove herself by taking in the Ukrainian refugees. Your department is the focus of this crisis, »says Hermann. That was rarely the case during her previous tenure. The Department of Justice, which is not guaranteed to be your first choice, played at best a supporting role during Corona. “Karin Keller-Sutter was elected to office with brilliance, but then she went into hiding. During the pandemic, others came first.” But now she’s getting some of that shine back, says Michael Hermann. So one can read the encouragement that Keller-Sutter enjoys as a desire for clear leadership.
Cassis’ confusing communications
The contrast to her party colleague might not be greater: Federal President Ignazio Cassis (61) comes in at the end with a rating of just 3.2. Even the international Ukraine conference in Lugano TI was not able to give him any impetus. The considerable difficulties that the Tessiner showed at the beginning of the Russian war of aggression and the confusing communication regarding whether and how Switzerland would support the sanctions once morest Moscow have left their mark. “His communication is not received, you almost think you feel the fear of an imminent vote-out.”
The election year is casting its shadow. Cassis’ Freisinn and the SP will have to fight for their double representation – with the parliament and not the people making the choice. It is possible that Cassis will draw strength from the emerging debate regarding a contemporary interpretation of neutrality. The Foreign Minister does not lack the political courage to lead controversial debates, as he has shown in his dealings with China.
One person who is relaxed regarding 2023 is Economics Minister Guy Parmelin (62, SVP). Exactly parmelin. Unlike Cassis, the man from Vaud shed the image of the whipping boy in his presidential year 2021. It was he who represented the end of the framework agreement in Brussels and appeared before the world public in Geneva between US President Joe Biden and Russia’s head of state Vladimir Putin. In Bern, he also supported Health Minister Alain Berset (50, SP) when Parmelin’s own party shot at Freiburg.
Sommaruga before crucial test
Berset now successfully runs its public dismantling itself. A much-described odyssey to France, which triggered the deployment of the French Air Force, is just the latest example in an astounding series of breakdowns.
Now he is faced with the problem that the public is beginning to see the negative headlines no longer as isolated cases, but as a pattern, Hermann states. It is doubtful that the Minister of Health will ever be able to regain his popularity from the time of the Covid crisis, when he became a figure of identification for many as a crisis manager. He represents the AHV reform, which will be voted on in September, once morest the loud referendum of his own party. For the plucked SP, however, this vote represents something like the semi-finals before the big vote in the national elections. Not an easy walk for Berset.
However, those surveyed still rate the politician Berset higher than SP Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (62). A year ago, the Bern native surprisingly lost the central bill of her department with the CO2 law. The media package crashed, and now she is bracing herself once morest the impending power shortage – the decisive and perhaps last major test of her political career.
Adolf Ogi is missing
Only Ueli Maurer (71) has been in office longer than the Environment and Energy Minister. For once, the latter is in the middle of the Federal Council rankings without any behavioral problems.
Both Sommaruga and Maurer might one day ensure that the Federal Council regains its rank and performs better in the opinion of the population by resigning.
A majority would like a different composition of the Bundesrat. The Sotomo survey shows that for 62 percent the time of the magic formula of two representatives of SVP, SVP, FDP and one middle federal councilor has expired. However, a majority does not want to vote out a Liberal or a Social Democrat in favor of a Green Federal Councillor.
At best, a figure from another time would be able to win a majority: When asked which Federal Councilor of the 21st century the current body is missing, a whopping 54 percent named Adolf Ogi. The Bernese Oberlander left the political stage almost 22 years ago. A choice that reveals a lot regarding Ogi and a lot regarding the current Federal Council. “Adolf Ogi has the reputation of being a bridge builder close to the people. Something that the current Federal Council lacks from the point of view of those surveyed, »says Michael Hermann. “He embodies the longing for a conciliatory but independent politician who does not see himself as the mouthpiece of his party.” It is significant how strongly this image is still present today.
