“Migration is Switzerland’s biggest problem”

Rolf Dörig (65) is one of the truly great captains of the industry and also one of the few to make politically meaningful statements. It was revealed at SVP’s Bad Horn conference Friday night: Dörig is a new member of SVP. He explains why only on Sunday Blick. We meet him at the President’s office on the fourth floor of Swiss Life headquarters in Zurich.

Mr. Dörig, why did you join SVP?
Rolf Doerig: Because I identify myself with the party and its values. Participating formalizes my longstanding stance.

Who knocked on your door from SVP?
Nobody knocked on the door. My socially conservative and economically liberal beliefs, along with my ties to my homeland, go well with SVP. As I am not a friend of party ideological trench warfare, I am committed to the cause and will continue to be so in the future.

You used to be intertwined with “Friends of ÖDP”. What happened?
Unfortunately, FDP did not develop as I had imagined. SVP with clear compass is more reliable and closer to me. Not only on social issues, but also on economic issues.

Under the new President Thierry Burkart, the FDP is clearly focusing on the middle class.
I greatly appreciate Thierry Burkart. While the FDP is doing well at the moment, I have a long-term perspective by joining SVP. Over the past 15 years, the SVP has also been more consistent in economic matters. And SVP is closer to people.

Why is SVP closer to you?
I am a conservative, so I am uncomfortable with this mainstream awakened attitude and moralism that corresponds to the spirit of a wealth-spoiled minority. As if we had nothing more important to do. Of course, minorities must be respected. But if, for example, there is a discussion with kindergarten kids about whether they want to be a boy or a girl, then I think as a society we should be better at dealing with the basics.

He is the SVP who likes to handle problems with a lot of polemics.
I am not a polemicist. But the immigration debate, for example, should be conducted openly: How many more should come each year? Do we want a 10 million Swiss? Or what to do about it? Nobody does this as consistently as SVP. I’m tough on this too. It’s important to me that someone stays decent and respectful.

Do you find SVP’s stabbing ads respectful?
These just don’t match my personal style. However, in an election campaign, a party can push its limits. Everyone sees where that limit lies a little differently. I expect the SVP to fight hard on this, but also to make concessions where compromise is possible. Only together can the SVP, FDP and Mitte make successful middle class politics. It’s a belief I’ve always defended.

Is SVP with Albert Rösti on its way to becoming a regular party?
What is a regular party for you?

Someone who is not in government and opposition at the same time.
SVP is a state-sponsored Federal Council party. He has proven that he can adapt.

Even as a member of the Federal Council, Christoph Blocher remained an opposition politician.
Switzerland owes a lot to Christoph Blocher. He is an impressive personality, both as a business leader and as a politician. He has worked for the country for decades and I share his belief that Switzerland should remain independent, neutral and attractive in the future.

How effective is Blocher for the party?
I only became a member of the local SVP party in Küsnacht in December and I am not judging myself. But I am sure that his honest and courageous stance for our country will inspire younger generations as well.

Do you aspire to political office?
No, I would if I were 20 years younger.

How will you be involved in the SVP?
With my work experience and connections. I am also happy to support Thierry Burkart, Gerhard Pfister and Jürg Grossen on business-friendly issues. The aim should be the overall growth of the middle classes, which I consider central to the economic and social development of our country.

SVP is also a peasant party. Is this right for you?
The reduction to a peasant party does not go far enough. The party is much larger and is also a business party. Also, farmers have their feet on the ground and this is important. In that sense, yes: it suits me very well.

Why aren’t more business leaders getting into politics?
Many things have become more complex, the burden of individual tasks has increased. There has also been some separation of the global economy from the local economy.

Does this mean that a significant portion of the population no longer trusts the economy, as polls have repeatedly shown?
With globalization in the late 1990s, people lost awareness of the fact that business needs society. And sometimes there was a lack of humility among some business leaders.

With millions in salary?
I don’t care if someone makes a lot of money. Money already runs the risk of spoiling the character. When you’re in a position of strength, it’s good to be humble. It’s less obvious to keep working hard and delivering.

The ongoing scandals at Credit Suisse aren’t helping much either. You started your career there. How do you evaluate the crisis?
This is sad and hurts. Switzerland will continue to need two large banks in the future. I believe the bank has the power to get out of this situation thanks to its many good and loyal people.

What is Switzerland’s biggest problem today?
Migration. The elephant in that room. We have the second highest proportion of foreigners in Europe after Luxembourg. If we continue to grow in this way, infrastructure, environment and schools will be challenged. So we must use all our strength to direct our migration ourselves.

The economy wants all immigrants.
Of course we need foreigners. It’s not about the people working here, it’s about those who bring their families with them. And about those who are unemployed and overload our infrastructure and social system.

The unemployment rate is lower than ever.
Still, everyone wants their quality of life to remain high. Now we are building Switzerland on a large scale. There are communities where 80 percent of students do not speak German at home. Something will go wrong if we have to send our own children to integration courses soon.

How do you organize migration?
Specialists are welcome – also in care, agriculture, gastronomy. They come here because they want to earn more from their home. Why don’t we actually introduce the seasonal worker status, that is, the temporary residence permit without a family? This will probably also suit many foreign skilled workers.

A Dubai or Singapore style model?
If we think that 10 million is too much for our country, we will have to pull ourselves together and take uncomfortable measures. Otherwise, Switzerland will lose its charm.

So, do you support SVP’s new containment initiative that wants to eliminate the free movement of people?
Yes. This initiative is not that radical and provides targeted migration rather than unrestricted migration.

How will a solution be reached with the EU on the framework agreement?
Finding a solution is in the interest of both parties. Exploratory talks are good, but negotiating mandate is still far away. Solutions will only be found if the EU accepts that there is no compromise when it comes to immigration, the Citizens of the Union Directive, the dynamic adoption of rights and the European Court of Justice.

That’s exactly what you said five years ago.
We are in no hurry. Switzerland is robust in terms of inflation, unemployment, currency, public finances and even exports. This allows us to act from a strong position. Of course, it is not pleasant for the EU to put us under unnecessary pressure for purely political reasons. This further increases the defense in Switzerland.

Your prediction: What will 2023 be like?
I am very optimistic. We have an extraordinarily strong economy, political stability, a high level of education and a great desire for performance. Inflation is under control and we will not have a recession. But 2023 is an election year, a difficult time for reconciliation. Additionally, migration and security of supply are my main concerns.

Things are not looking bad thanks to the mild winter.
in the short term yes. However, this does not change the fact that Switzerland has not been able to secure its energy supply in the long term. Switzerland has had to import electricity since 2005. If France can’t provide electricity next winter, we may also have restrictions. For this reason, gas power plants occasionally require many innovations and new technologies.

What about nuclear energy?
It won’t work without it. It is the most effective and cleanest energy source.

You are president of the Insurance Association and your sharp stances were much discussed there. Do you continue as an SVP member?
After six years at the helm, I am one of the longest-serving presidents. I will hand over the presidency at GM in June 2023.

For joining the party?
No, this has nothing to do with each other. My personal view has never limited the association and myself. We have open and determined discussions across the board and always reach consensus. He is in the wrong place in the insurance association that wants to polarize.

After all, it is said that Switzerland’s number 1 Axa left the association because of you.
As in an association, a company, or in politics: You can never please everyone 100 percent.