She was never a party soldier

Now Simonetta Sommaruga (62, SP) is also leaving. Like Ueli Maurer (71, SVP) a month ago, she resigns from the Federal Council. Unplanned and for personal reasons, as she says. “My husband had a stroke the day before yesterday,” says Sommaruga. Now she can no longer live her life as she has been for the past twelve years. The office of federal councilor demands full commitment. She will do that until the last day. But then she wanted to change the focus of her life.

Sommaruga has been a member of the state government since November 2010. Initially, she headed the Ministry of Justice and Police (EJPD). Since January 2019, she has been head of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) department. She has been President of the Federal Republic twice.

Known as a consumer advocate

Early in her career, the trained concert pianist became known to the public throughout Switzerland as a consumer advocate. From 1993 to 1999 she led the Consumer Protection Foundation as its general director and from 2000 to 2010 as its president.

Before she was elected to the Federal Council, Sommaruga was a member of the Council of States for the canton of Bern for seven years, before that the SP politician was a member of the National Council. She was never a party soldier – she caused trouble in the Social Democrat ranks early in the party with the “Gurten Manifesto”.

Biggest success in the asylum system, biggest failure in energy issues

Her greatest success as a federal councilor is perhaps the acceleration of the asylum procedure, which came into effect on March 1, 2019. She even reformed the asylum system against left-wing resistance. Thanks to the faster procedures, most asylum seekers now know more quickly whether they can stay in Switzerland or not. This is one of the reasons that our country currently registers significantly fewer asylum applications than comparable countries such as Austria.

As Minister of the Environment and Energy, the Bern native was less successful. In the referendum of June 13, 2021, the population rejected the revised CO₂law with 51.6 percent no votes. The shock and disappointment of the Berner was on display that Sunday.

Energy crisis due to war in Ukraine

After Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24 and it became clear that electricity and gas would become scarce by the end of the coming winter, Sommaruga pulled several levers to avoid an energy gap.

For example, the Federal Councilor provided storage capacity for liquid gas in the Netherlands and concluded a solidarity agreement with Germany and Italy for mutual energy supply in the event of a shortage. However, both agreements have not yet been concluded.

Good timing, but construction sites remain

Sommaruga also launched the hydropower reserve – with success. As the Federal Council announced on Wednesday, they and experts assume there will be no serious electricity shortage this winter with quotas and grid shutdowns.

And so Sommaruga can do it with a clear conscience, because it will not leave Switzerland in an unresolved crisis. However, there are still many building sites in the field of energy – especially how Switzerland can get the energy it needs in a climate-friendly and more independent way.