Whether it’s a man or a woman, it doesn’t matter – “as long as it’s not an ‘It’, it’s still fine”: the answer from Finance Minister Ueli Maurer (71) to the question about his successor in the state government caused a stir. The Federal Council was accused of transphobia. The statement was “absolutely unacceptable,” according to the Transgender Network Switzerland, which demanded an apology from the Federal Council.
Maurer has not apologized to this day. Instead, at Saturday’s SVP delegates meeting, he said he wanted to deliberately provoke.
Maurer attacked satirist
He was cheered by the SVP supporters. Comedian Patti Basler (46), on the other hand, has no understanding of such provocations. She herself was recently berated by Maurer when she intercepted politicians outside the Federal Palace for the satirical SRF program “Deville”. «These ‘huere’ questions from the television. You can’t be much dumber than you are. Excuse me,” the SVP politician casually scolded into the SRF microphone.
A verbal attack with consequences, as reported by the “SonntagsZeitung”. Patti Basler writes on Facebook that she received numerous hate messages after the broadcast of this scene. “Although he was disrespectful to me, I was accused of disrespect in countless messages and comments,” she writes. She misses that as a satirist: “However, I also received multiple death threats, rape threats and countless abusive comments about my body and my sexuality.”
Basler accuses Federal Council of incitement to hatred
What Basler is referring to: If she’s already getting reactions like cis-female — a term for people whose gender characteristics and identity match — “what must it be like for transgender people, black people, queers, non-binary people, etc. daily rate?” Maurer feeds hatred and violence against these minorities with slogans at the expense of these minorities.In the eyes of some people, Basler says hatred is “virtually legitimized” and unleashed.
Maurer remains silent about the allegations when asked by the “SonntagsZeitung”. “We will not comment further,” the finance department said.
Offer of lectures by Kim de l’Horizon
The Federal Council also does not respond to an offer of talks that Kim de l’Horizon (30) made to him this week. Kim de l’Horizon, who grew up in the canton of Berne, has just won the German Book Prize – as the first non-binary person. In an essay in the “NSZ,” Kim de l’Horizon turns to the Federal Council, accusing it of denying people like him their humanity and not accepting them as full-fledged political subjects. De l’Horizon invites Maurer to have a beer together.
“I’m not challenging you, I’m not throwing up a glove, I don’t want a political panel discussion, I don’t want a big media contingent, I’m not asking for anything. I’m just offering to show you how I live and I’d love to see you alive,” wrote the nonbinary.
An offer that Maurer does not accept. The “NZZ” asked the Federal Council for an answer and brought the offer of talks to Kim de l’Horizons. We take note of this and thank you “for understanding that we won’t go into it,” Maurer’s department said. (lha)