The 56-year-old Zurich SVP National Councilor Thomas Matter renounced a candidacy from the Federal Council. He describes the current roster of potential Maurer successors as “excellent”.
Matter had talks with the cantonal party in recent weeks. On Tuesday, he justified his rejection of a candidacy in the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” with his work as a banker and family entrepreneur. When asked, he confirmed this.
The list of cancellations from representatives of the Zurich SVP is getting longer and longer. It is “not so important to him” that the successor of the outgoing federal councilor Ueli Maurer also comes from the canton of Zurich, Matter told the Keystone-SDA news agency. The current candidate field is “very good”.
Four candidates so far
So far, the Bernese National Councilor Albert Rösti, the Bernese Council of States Werner Salzmann, the Zug Finance Director Heinz Tännler and most recently the Nidwalden Government Councilor Michèle Blöchliger have announced their candidacy.
The Federal Assembly will elect Treasury Secretary Maurer’s successor on December 7. At an extraordinary parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday afternoon, the Green Group in the Federal Palace will decide whether to attack the SVP seat with its own candidacy. The project has little chance. (SDA)