SP federal councilor moves to the Ministry of the Interior: Baume-Schneider flees from the SVP

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It is a big surprise: Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (59) is leaving the Justice and Police Department (EJPD), which she took over only a year ago. The Jura resident is attracted to the Interior Department (EDI), which has been led by Alain Berset (51) for twelve years.

“I am happy to take on responsibility for the EDI and put my expertise and energy at the service of the social sector, especially healthcare and culture. The EJPD is certainly in good hands with my colleague Beat Jans,” she tweeted on Thursday evening.

She was tired of SVP attacks

Behind the scenes, it is said that Baume-Schneider is on the run from the SVP’s constant attacks. “This is an escape,” Mitte President Gerhard Pfister (61) told the “Tages-Anzeiger”.

The SVP has actually targeted the Minister of Asylum. Among other left-wing women in this department, just think of Simonetta Sommaruga (63) – who braved the storm for eight years.

There are also rumors from circles close to Baume-Schneider that the tasks at the EDI are closer to the former social worker than migration issues and law. The trained social worker once headed the University of Social Work and Health in Lausanne. She also enjoys the cultural sector, having served as Director of Education, Culture and Sports during her time as State Councilor of Jura.

SVP-Aeschi “very concerned”

But Baume-Schneider will hardly have time for aesthetic matters: there are major construction sites waiting for the department – both the social security systems such as AHV and IV and the health care system are under constant pressure to reform.

It is widely doubted whether Baume-Schneider can control this. SVP faction leader Thomas Aeschi (44) is certainly not the only one here. But he openly says he is very concerned. “We face major challenges in social security and health care. They actually need a strong leader and Ms. Baume-Schneider is not that.”

“Very surprised”

Center health politician Lorenz Hess (62) says: “If Mrs. Baume-Schneider was simply looking for another department because she was no longer satisfied with hers, I would be very surprised that she ended up in the Home Affairs department. In my opinion, EDI is anything but an alternative department.”

There is also enormous skepticism within the federal government. The SP should have prevented the change, senior officials emphasize. Baume-Schneider will never gain a foothold in EDI. The department is so difficult that it really needs an excellent federal councilor – and that is why most federal councilors shy away from it. In civil departments it is said: “Alain Berset could do it, but Baume-Schneider is not doing Switzerland any favors.”

SVP gets a new enemy image

The change of department also means that the SVP has a new hostile image. Newcomer Beat Jans (59) will become Minister of Justice from January 1, 2024 and will have to deal with migration issues that are not particularly complex, but are challenging and unpopular.

However, the EYPD certainly offers Jans opportunities: the EU file will probably become increasingly important in the coming years and the free movement of people will play a key role in this. Jans, who comes from the border triangle, has a more relaxed relationship than other comrades and may be able to move the file.

All other federal council members remain in their departments. In Bern it was expected that all former federal councilors would retain their departments. FDP Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (62) would most likely make a change. As a doctor, he would have been destined for the Home Office and could have handed over the hot “EU file”.

Source:Blick