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An analysis by Nathalie Christen
15.01.2025, 18:24
Viola Amherd announces her resignation as Federal Councilor at a moment of great pressure: the SVP, the largest party, has called for her resignation, several major projects from her department are in trouble, Ruag is causing scandals and discussions about a real or fictitious financial gap in the Army echoes. Media reporting has been correspondingly critical recently.
But Amherd was also able to drive in some pegs during her six-year term in office. In contrast to her predecessor Ueli Maurer, she managed to convince voters of new fighter jets in autumn 2020. Even her opponents confirmed that this was also thanks to her personal commitment.
Events happened rapidly
Just a few months later, events came to a head and catapulted her department, which she had initially reluctantly taken over, from a shadowy existence to the center of interest. During the corona pandemic, she was the first defense minister since the Second World War to order partial mobilization. And as soon as Corona was over, the Russians invaded Ukraine.
Amherd always advocated in the Federal Council for Swiss neutrality to be interpreted rather generously in order to be able to help Ukraine. She often fell on deaf ears and angered right-wing circles, who were also reluctant to hear from her that security also requires cooperation with other countries. Other army friends complained that it lacked an overall strategy. Everything is there, she countered, you just have to read the papers.
Increase in the army budget
Their fight for more army finances became a slalom course. It had originally agreed to only increase army finances to one percent of domestic product by 2035, but later worked towards a faster increase.
But at least: During her term of office there was a significant increase in the army budget. Critical reports about the army’s financial problems and the difficulties in a number of procurement and IT projects were very inconvenient for her – even though many of these projects had already been launched before she took office. The woman, who had long had the best poll ratings among the people, gave interviews less and less and retreated to her Valais car castle.
For more women
However, she was always available for equality issues. She campaigned for more women in the army as well as more women in politics. As the first woman to head the Defense Department, she was a role model for many.
Amherd is not only leaving a woman who brought the army new fighter jets and more money, but also a convinced European. When, as Federal President, she was able to announce the conclusion of the material negotiations with the EU shortly before Christmas with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, you could see her joy – while her three Federal Council colleagues later at the official media conference looked as if they were attending a funeral .
There is a certain logic to the timing of resignation
With this conclusion at the European level, with the successful holding of the Ukraine conference on the Bürgenstock and with the increased budget for the army, Amherd achieved a few important goals last year. Seen this way, there is a certain logic to her resignation at this point in time.
Whether the treaties will actually be buried or rather celebrated, what will become of the army’s shaky projects and how closely Switzerland will cooperate militarily with other countries: Viola Amherd will no longer have a say. And she will be able to enjoy the women’s European Football Championships, which will soon take place in Switzerland and which are so important to her, as a spectator.
Nathalie Christen
Federal House editor
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Christen is a correspondent at the Federal Palace for television SRF. She has been working for SRF since 2002. Among other things, she headed the Bundeshaus editorial team at Radio SRF and was a producer at “Arena”. Previously, she was the Bundeshaus editor at “SonntagsBlick”.
Here you will find further articles by Nathalie Christen and information about her.