SP candidate for the Federal Council Jon Pult makes it clear: “I support the Swiss army”

But the SP program demands the abolition of the army.
I am a convinced social democrat. But I’ve never really gotten excited about the part of the program that calls for the long-term abolition of the military. I support the Swiss army.

At the age of 21, you opposed the use of the military at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. They believed that police duties should remain with the police.
Exactly, I am in favor of the police having primary responsibility for internal security. But I am in no way speaking out against our military. Here too I have a more nuanced opinion than 18 years ago.

Which?
As a member of the audit committee of the Great Council of Graubünden, I had insight into the security arrangements for the WEF. I have convinced myself that it is well organised: the army provides subsidiary support to the security authorities and especially to the police.

I thought that as a resident of Graubünden you would only welcome it when the army prepared the slopes for ski races.
The army has even more important tasks, but I would be happy if the army helped ensure that ski races can take place.

The Swiss Association of Military Societies still considers you unelectable because you have spoken out against increasing the army budget.
Like almost everyone in the SP faction, yes. With this position, the VMG is actually speaking out against the fact that a Social Democrat becomes a federal councilor. It is completely legitimate to take a different position than the SP – and of course also a different one than mine. But you know what is politically problematic?

What?
When a military association is supposed to determine who is eligible for our state government and who is not. The VMG does not determine the party-political composition of the Federal Council and thus the concordance.

But the VMG can say that it does not recommend you for the Federal Council.
Of course he can. But I expected him to ask me about my position on the military before he did so and spread misinformation. We don’t treat each other like that in this country. Simply labeling me as an army abolitionist and therefore ineligible, without talking to me first, is un-Swiss.

The military association is not Swiss, but you are suddenly a staunch supporter of the military?
I’m not glowing, but I think a sovereign state should be able to defend itself. To do this, he needs a security policy that is adapted to the threats, including those from the army. This is not just my belief since the Russian attack on Ukraine. But this attack shows us what important security policy discussions lie ahead. As a member of the Federal Council I would like to be involved in this.

Which ones do you think are coming?
We must find our place in the European security architecture. The attack on Ukraine shows that there is no security without cooperation, if not militarily, then at least politically. At the same time, we are a neutral country, we want and will remain so. There are also challenges such as cybersecurity, disinformation and attempts at destabilization by authoritarian states. Our army also plays an important role here. But the question is how exactly this is defined and where the priorities lie.