How the departure of Viola Amherd is perceived in the Swiss media

The announcement of Viola Amherd’s departure from the Federal Council on Wednesday sparked contrasting reactions in the Swiss press, between surprise, praise and criticism.

The New Zurich newspaper believes that the minister could have played a key role in a tense geopolitical context, but criticizes her inability to mobilize strong leadership to overcome the structural and budgetary challenges of the army.

Next to home watsonit is suggested that this hasty departure reflects weariness with the internal tensions of the DDPS, disagreements over the military budget with Karin Keller-Sutter, and recurring criticism over the lack of strategy.

Blick shares a harsh observation: despite problems inherited from her predecessors, Viola Amherd was unable to control the multiple pending projects within her department, preferring international meetings rather than internal reforms.

A departure also welcomed

Inversely, 24 Hours et The Geneva Tribune highlight the successes of Haut-Valaisanne: the acceptance by popular vote of new combat aircraft, the promotion of women in the army and the ecological modernization of the latter. These newspapers also salute his pragmatism in the face of NATO, his summit for peace in Ukraine, and his role in the rapprochement with Ursula von der Leyen on the EU-Switzerland negotiations.

Pour Freedomhis resignation seems “stunning” and leaves a symbolic void, while the Daily Gazette describes her as a figure marked by “exceptional cases”, from pandemic crises to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Despite differences of opinion, the media agrees to recognize the impact of Viola Amherd on the DDPS, a ministry historically dominated by men.

If some, like Freedomjudge his style “lackluster”, they admit that his passage was decisive in redefining the role of the Swiss army in an unstable global context. Finally, speculation is rife as to his succession, with names like Gerhard Pfister or Isabelle Chassot mentioned to take up the torch. (mbr with ats)

The news in Switzerland is here

More than 13,000 Vaudois agents were fooled during the canton’s largest anti-phishing campaign, revealing the scale of the threat.

The canton of Vaud put its 47,000 employees and elected officials to the test in a phishing awareness campaign. At the heart of the operation, a false email sent by a certain “Léa Rossier” invited them to open a trapped attachment entitled:

Plan_amelioration_processus_Urgent.

Nearly 29% of recipients clicked on the link, and 11% entered their credentials, reports 24 Hours.