Now that Mazzone has been voted out, the Presidium of the Council of States is probably gone: the Greens hope for a miracle in Ticino

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The dream has fallen apart: Lisa Mazzone (35) should have been the first Green Party to take over the presidency of the Council of States in 2025. But now that she has been voted out, it is clear that she cannot be elected first vice president during the winter session. Even worse for the party: the green claim is now fundamentally questioned.

The Greens have only three representatives: Maya Graf (61, BL), Céline Vara (39, NE) and Mathias Zopfi (39, GL). The group power is gone. They could only defend this if Greta Gysin (40) would reach the elections for the Council of States in Ticino next Sunday, and a possible GLP state councilor Tiana Moser (44, ZH) would join the eco group. This would be sufficient for the five seats needed for a faction. But this scenario requires a Ticino miracle!

“Without group strength there is no more justice”

It is clear, especially in the ranks of the SVP, that the green gap must be filled elsewhere. “Elections must have consequences,” says an influential SVP Council member, who does not want to interfere with the Council of States.

SVP faction leader Hannes Germann (67), on the other hand, makes it clear: “If the Greens no longer achieve group strength, they will no longer be able to claim the presidency,” according to the Schaffhausen Council of States. The Greens could join the SP, but then the SP would have to take the green seat into account.

However, two left-wing presidencies of the Council of States in a row are not justified, Germann points to the fact that SP State Councilor Eva Herzog (61, BS) will become president in the winter session. “Given the political shifts, it would be best if the Greens gave up and the current vote counters intervened.”

Similar considerations also come from the FDP and the Center. The presidency was given “ad personam”. “If you don’t have a group size, there’s no seating,” says one liberal. However, we still have to wait for the second round of voting next Sunday so that a final picture is available.

Greens cling to straw

The Greens are also grasping at straws. “It is still too early for a discussion, we have to wait for election Sunday,” says Green Councilor Céline Vara. She hopes for a green success in Ticino and a GLP victory in Zurich. “If the two women are elected, we can look further.”

For the time being, Vara is leaving it open whether she wants to step into the vice-presidency role herself. Maya Graf and Mathias Zopfi also remained silent about this when asked. However, if the Greens do not reach group strength, the only option is to withdraw or go to war.

The Greens want to decide next week which direction this will take. “We are now giving everything again so that we can form a group,” says group leader Aline Trede (40, BE). “From next Sunday we will have certainty and we will see with the other groups what the future composition will look like.”

Caroni, Engler and Salzmann advance

If the Greens abstain, FDP state councilor Andrea Caroni (43, AR) would take office as first vice-president and center councilor Stefan Engler (63, GR) as second vice-president.

The actual winner of the castling would be SVP Council of States Werner Salzmann (61, BE). While he was previously expected to become president of the Council of States in 2028, he could take the seat as early as 2027. This means that he does not have to fear being voted out as designated President of the Council of States in the 2027 national elections – as has now happened to Mazzone. And he could decide without pressure whether he wanted to run again in four years or not.

Source:Blick