Despite the tense world situation: Amherd skips the security conference

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Wars are raging in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, and further conflicts threaten to escalate. More participants are expected this weekend than ever before at the Munich Security Conference. More than 50 heads of state and government – ​​including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky (46) –, around 60 foreign ministers and more than 25 defense ministers and numerous other political and military representatives are expected to come to Hotel Bayerischer Hof. The big absentee: Federal President Viola Amherd (61).

“Ms Amherd cannot participate in the conference in Munich. “Unfortunately, she cannot attend meetings on Friday,” her Ministry of Defense (VBS) confirmed to Blick on Wednesday. And the return to Switzerland was planned anyway on Saturday. The VBS does not want to go into further details. However, we hear from circles close to the department that the central federal councilor must solve her own problems at home.

Amherd answers questions from financial politicians

The main issue is the military’s potential financial problems. Amherd assures that this does not exist – but her army chief Thomas Süssli (57) had recently thought about the impending end of the army. The military should beg defense companies to delay payments.

One of the meetings that prevents Amherd from traveling to Munich is at the Finance Committee of the National Council. Amherd will have to provide an explanation there on Friday. There are still too many questions unanswered. “We have invited the army and it seems that Viola Amherd and Thomas Süssli have been announced,” Commission President Sarah Wyss (35) confirmed to Le Temps.

Other departments were not informed

Spicy: The other departments were apparently unaware of Amherd’s cancellation – and were a bit annoyed. No one from the Federal Council will therefore participate in the summit, which is surprising given the geopolitical situation.

The defense department, in turn, tries to keep the ball level. “Ms. Amherd has already met numerous Defense Ministers and the Secretary General of NATO at the WEF and during her trip to Estonia and Norway,” the report said upon request. The DDPS does not appear to consider anything necessary at this time.

As the Ministry of Defense has now officially announced, Markus Mäder, the new State Secretary for Security Policy, will represent Switzerland at the international summit.

Source:Blick