Elected, but traveling through Asia: Wermuth’s holiday violates parliamentary law

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Cédric Wermuth (38) is back. The SP co-chairman and national councilor took a two-month break. He reports that he was relaxing with his family during a vacation in Vietnam and the Philippines.

The SP member only really retired after the autumn elections and the replacement election for the retiring federal councilor Alain Berset (51). His parliamentary work has been suspended since Christmas and he has been represented in committees.

The law says otherwise

The parliamentary law is clear: “The councilors are obliged to attend the meetings of the councils and committees,” says Article 10. However, country and state councilors can stay away from the meetings, for example for health reasons. Wermuth made no such arguments.

At the request of the leadership of the National Council, the highest Swiss person responded personally. National Council President Eric Nussbaumer (63) confirms “the legal obligation of council members to participate in meetings and councils”. Wermuth’s party colleague Nussbaumer does not answer any further questions.

However, he refers to the National Council’s operating regulations, in which Article 18 stipulates that committee members can be represented. However, the possibility that someone can intervene if an MP is ill does not absolve him from the obligation to attend.

Wermuth contradicts Nussbaumer

Wermuth contradicts this view – and therefore also the municipal council. There can be no question of a violation of parliamentary law; that is a ‘wrong assessment’. “There is an absence of council members at almost every committee meeting. “This is for several personal and professional reasons.” Like Nussbaumer, Wermuth also refers to Article 18. “Of course I was not absent on session days.”

The SP politician points to a practice that has spread across the parties. The SVP is also known to allow group members to participate very freely in committee meetings or to be represented. But here the practice contradicts parliamentary law.

Wermuth does not elaborate on whether he will return or donate the financial compensation for his National Council mandate that he receives from the Confederation, pro rata for the two months of vacation. Nor how he financially managed his absence within his party.

“Thank you, Mattea”

Co-chair Mattea Meyer (36) had to take over the SP leadership alone during Wermuth’s absence. “I am very grateful that Mattea and the party have made it possible for my family and me to take this break from committee meetings and party work after the extraordinary stress of the election year,” he wrote to Blick. They shared the highest party office in order to maintain a balance between the responsibilities of the office and family time.

Source:Blick