“No troops for early retirement”: Juso wing wants a young federal councilor

With him there are four people over fifty who step into the ring for the Social Democrats. Jans, who looks much younger than 59, is the oldest. If elected, he will reach retirement age shortly after his first term.

How long did he plan to stay? “I don’t stop until I’ve started,” Jans laughs off the journalist’s question. He is fit and feels ready.

Moreover, the new candidate adds, he certainly knows what drives young people. He has two teenage daughters at home. As Minister of Culture, he advocates more youth culture; in his spare time he plays drums and listens to the Basel rapper Black Tiger.

Jans, Jositsch, Aebischer – and fourth in the association, Mustafa Atici (53): Despite Jans’ youth, none of this selection can inspire the numerous ex-young socialists who are now politicizing in Bern. The Juso wing does not want a Federal Council “made up of early retirees,” as one member put it.

Tamara Funiciello (33), ex-Juso boss, puts it this way: “I think it is important that the group nominates a younger person.” The average age in the Federal Council is currently over 60 years. “This is not representative of the Swiss population.”

Fabian Molina (33), former Juso boss, was also critical: “After the resignation of Alain Berset, Albert Rösti is the youngest federal councilor at 56 years old. Two entire generations are not represented in the Federal Council.”

As if to prove that youth and competence are not mutually exclusive, Molina points to Health Minister Berset. He was 39 years old when he was elected. Molina: “He became an excellent councilor.”

With its statement, the Juso group prepares the field for a candidate from its own ranks. In addition to Molina and Funiciello, other prominent ex-Juso members are considering running for office. Co-party chairman Cédric Wermuth (37) is already thinking about it, co-chairman Mattea Meyer (35) also keeps the possibility open. And Jon Pult (38), from Graubünden, who is considered pragmatic, is also still in the running.

The Juso wing’s claim is no coincidence. The young politicians have held various key positions in recent years. You not only lead the party, but also hold the position of co-party leader with Samira Marti (29) – ex-candidate for the Juso presidency.

Jositsch unpopular

One thing is clear: the election of Daniel Jositsch would not meet with much support within their ranks. He has not been forgiven for his behavior during the last Federal Council elections; he accepted that he would be elected at the expense of a woman.

However, the Juso faction is by no means the majority of SP politicians. And so there are countless voices among comrades who do not see age as the decisive criterion for a successful candidacy for the Federal Council.

Land councilor Priska Seiler Graf says: “For me it is more important that the person is suitable for this office and has the necessary stature.” In addition, Seiler Graf doesn’t mind if you have a certain amount of life experience. As party leader of Zurich, she supports Jositsch’s candidacy.

It is also unclear whether parliament would choose a young candidate with a Juso background. The enthusiasm of the mainly older, conservative members of the Council of States will probably be limited. And there is also a certain skepticism within the National Council. At the same time, the election of Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (59) shows that many considerations play a role in the elections for the Federal Council. And whether you want to avoid a stronger candidate.

Insecure men

However, this time the women’s issue plays a subordinate role. The SP women are calling on their party members to put themselves forward as candidates. In addition to Mattea Meyer, Bernese government councilor Evi Allemann (45), who had already introduced herself as the successor to Simonetta Sommaruga (63), is also traded. Whether the two will actually run for office remains to be seen.

The SP has good reasons to rely on men this time. One of them: the party is increasingly seen as a women’s party. If the Social Democrats were to appoint only women to the Federal Council, this could deter SP politicians and voters. Because some of them may get the idea that men in this party have little chance of reaching the highest office.

The young politician Fabian Molina summarizes these considerations when he says: “The SP is a party for everyone.” In other words: a party for women and men.

The nomination will probably determine whether it is also a party for young federal councilors. It’s hard to get past Beat Jans – regardless of age.