Federal Councilor Viola Amherd will leave office on March 31. After six years in Bern, the Valais centrist vacated a highly coveted seat in the government. A place which should remain in the hands of the Center, limiting competition to party members.
Within Parliament and the party itself, several names are already circulating to take the place of the centrist. Starting with Gerhard Pfister, current president of the Swiss Center. The fact that the canton of Zug has no longer been represented in the Federal Council since the resignation of Kaspar Villiger in 2003 could work in its favor, believes SRF.
At 62, this fine political strategist and senior member of the National Council (i.e. the elected official who has been in office the longest without interruptionEditor’s note) recently announced his resignation from the presidency of the party, leaving room for speculation about his federal ambitions. His strong personality could, however, be a hindrance, potentially irritating, or even frightening, his political opponents, i.e. a large part of the parliamentarians who will elect the next federal councilor.
>> Read also: Success on the F-35, Leopard tank crisis, Bürgenstock conference: Viola Amherd’s assessment at Defense
A place for French-speaking people?
Another name that is also often mentioned is that of Martin Candinas, originally from Graubünden. Aged 44, he assumed the presidency of the National Council in 2023. His warm personality and his ability to bring people together are assets that could work in his favor if he decides to run for office.
Finally, Benedikt Würth, advisor to the States and former member of the Saint-Welsh government, is also expected. However, some observers point out that his geographical and political proximity to Karin Keller-Sutter (PLR) could work against him.
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If the departure of Viola Amherd, a German speaker, should favor the candidacy of a German speaker, the name of Isabelle Chassot, state councilor and former member of the Friborg government, is regularly mentioned. Despite her repeated refusal to run for the position, notably reaffirmed on Sunday in Mise au Point, several parliamentarians interviewed by RTS believe that she has the stature of a federal councilor.
>> Watch the interview with Isabelle Chassot in Mise au Point:
The question of gender
German-speaking radio and television SRF also mentions the names of the Graubünden state councilor Stefan Engler and his colleague from Appenzell Innerrhoden Daniel Fässler as potential candidates to succeed Viola Amherd.
The departure of Valaisanne also raises the question of female representation in the Federal Council. If a man is elected, there would only be two women out of seven federal councilors. This prospect is particularly worrying on the left. But Center Women’s President Christina Bachmann-Roth also insists on the need to include at least one woman on the official ticket.
If a man is elected in March to replace Viola Amherd, it will be the first time in 19 years that the Center will not be represented by a woman in the Federal Council.
>> Listen to the details from 12:30 p.m.:
Radio subject: Philéas Authier
Web text: hkr
