No one had it on the bill. Hans-Ueli Vogt (52) left the National Council last year. Now he returns to the political scene – and how: the law professor at the University of Zurich wants to become a member of the Federal Council! On Wednesday, two days before the registration deadline, the SVP of Zurich announced his candidacy.
The cantonal party manages to make a surprise move. After Ueli Maurer (71) announced his resignation, the field of potential candidates from Zurich narrowed by the day. Councilor Natalie Rickli (45) did not want that. National Councilors Gregor Rutz (50) and Thomas Matter (56) canceled, as did most of the other Zurich representatives in the National Council.
Zurich has already given up
Slowly but surely, within the party, the belief that they could find another serious candidate to defend the seat in the Federal Council in Zurich – especially the section that had left its mark on SVP Switzerland for years – was fading. Prominent members already feared an alibi candidacy, which would embarrass the SVP of Zurich. It has been repeatedly criticized that the party has failed to develop willing and capable candidates in recent years.
But with the emergence of Vogt, the Zurich SVP just got around the corner. The former Landsraadslid is the first serious competitor for crown favorite Albert Rösti (55) from the canton of Bern. The race for the government post, which seemed over to many observers, has become more exciting again.
His own don’t love him
“That’s a smart move: Vogt is certainly not an alibi candidate,” noted other citizens in the Federal Parliament. “The Zurich SVP can be glad they found someone else. Vogt helps her get out with a little face-saving,” says one.
However, Vogt’s electoral chances are being questioned. The biggest hurdle for him could be his own faction. Another MP says he has little to hold on to. “His group just doesn’t like him,” said another.
Because Vogt did not deviate from the official SVP course just once, an example is the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, in which he campaigned for a counter-proposal against the will of the party. In addition, the man from Zurich, who is gay himself, was on the yes-committee for marriage for all, which the majority of the SVP rejected. “He is always far away from his own party,” a citizen said.
Candidate with imperfections
But even if Vogt gets the SVP ticket together with Favorit Rösti, it will still be difficult. For example, FDP National Councilor Christa Markwalder (47) describes it as a “blemish” that Vogt no longer politicizes in the Federal Palace. “If he was still on the National Council, the situation would be different.”
However, Vogt did not say goodbye to Bern until the end of 2021, which means that he is far from forgotten. He impressed many, especially in the work of the committee. According to an SP politician, he was seen as “independent and constructive”. Someone who could also listen and was willing to compromise. Green National Councilor Sibel Arslan (42) also sees it this way: “Hans-Ueli Vogt has proven more than once that he is willing to find solutions together.”
Blocher’s loss of interest
Each time, Vogt’s intellect is emphasized. However, he is said to be more of an expert than a politician. “He lacks the political heaviness,” one judges. “Maybe Vogt gets the SVP ticket, but he won’t be a game changer,” the citizen said. The favorite is and remains Rösti, as many parliamentarians agree: “If he gets the ticket, he is elected.”
Whether Rösti or Vogt – for many it was Hans Heiri. You would be happy with such a “softie ticket” with Vogt and Rösti well into the bourgeois camp. If the SVP doesn’t send a real hardliner into the race, they point to a “further loss of power by Herrliberg,” one centrist politician scoffs. “Blocher and Co. seem to play practically no role in finding candidates.”