“Nobody wears a Trychler shirt in Zurich”

Mr. Vogt, you are a candidate for the Federal Council. Does that surprise you?
Hans-Ueli Vogt: This was not clear until recently. Several potential candidates from the canton of Zurich have declined. At the same time, more and more people approached me and said I was the right candidate. In this light, it is a surprise to me that I am a candidate today.

Doesn’t it bother you that you only got involved after the abolition of the SVP heavyweights?
no It is quite normal for incumbent politicians to act first.

You do not belong to the Blocher wing, you are not part of the inner circle of the Zurich SVP. Do you even continue as a representative of this cantonal party?
I hope that no Bundesrat candidate comes forward with the understanding that they represent a particular section. I am a candidate with beliefs and values ​​consistent with SVP. That is why the cantonal party nominated me. But I am not a representative of any party section.

In any case, the author of “Weltwoche” Christoph Mörgeli was happy that the lion of Zurich was now attacking the Bernese bear. Are you happy with this support?
This aspect has a certain relevance. It is legitimate for the canton of Zurich to be represented in the Bundesrat. It starts with the economic interest. In fiscal equalization, the canton of Zurich is the largest donor and the canton of Bern the most important recipient.

Albert Rösti from Bern has a doctorate in agronomy, you are a law professor. Does this dispute between scholars depict the SVP? What happened to the Peasant Party?
The SVP stands up for freedom and independence. These are values ​​close to rural Switzerland. We can express them beautifully with cows and Ehringer cows. But the proportion of voters for the SVP is almost 30 percent. It cannot possibly be just people who live in the countryside. Among our voters must be many city dwellers and people in agglomerations who would rather go to the gym than to a paddock or stable. Together, Albert Rösti van Kandersteg and I represent the whole spectrum.

Rosti is considered a favorite. Are you not afraid of defeat?
In a conversation with the cantonal party, I said early and unsolicited: I’m going because I’m not afraid of losing. I’ve always been inspired by people who show greatness even in defeat, like Roger Federer for example.

Sounds like you’ve already given up on the lump sum!
On the contrary. Only those who are not afraid of defeat can fight freely. I have lost several times in my political career, for example with the self-determination initiative, which was rejected by the people. But I got up and continued.

You then drafted this initiative. But three months before the vote, your party replaced you with Thomas Matter as campaign manager. Wasn’t that an insult?
Not at all. The campaign was developed and led by the party. I always thought that was right, I was happy with the support.

That sounds very harmonious. But your counter-proposal to the Responsible Business Initiative also caused a dispute with your own party. You also clearly deviated from the party line on marriage for all.
Evaluations of voting behavior in the House of Representatives show that as a member of the National Council I was somewhat right in the middle of the SVP spectrum. Anyone who wants to classify me politically should not rush to the few points where there was a difference.

You are considered an introverted professor. Does that fit the profile of a federal councilor?
I have ten years of political experience. As a Member of Parliament, I put my beliefs and values ​​on the table and collaborated with associations and organisations. As a professor I led teams for 20 years. In fact, I also have an inner side and appreciate the personal contact in dialogue. That appeals to me more than an event in a full Rössli hall with beer and singing. However, this quality hardly contradicts the demands of a federal councilor.

So you’re never going to walk around in a Trychler shirt?
No, but in the city of Zurich no one wears a Trychler shirt either. The concept of being close to the people intuitively fits in with the image of the countryside. But in Zurich being close to people means something else. For example, I talk to people on the tram or in the gym who approach me because they have seen me on TV.

They seem conciliatory, and Albert Rösti is no Polteri either. Is the era of total SVP opposition over?
The role of the SVP must not change. It needs a party that slows down the most diverse developments. Whether it is in the energy debate, in tax policy or on the gender issue. Another question is who is making himself available for the Bundesrat. This must be someone who can convince with arguments and see solutions where others only see the opposite.

Don’t you run the risk of ending up as “half member of the Federal Council”?
Searching for common solutions does not mean simply giving in. It’s about pursuing your own goals without leaving the other person empty-handed. That is more promising than just insisting on one’s own point of view.

Why should Parliament choose you?
I am a person with strong values ​​and convictions and Parliament knows what they are. But if you’re concerned, I’m listening. I don’t want to be a sun king, but sober as I am. I can deal with people and lead them. And I think I have the right attitude to the task and the country.