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They are regarded as a shadow parliament: more than forty national and state councilors who, at the invitation of the Swiss Farmers’ Association, are allowed to belong to the ‘peasant parliamentarians’ at the invitation of the Swiss Farmers’ Association. The association and its chairman Markus Ritter make their views known to the group and tell the members how to vote. They are happy to share what they expect from the future Federal Council, but they are even more secretive when you ask who is in the exclusive group.
The previously unknown member list is available for SonntagsBlick. From: the end of October 2023, so shortly after the federal elections. The evaluation shows that almost one in four ‘rural parliamentarians’ is not a farmer themselves and has never been one.
Well connected network
Often the members do not even represent a farmer organization, but rather what is sometimes called their ‘fat belt’, that is, industries and companies that benefit indirectly from subsidies by buying something from farmers or selling something to them.
Almost all ‘rural parliamentarians’ are well-connected officials. They hold various important positions in influential associations, companies and lobby groups. In total, they hold more than 200 positions on boards of directors, boards, foundation boards and boards in various sectors.
In addition to farmer organizations, retailers, especially Migros and Coop, meat processors such as Micarna, compound feed and sugar manufacturers, agricultural technology and insurance companies for farmers are also represented. Agricultural giant Fenaco and pharmaceutical and chemical companies such as Bayer and Novartis can also exert influence in the group. Bayer is currently being criticized for its controversial weedkiller glyphosate.
Not just farmers
For example, lawyer and national councilor Nicolo Paganini (57, center) is a member of the exclusive community and chairman of the Migros Eastern Switzerland cooperative. You will not find him with an agricultural background. Center state councilor and lawyer Leo Müller (65) is on the board of the agricultural cooperative Fenaco, which includes Volg, Landi, the fertilizer brand Landor and the mineral oil company Agrola. Fenaco and its members sell feed to farmers and buy seeds, grain or food from them. In any case, Leo Müller can point out that he was once a farmer himself: from 1975 to 1977.
Damian Müller (39), on the other hand, has never been a farmer. He is close to many things, but not to the farmers. The FDP Council of States is ‘senior public affairs consultant’ at Mobiliar and heads a PR agency that advises associations and companies on political issues.
For example, as a board member of a printing company and a member of the lobby group of the Graphics Association, he prevented a motion against unwanted advertising in letterboxes. He writes this proudly on his website. According to Blick, “Pöstlijäger” Müller is also chairman of the equestrian association and a board member of the medical technology association.
One sixth of parliament belongs to farmers, they are represented in all important committees and can form a majority. This is extremely high compared to other professional groups. Of the more than 5 million workers in Switzerland, only about 150,000 work in agriculture. Farmers make up only 2.3 percent of the labor force and generate less than 1 percent of gross domestic product. With the Swiss Farmers’ Association – 330 employees, their own health insurers and newspapers – they have the most powerful lobby behind them.
One sixth of parliament belongs to farmers, they are represented in all important committees and can form a majority. This is extremely high compared to other professional groups. Of the more than 5 million workers in Switzerland, only about 150,000 work in agriculture. Farmers make up only 2.3 percent of the labor force and generate less than 1 percent of gross domestic product. With the Swiss Farmers’ Association – 330 employees, their own health insurers and newspapers – they have the most powerful lobby behind them.
Müller is allowed to participate in the parliamentary farmers’ club because he is also chairman of the Swiss feed manufacturers, which buy grain from farmers or sell feed. Müller also knows agriculture from his time as a sales manager at the Valora trading company.
The same applies to Center Councilor Charles Juillard (60). According to information on the list of participants, the director of a PR agency is allowed to participate in the farmers’ club because he is a board member of the Swiss Hail Insurance Company.
Center Council of States and lawyer Daniel Fässler (63) is president of the Swiss forest owners. SVP Council Member Mike Egger (31) is in the Micarna selection.
From Green to SVP, everything is there
Since the elections, the group has become even more right-wing. Ten of the eleven new members belong to the SVP, one to the center.
More than half of the shadow parliament now comes from the SVP. The center and the FDP make up the rest. At the end of October there were only two Greens members.
The green organic farmer Kilian Baumann (42) would have liked to have been there. But he is not allowed to do that, because he has fallen out of favor with the chairman of the farmers’ association due to criticism of his actions and because of his ecological views.
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.
