Editorial on the withdrawal of Amherd –
Viola Amherd, beyond the mountains
The Valaisanne will have marked her time at the Department of Defense like none of the men who preceded her in this position.
Editorial Published today at 4:05 p.m.
Viola Amherd
Adrian Moser
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While she was unknown to the general public and a discreet parliamentarian, few people would have bet on Viola Amherd as federal councilor. And the few who would have done so would undoubtedly have withdrawn their bet when she took over the Ministry of Defense.
And yet Viola Amherd will have dusted off the function like no one before her. After the failure of Ueli Maurer and his Gripen, she convinced the Swiss to buy a new combat plane, marking her time at this dicastery with a milestone.
She could have stopped there, but she went further.
Haut-Valaisanne will have greened the army by making it more eco-friendly, and pink by making the promotion of women a priority. She will also remain as the federal advisor who restored financial resources to the institution. Choices which will earn him criticism from both the right and the left. But the Valaisanne is made of Teflon. The controversies creep up on him.
The international context has certainly helped her in her task. It will also have allowed it to gain momentum. And to introduce a new wind into this dusty government.
Stubborn as an ibex, clever as a marmot, she knew how to shake up politics.
She, who sees NATO as a partner, has pushed back sacrosanct neutrality a notch. She was also the one who took her colleagues by surprise to organize a summit on peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock. She was also the one who did everything to welcome Ursula von der Leyen when it was time to settle the end of negotiations with the EU. Ensuring each time that the images will remain for posterity.
In just six years, Viola Amherd has been able to instill a vision of Switzerland that extends well beyond its mountains. And that this message came from a resident of Brig gives it even more strength.
Florent Quiquerez has been a journalist in the Switzerland section since 2015. Specializing in politics, he primarily covers federal news. Previously, he worked as a parliamentary correspondent for Radios Régionales Romandes.More info
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