Just hours after Finance Minister Ueli Maurer (71) announced his resignation from the Federal Council on Sept. 30, the Greens went on the offensive: they would consider attacking the seat of the SVP Federal Council with their own candidacy. Even possible names had already been made the rounds.
There’s a lot to be said for this: The Greens maintain that, from a purely mathematical point of view, they have long been entitled to a seat in the state government — and had vowed to take office whenever there was a vacancy. The base wants – according to a poll by the Sunday newspaper – a candidacy.
Little chance of success
Other things contradict it: the other parties make no secret of the fact that they would not support a Green candidate – the Maurer seat belongs, even the SP says, to the SVP. A majority for a Green Federal Councilor is therefore not in sight, probably not even a respectable result of 82 votes that the then party chairman Regula Rytz (60) achieved three years ago.
With such a bleak outlook, it’s probably hard to find a dream candidate.
The Green Group will meet today, Tuesday, to report on the difficult starting position. She plans to announce the decision at 4 p.m. Blick reports live from the media conference. (sf)