Amherd and Baume-Schneider: two federal councilors who are under criticism

Viola Amherd is the largest. Surveys show that the Minister of Defense has top scores in terms of popularity and competence. When she was re-elected as a federal councilor last Wednesday, the woman from Upper Valais achieved a very good result with 201 votes. However, the 158 votes for the 2024 Federal President were average at best.

The result was better than the 140 votes that Alain Berset received a year ago. But it was certainly not ‘glamorous’, as stated in a pre-written press release from her center party. Even if the room was no longer fully occupied after the election marathon, you have to assume that Amherd has learned a lesson.

SP federal councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider also received one. She was re-elected in the first round, but her 151 votes were the worst result of the six so far. The next day, the law graduate raised even more eyebrows with her surprise move from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The election results of Amherd and Baume-Schneider indicate a certain unrest in parliament about the actions of the two federal council members. In fact, they have made themselves vulnerable. There are a number of construction sites at the Ministry of Defense, and Baume-Schneider is questioning whether she is up to the new task.

After her election five years ago, centrist politician Viola Amherd had to take over the VBS against her will. However, with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the “wallflower” among the departments was significantly upgraded. Parliament has decided to double the army budget. There is still debate about the time frame.

For her part, the Minister of Defense, under strong pressure from abroad due to the refusal to transfer military equipment purchased in Switzerland to Ukraine, continues the rapprochement with NATO, to the annoyance of the right-wing ‘neutrality watchers’. This includes participation in the Sky Shield air defense system.

At the same time, Amherd is restructuring and expanding its department. This also attracts criticism. The “Sonntagsblick” has created a kind of “register of sins”. Some accusations are vague because they are made anonymously. Other matters, such as the foreseeable complications with the purchase of the F-35 fighter jets, can only be attributed to Amherd to a limited extent. And yet there are problems.

Viola Amherd urged the establishment of a State Secretariat for Security Policy (Sepos). The reason given is the increasingly unpredictable geopolitical situation and new challenges such as artificial intelligence. But so far, everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong in filling the top position.

In September, Jean-Daniel Ruch, previously ambassador to Turkey, was introduced as State Secretary. Then they withdrew due to privacy concerns. Thomas Greminger failed for the same reason. Finnish-born Pälvi Pulli, head of security policy at the DDPS, does not fit in with SVP and Co. because of its alleged NATO affinity.

Time is of the essence as the Sepos starts on January 1st. The chief position will likely be awarded next Friday, during the last meeting of the Federal Council before the holidays. However, it is too late to “end the exercise”, as SVP National Councilor and security politician Mauro Tuena called for in “Sonntagsblick”.

The new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (Bacs) is also expected to start in 2024. Viola Amherd managed to stage a coup and effectively take it away from the finance department. But it is precisely the transfer of the former center for cybersecurity to the DDPS that is causing a bloodshed. According to Radio SRF, 10 of the 48 employees have resigned.

This also includes absolute top shots, which is painful given the competitive market for cyber specialists. According to SRF, they did not want to work under the same ‘roof’ as the Federal Intelligence Service (NDB). The VBS calmed down the “Sonntagsblick”. Five vacancies have already been filled.

There is also unrest at the NDB due to a reorganization. And according to the “NZZ am Sonntag” there were also departures in the safety policy department. This accumulation may be a coincidence. And you could interpret the construction sites in the VBS as an expression of Amherd’s creative desire. Because the army is also facing major changes.

At the same time, the rumors about the impending departure of the federal councilor do not want to disappear. Last week, Amherd missed the opportunity to move to an “important” department, namely EDI, for the second time in a row. It is not impossible that the 61-year-old will return to her native Valais after her presidential year.

Elisabeth Baume-Schneider worked for only a year at the Justice and Police Department (EJPD). Such a rapid change is unusual and frowned upon. There was frequent talk of “escape”. The SP federal councilor justified this with her proximity to social, health and cultural policy due to her professional past.

That is understandable, because Baume-Schneider had a difficult time in the EYPD. When it came to asylum policy, she was constantly attacked by the SVP. The visit to the ‘migration hotspot’ Chiasso was described as ‘too little, too late’. However, critics such as political geographer Michael Hermann doubt whether the Jura native can meet the challenges of the EDI.

Alain Berset cut his teeth in the infamous backlog of pension reforms and health care policy. There are questions about whether the conciliatory Baume-Schneider can handle the tough lobbying work, especially in health care. Moreover, it must make a ‘cold start’ and represent at least five voting proposals in 2024.

There is no postponement of 100 days, because she has to fight ex officio on March 3 against the popular initiative of the trade unions for a 13th AHV pension. The SP’s premium aid initiative will probably follow in June, and by September at the latest it will have to defend the BVG reform against opposition from the left. And that may not be all.

The proposal for uniform financing of all healthcare services (EFAS), which has been pending for fourteen years, appears to have achieved its goal. A crash in the final vote on Friday is possible, but unlikely. But even in this case there are threats of a referendum from the left. A vote would likely take place in November.

Providing four assists in one year against your own clientele would probably be a novelty. And a tough task for Baume-Schneider, who turns 60 on Christmas Eve. “The risk that such a voting campaign against their own people will cause lasting political unrest is high on both sides,” SP co-chairman Cédric Wermuth told “NZZ am Sonntag”. There are better Christmas and birthday wishes.