Esther Friedli (45) has to make a decision. The St. Gallen National Councilor will soon say whether she wants to run for the Council of States or the Federal Council. According to information from Blick, the cantonal party SVP made that clear to her on Wednesday.
After the resignation of long-term member of the Council of States Paul Rechsteiner (70), the other parties will have the opportunity to take back the seat of the SP.
choice between women
For the FDP, the women’s president and national councilor Susanne Vincenz-Stauffacher (55) would have to crawl into her pants to get the second Stöckli seat next to Benedikt Würth (54, centre). The Greens also have to compete with a woman. This is where Franziska Ryser (30) is traded. And the SP may defend the seat together with Landsraadslider Barbara Gysi (58).
It is not advisable for the SVP to counter with a man. Esther Friedli is considered the ideal candidate. Party circles say the decision has been made. The St. Gallen SVP will soon announce with whom they will participate in the Stöckli competition.
Better odds
It would be great if the partner of former SVP boss Toni Brunner (48) did not decide to run for the Council of State. Good chance here. In a candidacy for the seat of the outgoing federal councilor Ueli Maurer (71), Friedli could get a two-ticket. The chance of success would be small given the well-placed opponent Albert Rösti (55). And if Friedli had really toyed with the idea of running for the Bundesrat, Brunner would have long had to resign from his party’s selection committee.