SVP-Dettling in the arena of ‘election campaign’: ‘I distance myself from right-wing extremists’

Two weeks before the federal elections, a test of strength will take place between the party leaders in the SRF “Arena”. They need to discuss healthcare costs, climate change and immigration. According to surveys, these are the three biggest concerns of the Swiss population. In this order. 20 minutes of discussion are provided for each topic block. Tonight the parties’ solutions will be presented:

For 90 minutes on the show, they talk about a health care system in which “false incentives must be eliminated,” about nuclear power plants “that people don’t want” and about immigration, which “is pushing our infrastructure to its limits. ” Nothing we haven’t heard enough about in this election campaign. Or as one woman in the audience, who identified herself as a first-time voter, aptly summarized at the end: “Not very many new arguments have been made.”

Yesterday’s show wasn’t boring anyway. Thanks to the extremism question.

“Let’s not talk about immigration first, but rather about possible infiltration,” says Brotz, introducing the topic. We are talking about Mariawegelin. The SVP candidate for the National Council had hired two activists from the right-wing extremist group ‘Junge Tat’ for her election campaign.

The two have already been convicted of racial discrimination. There is still a criminal case pending against her. The collaboration between Mariawegelin and the two right-wing extremists was revealed by ‘Sonntagsblick’ at the end of September. After this became public, Wegenin still did not want to end his cooperation with the right-wing extremists.

The SVP has not yet publicly distanced itself from Wegelin or ‘Junge Tat’. SVP Winterthur only said that the issue would be discussed at an extraordinary general meeting on October 31 – after the national elections. Until then, Wegelin will put her office as chairman of the SVP Winterthur on hold.

Sandro Brotz provocatively asks the invited SVP Vice President:

Marcel Dettling calmly answers: “No, we certainly do not hug right-wing extremists. The SVP rejects all extremism, regardless of whether it comes from the left or the right. This case showed that. Wegenin is said to have taken herself out of the race and resigned all her mandates for the time being until the matter was resolved. “And I think that’s the right way,” says Dettling.

He wants to end the subject there. But Brotz continues: ‘I understand you well. There is no room for such right-wing extremist people in the SVP?”

Dettling cannot answer this with “yes” or “no”. Instead, he repeats his left-right extremist phrase and tries to counter-attack the media and the SP. The media is blind in the left eye. There are JUSO people who would say they are left-wing extremists. That will never be discussed. “And I just think you have to look at both sides, whether you’re left or right, and reject both.”

Cédric Wermuth is not fooled by this maneuver: “You have failed to take a clear position again, Mr. Dettling.”

You need to say what this discussion is really about. “These are people who hate Jews, who fundamentally reject the democratic order, who are sometimes under surveillance because they have arsenals of weapons, who pose a real threat to everything in this country that is important to people,” Wermuth says.

Nevertheless, Dettling again failed tonight to clearly distance himself from right-wing extremists and tried to apologize. There were also no consequences for Mariawegelin.

Dettling states that Wermuth is not familiar with the statutes of their party. You cannot simply exclude a member from above. The local branch of the SVP – Winterthur – must decide on this. The SVP is federally organized. “That is why it is outdated to say here: you, as a national party, must somehow intervene in this matter,” says Dettling.

Sandro Brotz does not interrupt the ping pong between Wermuth and Dettling. Even if he never gave Wormuth the floor. No one else comes between the two. It seems like the people in the studio are holding their breath right now. At least until they both talk over each other, meaning you as a viewer can no longer understand anything.

Brotz ultimately has to intervene: “One suggestion would be that you distance yourself from right-wing extremists,” he points to Dettling, “and that you distance yourself from left-wing extremists,” he points to Wermuth. “Can we do this together tonight?”

Good question. Can they do that? No.

Wermuth opposes the request. He certainly does not have to distance himself from left-wing extremist people who hated him and wanted to harm him. “What kind of equality is that?”

Dettling and Wermuth start talking again. The only thing that can be understood is Wermuth’s repetition: “Just say so? Why is it so difficult for you?” Finally, Dettling actually shouts it into the room. However, it was quieter than anything else he had said before: “So distance yourself from left-wing extremism. I do it from the right-wing perspective. extremist.”

Sandro Brotz is happy with that. Or at least he wants to finally close the subject: “Well, he said he’s distancing himself.”

He tries a diversionary tactic against the centrist president: “Mr. Pfister, what are you thinking about?” The audience laughingly thanks this trick. Because it works.

Pfister responds: “I don’t think this was a very fruitful discussion. I don’t understand why they both find it so difficult to say: ‘We don’t want anything to do with violence and extremism’. That is a given.”

In any case, for Pfister it is self-evident to distance himself from extremism. As for other politicians, people are no longer so sure after this election campaign “arena”.