“For this time”: Funiciello renounces his candidacy for the Federal Council

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The field of potential candidates to succeed SP federal councilor Alain Berset (51) is becoming thinner. Christian Levrat (53) and Fabian Molina (33) have announced their resignation. Now SP women’s co-chairman and national councilor Tamara Funiciello (33) is letting the cat out of the bag.

Blick: Ms. Funiciello, you have clearly been confirmed as a national councilor. Are you now participating in the race for the Federal Council?
Tamara Funiciello: No, I am not running for the Federal Council. Given the shift to the right in parliament, I currently see my role in parliament: as a hinge between the movements in which I am anchored and the Federal Parliament. In the National Council, commitment to feminist issues, climate protection and trade union interests is more necessary than ever.

Ideally, they represent a modern SP: female, young, urban, queer.
Never say never! My decision not to run for office applies this time. Another time it may look different. I have not ruled out putting myself forward as a candidate at a later date, it could also be for another directorship.

So far, there are five men and only one woman running to succeed Berset. As co-chairman of the SP women, you cannot settle for that.
I am very happy that Evi Allemann, a competent woman with a lot of experience, is participating. We have thus achieved an important goal. Maybe more women will participate, the deadline is still running.

Only one woman in the field of candidates is a bit thin for the SP.
I know many competent women who are candidates for the position. Just like for me, it is not the right time for others. To become a federal councilor, many things have to be right. After the woman Elisabeth Baume-Schneider was elected last year, the signs are somewhat different.

On November 25, the SP faction nominated the ticket. Shouldn’t there be at least one woman on it?
With Elisabeth, the SP has a woman in the Federal Council. That is why this time we have waived the requirement that a woman must be on the ticket. But I am very optimistic that such a woman will also qualify. The current candidate has extremely good cards due to her qualifications.

To better take the diversity of the group into account, a three-stage card would be conceivable.
I argue for a two-person ticket. With the nomination we are also making a political decision; we provide a clear direction for SP representation in the Federal Council.

What would your dream ticket be?
It is clear that as SP women’s chairman I support the candidacy of women. Who else belongs on the ticket – let’s wait and see. Only after the hearings will I make a final decision.

The elections for the Federal Council will also be shaped by the new parliament. The women suffered a setback.
I think it is a shame that we have once again deviated from equal representation in parliament. Only just over a third of the National Council is made up of women, which is a step backwards. Given the shift to the right, things become even more difficult for equality and therefore for social issues. For example, when it comes to financing childcare. Or when it comes to talking about more money for violence prevention.

Parliament is moving to the right, what do you fear as a leftist?
The little people remain under pressure. Health insurance premiums are rising, the massive attack on tenants continues and we are making no progress on wages and pensions. We must counter this – if necessary with more popular initiatives and referenda. It takes a lot of resistance.

Source:Blick