36 hours – a candidate’s career for the Federal Council has probably never been shorter. 36 hours after government councilor Michèle Blöchliger (55) from Nidwalden officially announced her candidacy to succeed SVP Federal councilor Ueli Maurer (71), this is already over!
Blöchliger came across an embarrassing lie about her dual citizenship. Just a few months ago, the canton’s finance director listed her British citizenship on her website. That year she disappeared there. Because the “Nidwaldner SVP Veteran” wouldn’t qualify — at least for their own party.
Anyone who lies is not good for the state government
While the majority of Swiss have roots abroad and have no problem with that, this is a thorn in the side of the SVP. Party chairman Marco Chiesa (48) even made a request in 2017 not to be allowed to vote in the state government with dual nationality.
Blöchliger’s example shows that this idea is completely obsolete in the 21st century, even in Switzerland.
So it is not Blöchliger’s second pass that makes her ineligible. But the lie about it. Anyone who has so little sovereignty to lie about an inherited citizenship and admit the lie only after it has been exposed has no place in the Bundesrat.
It doesn’t matter what the SVP thinks – the Federal Assembly will see it that way.
Sermin Faki
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
