Federal Councilor Viola Amherd is the subject of controversy following allegations that she doubled the salary of her close colleague, three months before her retirement. According to the NZZ, Brigitte Hauser-Süess earns 32,000 francs per month, more than American President Joe Biden. An RTS investigation contradicts this figure.
Since October, Brigitte Hauser-Süess reached the age limit of 70 to work in the federal administration, which means that she had to retire. However, Viola Amherd wanted to keep her personal advisor until the end of her presidential year in December. The only option left to him, apart from volunteering, was to re-hire Brigitte Hauser-Süess via a mandate contract.
Contract that the New Zurich newspaper (NZZ) consulted before stating that Brigitte Hauser-Süess now received the equivalent of 420,000 francs per year, compared to 224,000 previously. In the process, the communications service of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) published a clarificationensuring that Brigitte Hauser-Süess “receives the same remuneration as before”.
The 32,000 francs per month mentioned by the NZZ correspond to the total cost for the Confederation, including employer contributions, various packages and standard allowances, but would not represent the salary of the advisor.
In reality, according to an RTS investigation, she receives 22,000 francs per month, an amount aligned with that of her colleagues in other departments.
Previous accusations of favoritism
This controversy takes place in a context where the federal councilor has already been suspected of favoring the family of her personal adviser on two occasions, in particular by appointing her brother-in-law as head of Ruag. In addition, she selected the Goms valley as the site for the future Military World Games, where the son and daughter-in-law of Brigitte Hauser-Süess are very active in the sporting environment.
The NZZ suspected a third affair. These suspicions were amplified by the attitude of the DDPS. He first redacted the amounts from the mandate contract and then refused to provide clear details on the old and new salaries.
Radio subject: Romain Carrupt TV subject: Céline Fontannaz and Pierre Nebel
Adaptation web: exercise
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