There are no substantive debates: the election campaign is so gaga

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It’s the election campaign and what are the politicians doing? Greenland councilor Manuela Weichelt (56) goes for a walk with llamas. SP state councilor Flavia Wasserfallen (44) gives a yoga class. And SVP Land Councilor Martin Haab (61) drives around in the cheese mobile. His motto: Instead of talking about cheese, distribute it.

Most of all, there is a lack of talking – about politics. Creative actions are part of the election campaign. But a politician explains how professionals strongly advised her against participating in substantive election campaigns. It’s better if she just goes for a walk.

In fact, there are hardly any major debates this autumn. The SVP calls “immigration”, the FDP “economic weakness”, the center “health costs”, the SP “purchasing power” and the Greens “climate change”. Each keyword represents the most pressing issue in Switzerland – from the perspective of the respective party.

But there is no doubt about that: every party has become obsessed with an issue, says political geographer Michael Hermann (52). For the head of the Sotomo Research Institute, there are “no political duels in which the better argument counts.” Instead of tackling each other’s problems, everyone stayed in their own silo. “This is a refusal to talk during the election campaign.”

The SVP has sparked the debate

But it was already like that during the Cold War, when the political cartel FDP, CVP and SP ruled. These parties were so dominant that they did not have to compete for votes. This changed in the 1990s when the SVP and the EU issue came up. But now the party landscape has largely been consolidated again. As a result, the parties mainly concentrate on their own issues during the election campaign.

However, Hermann warns that things are different with national votes. “The parties attack each other and fight over an issue,” he says. Moreover, there is a high level of debate in the political committees – but this takes place behind closed doors. If parliamentarians turn to the population to get votes, that changes: “Then the politicians are talking past each other.”

No fighting on foreign soil

Political analyst Mark Balsiger (56) sees it the same way. For him, there is a clear strategy behind it: in the last months before the elections, each party tries to mobilize its members and sympathizers – and not to convince new voters. “That would be a wasted effort,” he says.

Each party therefore hopes to bring its own supporters to the polls with their core issue. And to avoid giving the opposition a platform, the candidates ignore their arguments. Because: “The parties do not win battles on foreign territory,” Balsiger explains. On the contrary: if, for example, the SP were to interfere with the immigration issue, the SVP would ultimately benefit from this.

It would be in the interest of the population to discuss issues intensively rather than only superficially. “But what remains are loud election messages without depth,” says Balsiger.

The people, a voting animal

And: “The political discourse in broader society is becoming impoverished.” Forming a differentiated opinion is more difficult because the media are also weakened financially and in terms of personnel. This means that, from Balsiger’s point of view, citizens are now less informed when making their voting decisions. “In the worst case, some people will become voting animals,” he says. These are people who vote completely uninformed.

“As a citizen, I am concerned,” Balsiger said. Because they are gradual processes, without everyone noticing a big bang. Moreover, there is alienation. There is a danger that people will turn away from politics. Partly because politics is abstract and difficult for them to understand.

However, research shows that declining election turnout alone is not necessarily a cause for great concern, especially in Switzerland. After all, citizens in this country can also express their opinions while voting.

However, it is not positive if politicians continue to hand out cheese instead of engaging in substantive debates.

Source:Blick