Viola Amherd in tops and flops

Defense Minister Viola Amherd announced on Wednesday her resignation by the end of March. La Valaisanne was elected in December 2018. Her journey is astonishing.

Viola Amherd, the first woman to head the Federal Department of Defense, is stepping down. After having achieved great success upon entry into service on the F-35A combat aircraft, the criticisms continued. Despite the problems, she knew how to keep her cool. His presidential year in 2024 was crowned by the end of negotiations with the EU.

At the end of 2024, Valais announces with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the conclusion of negotiations between Switzerland and the EU on Bilateral III.

She also hit hard in the summer of 2024 by welcoming the political elite during the Bürgenstock conference for peace in Ukraine. Viola Amherd then considers having obtained a “good result”.

Success where the UDC failed

Elected in 2018, Valaisanne immediately took up the issue of the new combat aircraft. After the failure of the Gripen at the ballot box in 2014, the pressure is great to get the Swiss people to accept the purchase of new jets for the air forces.

On September 27, 2020, she succeeded where her UDC predecessors failed: the population accepted, but only half-heartedly. The left absolutely wants to avoid the purchase of F-35A, but its initiative will never be put to a vote.

When Viola Amherd announced that her choice had fallen on the F-35A from the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin, criticism rained down: devices too expensive, unsuitable for Switzerland, purchased without any consideration of foreign policy. The minister takes it without batting an eyelid; his goal is achieved.

The press later revealed that Ignazio Cassis and Ueli Maurer were in discussions with the French to acquire Rafales. Viola Amherd would not have been aware of these discussions. Her sympathy bonus saves her.

Specific context

The head of the army also benefited from the particular international context. The war in Ukraine changes the situation and puts the army back at the center of concerns.

Parliament wants to increase the army budget to 1% of GDP by 2030. And this despite the bright red showing by federal finances. In December 2024, it increases by 4 billion over four years and significantly cuts international cooperation.

During her presidential year in 2024, Viola Amherd was shaken up by turbulence. In the case of the “hole” of several billions in the army fund, the Valaisanne has clearly failed in its communication.

She is slow to speak out, preferring to send army chief Thomas Süssli to explain to the media. When the minister finally explains herself, she contradicts her army chief. Conclusion: the army has no financial problem, but a communication problem.

A tank problem

Valais is also facing a real imbroglio due to the purchase of Leopard 1 tanks from Italy in 2016 by the arms company Ruag. The transactions surrounding the purchase of these tanks are unclear.

It is particularly the purchase of these tanks by the German company Rheinmetall which attracts attention. The co-producer of the Leopard 1 was interested in the tanks from the start of the war in Ukraine in March 2022. But the Federal Council refused the sale, indicating that these weapons could not be sold to Ukraine.

In the wake of this failed resale, the head of Ruag, Brigitte Beck, announces her resignation in August 2023. While the company is pinned by an audit by the Federal Financial Control for its management of the sale of Leopard 1 tanks, it The chairman of the board of directors, Nicolas Perrin, also brother-in-law of Brigitte Hauser-Süess, personal collaborator of Ms. Amherd, is resigning.

Brigitte Beck and Nicolas Perrin represented the revival of Ruag after his dissociation. Viola Amherd faced other personnel problems. Barely appointed head of the brand new State Secretariat for Security Policy, Provost Jean-Daniel Ruch renounced it for personal reasons.

The army in support

In small touches, she was able to highlight the work of the army. During the coronavirus crisis, when 6,000 soldiers were mobilized to support the cantonal authorities. This is the largest deployment since World War II. During the floods in Ticino and Valais in the summer of 2024, the army also came to the rescue.

Despite the criticisms and problems, Valais remained appreciated for a long time, before falling to the bottom of the rankings in opinion polls. The UDC has continually criticized it for its rapprochement with NATO. The former PDC had not been at the head of the dicastery since Arnold Koller, who remained there for two years from 1987 to 1989. (jah/ats)

Viola Amherd resigns from the Federal Council

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