Deposed director returns: counter-rebellion in the trade association

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Henrique Schneider (45) had already been elected director of the trade association when the “NZZ am Sonntag” published a sensational article this spring: Schneider allegedly adorned himself with false titles and repeatedly plagiarized.

After publication of the article, the trade association will have the allegations investigated by an external body. The commissioned law firm concludes that Schneider “committed serial plagiarism”. Two weeks ago, the board of directors led by President and Central National Councilor Fabio Regazzi (61) revoked the election of Henrique Schneider as director.

Bigler is scheduled to stay for another six months

Not everyone agrees with this decision. Yes, a real counter-movement is forming, consisting mainly of SVP and FDP politicians. They demand an extraordinary meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, the parliament of the trade association, for next Wednesday. Your application, which the “Aargauer Zeitung” reported for the first time, will be available on Sunday. It contains three points. First, the previous director, Hans-Ulrich Bigler, should remain in office for at least another six months instead of resigning at the end of June. Secondly, the board must “clean up” the reports “with the involvement of all parties involved” and “present them transparently” to the Chamber of Commerce. Third, Henrique Schneider will take up his post as director once Bigler has left.

With the election of Schneider as director, a valid employment contract has been established, argues PR consultant Robert Gubler, the sender of the application. “With the board’s actions, there is a risk of a wrongful termination lawsuit.”

Robert Gubler declined to comment on request. But FDP National Councilor Matthias Jauslin (61), who also signed the application, as well as SVP National Councilors Benjamin Giezendanner (41) and Thomas Hurter (59).

Don’t overestimate plagiarism

People disagree with the board’s approach, says Jauslin: “We do not know the actual content of the investigative report on Henrique Schneider – neither the whole report nor the summary.” According to the board, Schneider has done a good job in the trade association. SVP National Councilor Benjamin Giezendanner says something similar: “As a cantonal trade association, we feel ignored by the board.” The plagiarism should not be overestimated.

The outside law firm also concluded that Schneider had shown “clear misconduct”. However, this is “not serious”, since the trade association is not a “scientific trend company”.

Denial of confidence in President Regazzi

How the vote will turn out on Wednesday is open. One thing is clear: the motion is a vote of no confidence in President Fabio Regazzi. The Ticino native, no friend of current president Hans-Ulrich Bigler, is struggling in the association, which is dominated by the right-wing bourgeoisie. Nothing demonstrates this better than the association’s SME rating for “business friendliness” by the parliamentarians. Regazzi landed there in 85th place – a clear message.

Some political observers see the maneuver to bring back Schneider as an attempt to sabotage Regazzi’s candidacy for the Council of States – to defuse the danger of losing his seat on the Ticino SVP Council of States.

But the truth is probably more mundane: it’s a simple power struggle.

Source:Blick