In Neuchâtel, the succession of the rector of the University is complicated. In place since 2016, Kilian Stoffel must be replaced by August. The University council, which must appoint the candidate to the cantonal government, must meet on Friday, and its favorite candidate preferred to give up. RTS indicated this Wednesday that former socialist state councilor Laurent Kurth abandoned the race shortly before Christmas. The former magistrate, who left the government in February 2024, must have judged his chances too low, after the University assembly expressed its hostility to his candidacy. This brings together representatives of the different bodies, teachers, assistants and students. Laurent Kurth also clarified to Arcinfo that “noting that the University assembly did not support my candidacy, I decided to withdraw it”.
The hypothesis of a former cantonal minister becoming rector, without an academic background, caused a lively controversy in the canton. The Liberal Greens have led the revolt against what they denounce as a “pure scandal very typical of the Republic of Friends”.
A volley of accusations
This Wednesday morning, the party filed an interpellation making several accusations of collusion between members of the University Council, the former magistrate and even the Supervisory Department. The Liberal Greens have come to propose an approach close to what happened in Geneva in January 2023: the refusal of the candidacy by the Council of State. The context was certainly very different – it was then a foreign postulation, which would also have been limited to a single mandate; but in both cases, the selection of the alma mater’s leader became highly politicized along the way.
The situation is complicated by the fact that at this stage, the current vice-rector Martin Hilpert would not be favored by the majority of the Academy Assembly either. However, both names appeared as finalists in the race. It is now possible that the Council will request a review, and that Kilian Stoffel will be approached to play extra time.
