Parliamentarians feel ignored: Amherd is pursuing a security policy on its own

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The result is disappointing. Viola Amherd (61) received only 158 votes in her election as federal president on Wednesday. In the Federal Palace it is seen as a memory. Embarrassing delays in the new State Secretariat, the Ruag affair or their progress on neutrality: Amherd and its Ministry of Defense (VBS) are facing increasing headwinds.

And behind the scenes, Amherd is still unable to score any points. On the contrary: dissatisfaction remains high. Parliament often feels ignored. At the beginning of July, the VBS presented a broad study committee with representatives of all parties, historians and philosophers. But even members of the committee fear that the centrist federal councilor is simply using her as a fig leaf to support her course.

Amherd happily turns the VBS inside out to her taste

Her task: after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, she must reconsider and help shape Switzerland’s future security policy. A report with recommendations should be available by summer 2024. But: Amherd never seemed to have any intention of waiting for the results. In the meantime, she continues to bend security policy to her will.

Shortly afterwards, VBS boss Amherd announced that the Federal Council planned to join the European Sky Shield air defense system – a further step towards NATO. In August, army chief Thomas Süssli (57) followed her and also created facts: he wants to transform the army. It should be able to fend off military attacks again.

Parliament and the study committee also remained outside the plans for the new State Secretariat for Security Policy (Sepos). They are also very controversial. But Amherd steadfastly clings to its prestige project.

“She seems concerned about her study committee.”

“As we discuss the future direction of security policy, Amherd is constantly making new decisions,” criticizes a committee member. “She seems concerned about her study committee.”

Many people do not even understand what the Commission is supposed to do. Several members explain to Blick that they are thinking about leaving: “There will come a time when I will no longer participate.” No one wants to be mentioned by name.

However, the DDPS explains that the Commission has nothing to do with the current security policy. The basis for this remains the 2021 safety policy report. The Commission must provide impetus for the development of the next safety policy report from 2025. But: Amherd has already created many facts, committee members grumble.

Security expert has already thrown in the towel

Christian Catrina (67) has already thrown in the towel. The former head of security policy of the DDPS could not be reached for comment. The work in the study committee would have been too confusing for him. “That should be something to think about,” the committee says. “After all, as rapporteur he was an important member.”

The parties have nominated 6 of the 22 members. Amherd chose the rest. The chairman is former employer chairman Valentin Vogt (63). Security experts are in the minority. The majority consisted of neutrality skeptics, NATO sympathizers and EU supporters, the “Tages-Anzeiger” had already expressed criticism – and predicts that this composition is unlikely to result in a return to a defense army that is as autonomous as possible.

The Commission should probably only support the current course

This means: Amherd has composed the assignment in such a way that, if it were possible, the desired result would be achieved.

This is exactly what members of the study committee suspect. This is so heterogeneous that everything has remained very vague until now. “The suspicion arises that the intention is not to deliver tangible results,” reveals a member. Rather, it seems to be about confirming the path that Amherd has been taking for a long time – and regularly charts a new course. You can then appeal to the committee on a case-by-case basis.

President Vogt is also the target. He has little knowledge of safety policy. It seems more important that he is on Amherd’s course. He also decides which proposals are actually discussed – and which are not. This fuels the suspicion that the assignment is “only for the gallery”. “So far there is little meat on the bones,” says the committee. Vogt himself did not want to comment when asked.

Amherd is also clear that it has a number of construction sites. And next year she will not only have to provide the VBS, but also represent Switzerland externally. That doesn’t make it any easier. “The work ahead is like a mountain. We must ensure that it does not grow into a four-thousander or a Matterhorn,” she said in parliament on Wednesday. But now she is celebrating as the new federal president in Valais.

Source:Blick