Viola Amherd: “The Swiss political climate is marked by wickedness”

ThoseInterview with Viola Amherd –

“The Swiss political climate is marked by wickedness”

In Davos, the federal councilor takes stock and tells us about her chaotic succession, NATO, the EU and the military service of women.

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• Viola Amherd insists on the importance of solid agreements with the European Union.
• It reassures Swiss neutrality despite the connection with NATO.
• Problems in the acquisition projects of the Swiss army have been noted.
• The advisor evokes the importance of female engagement without obligation.

Last week, You have announced your resignation from the Federal Council. The reaction that surprised you the most?

It is to receive a very large number of emails from citizens who thank me for my work. I didn’t expect it. But that is a pleasure.

Wouldn’t you have to discuss your departure with your party? We see that It’s chaos in the center for your succession…

I do not see how the situation is chaotic. The processes within the party are well settled. This is not the first time that the party has to find a successor for a Federal Advisor. And a resignation of the Federal Council is always a personal decision of the magistrate concerned. It is not customary to discuss it with the party.

Of course it’s chaotic! The president of the party leaves, the federal councilor too and all the best candidates Surrender for your succession…

It is not up to me to judge who are the best candidates in the party. In addition, each person must answer this question for himself and decide whether he wishes to present himself or not. There is no obligation to be a candidate for the Federal Council.

During your resignation speech, you deplored that the tone was hardened and that everyone thinks only of their own interests. Is it also a problem with the Federal Council?

I actually expressed my fears about the fact that the political climate in Switzerland is tightening, that it is, more and more, marked by wickedness. It is a phenomenon that we have observed for a long time in other countries. Despite this, we are still a positive example for foreigners. But the trend is clear, this is damaged above all to institutions. And the weakening of institutions represents a danger, especially for a country like Switzerland with its direct democracy. As for what is happening in the Federal Council, I have never revealed what is going on. So I’m not going to start today.

During your six years of mandate, what has most clearly shown you that Switzerland needs good relations with the EU?

The fact that we were no longer allowed to participate in the Horizon research agreement. It is a real disadvantage for Swiss research but also for young people in training. I also think of the agreement on the abolition of technical obstacles to trade. Swiss companies had to make additional efforts because we had no more recognition. These are two concrete examples. If the bilateral way continues to erode, this type of negative effects will be even more felt. We need good agreements and a normalized relationship with the EU.

Your presidential year ended with a handshake with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Was it not premature, since the treaties have not even been signed by the Federal Council yet?

The Federal Council only took note of the material completion of the negotiations. He approved the results of the negotiations. This is a formal decision. Technical clarifications must now be carried out. The signature will only take place afterwards. It was important to mark this moment with Ursula von der Leyen.

In recent years, you have brought Switzerland closer to NATO. Isn’t that a risk for Switzerland if Trump drops NATO?

On the contrary. It is all the more important that we are committed to the European continent and this includes NATO. Before Trump already, the United States had demanded a greater commitment from Europeans within NATO, also in the financial level. This is not new. And we will see what President Trump will do concretely. But whatever the United States does, European countries must get more involved in their own security, including in NATO.

But wouldn’t Swiss neutrality be more important than ever in a world where the distribution of power changes and where the strong actors are more numerous and different?

Switzerland remains neutral! Each project that we have decided to carry out with NATO and the EU, such as those undertaken in the field of training or acquisitions, meets the conditions of Swiss neutrality. Each agreement also includes a withdrawal clause. Neutrality is therefore not at all affected by this collaboration with NATO.

Last year, Switzerland organized the Bürgenstock conference to promote peace in Ukraine. Now, there is no longer much going on the Swiss side …

Switzerland always makes an important contribution to the peace process and continues to play a mediator’s role. Nine conferences have taken place since the Bürgenstock conference on the theme of nuclear security, food security and humanitarian field. Conferences where we continued to discuss with several countries on the various possibilities of helping the Ukrainian civilian population. It’s not nothing.

But war continues …

Of course we would like peace! We were not naive to the point of having believed to be able to sign, in Bürgenstock, peace in Ukraine. That said, many countries, including those in the South, thanked us for organizing this conference.

According to the finance delegation, there are problems in army acquisition projects for a total amount of 19 billion francs. What’s going on?

The letter from the finance delegation does not surprise me, because it only summarizes the information we have given to Parliament. We have identified problems in the context of certain acquisitions. And we are working on measures to put these projects back on track. And it is not always easy because the projects are complex and spread over long periods.

Examples?

That of drones whose acquisition dates back to 2015 or the new digital platform of the air forces which was launched in 2014.

Hermes drones can only fly accompanied by a helicopter – and currently, they must all stay on the ground because of an accident. Wouldn’t it be time to abandon this project which cost more than 300 million?

Drones will only remain on the ground temporarily until the cause of the accident in India is elucidated. About three years ago, I said, “that’s enough!” I then loaded a law firm specializing in purchasing procedures to study the question of the complete abandonment of the project with a big loss of money or its maintenance. The result has shown that the second solution was preferable.

Wouldn’t it be better to buy Ukrainian drones? They are much cheaper and more effective …

These are not the same types of drones. Drones used in Ukraine are micro or minidrones. We already have them. Besides, we use it here in Davos for monitoring of the WEF.

You want to make compulsory Orientation day for women. Why not ask for the obligation to serve for women?

The information day is a first step. This compulsory day was desired by many people, including by the cantons. The clarifications on the form that the new obligation system must take are still underway, in particular the question of whether women will have the obligation to serve in the army.

You have always wanted more women to do service – and that obviously cannot be reached as long as the army is optional for women.

In general, women are already very involved in society. I may belong to the old school. But I think women should not be forced to make the army until equality and elsewhere will not be reached. And unfortunately, we are not there.

Larissa rhyn is assistant responsible for the Swiss section. Previously, she worked as corresponding to the Federal Palace for the SRF and the NZZ in Bern. She studied political science and international relations in Zurich, Montreal and Geneva. More info