Frank A. Meyer – column: ticket over politics

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With a ticket you can go to a cinema or a concert – and recently you can also get into the Federal Council, as the state government renewal procedure demonstrated this week.

Procedure? Isn’t this an election?

Of course, these were elections – but within the “ticket” framework. The parties of the Federation Council reached an agreement and then went to the elections to the Federal Assembly. And this happened as agreed, that is, in accordance with the promise to vote on the correct ticket: each faction of the Federation Council voted for the ticket of each faction of the Federation Council.

The spectacle almost became what had been awaited for so long: an election without politics. Everything is beautifully packaged in advance and neatly supplied with a ticket: access to the most sacred hall of the Federal Palace – the Federal Council Chamber.

And yet… it didn’t quite work: the Greens, after all a climate force and therefore firmly tied to the zeitgeist, were left on the sidelines. You wanted – you want! – she does not appear to be on the board of directors of the Swiss Republic.

Political decision?

Indeed, a political decision. The find is appalling – and, in retrospect, spoils the joy of a carefully staged ticket theater designed to depoliticize high Swiss politics.

The Zurich newspaper Tages-Anzeiger headlined the incident: “We now need nine federal councilors.” Because it was the only way to integrate the greens.

Another ticket – less politics.

Better not politics.

The newspaper Tages-Anzeiger also supports this radical demand under the headline: “A solution to the seat dilemma in the Federal Council.” Dilemma? There are no chairs.

To ensure that a member of the Green federal council does not have to share a seat with a federal council member from the Social Socialist Party in the near future, the Zurich newspaper proposes that parliamentary groups “depart from party logic and distribute seats across blocs.”

“Party logic” as a category that needs to be overcome?

What are parties? They represent democracy, they guarantee democracy: parties against parties – that’s how democracy works.

“Blocks” as a replacement for “party logic”?

Last Wednesday’s ticket election was a step toward appointment democracy: a spectacle for the screen, with stars of the moment hounded by cameras and gleefully beaming embedded journalists.

Policy? Behind the door.

Source: Blick