Karin Keller-Sutter in Austria for her first visit as President of the Confederation – rts.ch

It was in polar cold, but under the clear sky of an Austro-Swiss relationship that has been going strong for years, that Karin Keller-Sutter met her counterpart, Alexander Van der Bellen, in Vienna on Friday.

Relations between Switzerland and Austria, European politics and bilateral relations with the EU were at the center of the discussions.

Importance of the OSCE

The discussions also focused on the security situation in Europe and the role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), of which Switzerland will assume the presidency in 2026. The President of the Confederation reaffirmed the importance of the OSCE, whose role is, according to her, to allow an exchange between numerous countries aimed at better overcoming conflicts.

In view of the new government of the United States taking office, Saint-Galloise called for open and constructive discussions, in order to continue to guarantee a fruitful exchange.

New page in EU history

Political scientist Oscar Mazzoleni believes on this subject that the remarks made by the new United States administration in terms of protectionism and the growing importance of far-right parties in the founding countries of European integration open a new phase in the history of the EU.

At issue is the future of the Schengen agreements and internal border controls and, more broadly, the weight of national governments. This also leaves doubts about the bilateral agreements under discussion with Switzerland.

A Switzerland surrounded by the extreme right

The Austrian president also outlined the latest developments in domestic politics and presented the government formation process. The leader of the FPÖ (far-right) Herbert Kickl negotiates with the conservatives to form a government.

The growing international circulation of ideas and political styles of the extreme right can undoubtedly impact parties and movements in Switzerland

In the context of the rise of far-right parties, Oscar Mazzoleni, also professor of political science at UNIL, also points out the situation of encirclement of Switzerland by countries where these groups are on the rise.

He underlines that “the growing international circulation of ideas and political styles of the extreme right can undoubtedly impact parties and movements in Switzerland”. In this context, the media have a role to play.

And to cite in particular the shift of the NZZ, traditionally linked to moderate liberalism, towards the right. “The praise for Trump, Milei and Musk that we find on the pages of this daily can help to strengthen the opportunities that the UDC or other parties will be able to seize in the near future,” he said again.

ats/doe