Federal Council: Gerhard Pfister has not won yet

Published on January 16, 2025 at 8:28 p.m. / Modified on January 17, 2025 at 06:18.

3 mins. reading

Is the election for the succession of Viola Amherd a foregone conclusion? The question arises the day after the announcement of the departure of the federal councilor, as eyes are naturally turning to the strong man of the Center, Gerhard Pfister, who will leave the presidency of the party in June. A political animal, the Zug national councilor seems to tick all the boxes. On the left as on the right, parliamentarians salute a “brilliant politician”, a strategist, with a vision for Switzerland. Someone strong, capable of donning the costume of a statesman, crowned by the successful refreshment of his party, which raised its head in the 2023 federal elections after changing its name and merging with the PBD.

However, the game is far from won. Within the old PDC, we like to recall the proverb well known in the Vatican: “He who enters the conclave as pope, leaves as cardinal.” In short, the favorite often ends up losing. Especially since the Zougois is by far not unanimous in parliament. Some believe that his qualities are overvalued by the media, fond of his good outings. Others evoke its strategic ambiguities. Originally a right-wing conservative, Gerhard Pfister has, in recent years, ostensibly refocused to favor his party’s affairs. As a result, some people no longer know where it really is.

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