Keystone-SDA
The resigning federal councilor Viola Amherd puts into perspective the refusal of many personalities from the Center to stand as candidates to succeed her. “I don’t see how the situation is chaotic,” she declared in the press on Friday.
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January 24, 2025 – 06:33
(Keystone-ATS) These refusals are personal decisions which do not reflect the preferences of Parliament, explains Ms Amherd in an interview broadcast by the newspapers of the Tamedia press group. “This is not the first time that the party has had to find a successor for a federal councilor” and “the processes within the party are well regulated,” she assures.
“Each person must answer this question for themselves […] There is no obligation to be a candidate for the Federal Council,” she continues.
-Drones and the F-35
Asked about the army’s purchasing plans, the defense minister acknowledges that there are problems in some cases. She points in particular to the Israeli Hermes reconnaissance drones purchased in 2015 for more than 300 million francs and which can only fly accompanied by a helicopter.
“About three years ago, I said, ‘Enough!’ », Explains the Valais centrist. “I then instructed a law firm specializing in purchasing procedures to study the question of completely abandoning the project with a big loss of money or maintaining it. The result showed that the second solution was preferable.”
Other arms projects are also under pressure, notably airspace surveillance and the acquisition of the new F-35 fighter jets, which will only be delivered in three years, adds the head of the Federal Department of Defense. defence, protection of the population and sports (DDPS). She notes, however, that the air force remains operational. “Otherwise, the World Economic Forum could not have been organized.”
Swiss
