SP lacks Berset’s successor: Comrades must now kneel before alpha animals like Levrat

Similar to Keller-Sutter

As the only left-wing party in the government, the SP leadership must claim to have someone on an equal footing with Keller-Sutter. The Social Democrats should nominate an alpha male. So far, no one has shown any interest in the Federal Council job.

Basel government chairman Beat Jans (59), who enters the ring on Friday, has never played in the first division of the National Council before. He is considered conflict-averse and although he hardly makes any mistakes on the Rhine Knee, he “doesn’t pull any punches”.

What remains is Jon Pult (38) from Graubünden. It is unclear whether the National Council will sit. Many once predicted that he would have a steep career in Federal Bern. However, the eloquent person has not reached his potential so far.

Who else is there? “I i i!” shouts someone who couldn’t sit still when Simonetta Sommaruga (63) took over. Daniel Jositsch (58) now sees the fact that he has pushed himself to the fore like this as a mistake and explains this with the ‘pressure’ that was on him at the time. Anyone who cannot withstand such pressure when running for office is unsuitable for an office where every day is serious.

Wermuth and Co. make the others eligible

Cédric Wermuth (37) is not out of the race yet. But the co-party leader is above all one thing: just as unelectable for the ordinary people as national councilors Tamara Funiciello (33) and Fabian Molina (33). At most, all three ex-Juso bosses will be put on the SP ticket to make the second person eligible.

But who? Instead of waiting to see who will come forward, the SP headquarters should kneel its most capable people. After all, the SP has opened the field of candidates to everyone: women and men, German-speaking Swiss and Romans.

Federal councilor, no bachelor’s degree

An obvious solution is Roger Nordmann (50). Admittedly, the former faction leader does not have the behavior of a Berset. With admirable consistency, his suits are always slightly too big for him. And three-weather taffeta is the enemy of his hairstyle. But what we’re looking for is a federal councilor, not a bachelor’s degree.

Behind the villain who enjoys small provocations, there is a strategic mind. A man who can make compromises. And someone who will not be fooled. You cannot be sure with every Federal Council whether he controls his government or whether it controls him.

Alpha animal par excellence

Gerhard Pfister (60) is definitely a boss. The centrist boss is about to overtake the FDP on October 22. It is an open secret that Pfister always sees a federal councilor in the mirror. No one denies him this format. Pfister is currently the most capable person heading a Federal Council party. But only since someone gave up his job: Christian Levrat (53).

Levrat was SP chairman for twelve years, while the others came and went. Toni Brunner (49, SVP) and Christophe Darbellay (52, CVP) left, while Fulvio Pelli (72) was replaced by Philipp Müller (71) for the FDP, followed by Petra Gössi (47). Levrat stayed.

Risk second fiddle

Until he left the Federal Palace in 2021 to become post-president. Levrat’s political break did not last so long that he could no longer return to the political arena. The SP leadership should do everything possible to find someone of Levrat’s caliber.

For years, the long-term president was the most influential politician in the Federal Palace, including the federal council members. He does not shy away from conflict, not even with Keller-Sutter. On the contrary: together they have achieved a lot in the Council of States. That could be possible, no, Levrat would also be in the Federal Council.

Perhaps the SP would rather content itself with playing second fiddle in the state government.