SVP Presidium: Crown favorite wants selection: who can pose a threat to Dettling?

A woman from Geneva?

There are some interested parties, about ten SVP parliamentarians have put their names in the race so far. But which of them could actually pose a threat to Dettling?

Genevan National Councilor Céline Amaudruz (44) is considering running for office and would in principle have a good chance of becoming vice-president – and as we hear, she is currently diligently learning German. However, Amaudruz does not follow the party line on some points: she repeatedly makes explicitly feminist statements and sometimes votes with the left. This reduces their prospects. It is also uncertain whether the SVP wants someone from Latin Switzerland at the top again after the Ticino Chiesa with Amaudruz.

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The state councilor of St. Gallen, Mike Egger (31), can well imagine himself running for office. But he can always do that – he initially also showed interest in the elections for the government councils in his canton and in the elections for the state councils. But he is not part of the party’s inner circle of leadership. And some in the group complain that he is more diligent when running for office than when he is working.

Or a banker?

Zurich private banker Thomas Matter (57) belongs to the party’s inner leadership circle – and he says he is thinking about running for office. But he is also “a passionate entrepreneur, who requires a lot of time,” says the co-founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of Helvetic Bank. His job is his biggest handicap; at the base of the SVP, people are quite skeptical of bankers. The question is also why Matter has to take on this grueling job: as one of the supposed financiers of the SVP – in addition to the Christoph Blochers family (83) and car magnate Walter Frey (80), Matter would be one of the major clients. – he has enough Influence anyway.

Sandra Sollberger (50) also belongs to the party leadership. The National Councilor says the challenge makes her excited. Her shortcoming: in the elections for the government council in Basel-Landschaft, she failed to defend the seat of the SVP, which she believed was safe. Instead, Thomi Jourdan (49) from the small EVP party was elected. This meant that the strongest party in the canton was thrown out of the government. With such Tolggen on the books, it is unlikely that Sollberger will get the place of race director.

Intelligent creator

Bernese national councilor Lars Guggisberg (46), who “can absolutely imagine himself standing as a candidate”, is still far from power in the SVP. Likable and attractive – considered the “Tom Cruise of the faction” – he would certainly be a viable candidate. Like Dettling, he would give the party a younger look. But Guggisberg, as director of the SME trade association Bern, is considered an association official, which SVP members do not particularly appreciate. And as a businessman he has worse cards than farmer Dettling.

Lucerne councilor Franz Grüter (60) remains. The IT entrepreneur would also want to consider putting himself forward if he were asked. Grüter, who achieved a good result in the elections, will undoubtedly be well received by the base. He is considered an intelligent creator. But Grüter actually took himself out of the game by saying he had to be asked. If Dettling agrees, it’s not necessary. Unless you want to pit a second candidate against Dettling. But Grüter is unlikely to present himself as a fake candidate.

Franz Grüter only says what applies to all interested parties: they are waiting for Marcel Dettling’s decision. When he steps into the ring, his own candidacy is actually unnecessary.