Simonetta Sommaruga (62) will retire at the end of the year. The federal councilor announced this at a media conference on Wednesday afternoon. The SP politician attributes the decision to personal reasons. Her husband had a stroke ten days ago. Sommaruga took a break last week to be able to be with her husband.
The deteriorating health of her husband Lukas Hartmann (78) was a shock to both. “Such an event is a turning point that comes suddenly and unexpectedly and makes you think,” explains Sommaruga. She can’t go on like before. “The office of federal councilor requires full commitment. After more than twelve years of government, I consciously want to change the priorities in my life’, the politician continues.
“Have respect for this decision”
The Blick community did not expect such a message either. Most commentators understand and respect the decision, although some readers are not on the same political line as the outgoing federal councilor. “Even though I have long been politically annoyed at Sommaruga, I have the utmost respect for this resignation, which has such a human background,” writes reader Reto Schmidt, for example.
Thomas Mäder writes: «All the best for the future and hopefully she can spend many more happy years with her husband. The same goes for Ueli Maurer, who also resigns. Despite all the harshness with which political discourse is sometimes carried on, it must also be remembered that our politicians are people with private lives. » Some commentators also thank the federal councilor. For example, reader Christian Wyss: “Thank you, Simonetta, for your work and commitment to making the world and this country a little better. I wish you and your husband all the best.”
Like any politician, Sommaruga is not popular with all citizens. She also had to be able to handle a lot of ugly words. Heinz Stäubli writes: “I admire this woman, unlike her opponents. She could do whatever she wanted, it was guaranteed to be wrong before she said anything. She endured this hatred and envy for twelve years. That deserves recognition.”
Reader André Weingartner concludes with a look into the future: “Unfortunately, a humanistic, intellectual politician resigns. Thanks for everything. Let’s hope a similarly charismatic person follows!”