SonntagsBlick: The SP leadership wants to nominate two women to succeed federal councilor Simonetta Sommaruga. This is a source of criticism, even within the party.
Cedric Wermuth: The SP almost always had a woman and a man in the Bundesrat. I can’t imagine getting away from that. But we will of course discuss this proposal within the party. Without a women’s ticket, there is a risk that there are only two women in the state government. People wouldn’t understand that.
Nevertheless, your actions exclude all capable men.
We as party chairman and party chairman have a clear preference. It would have been unfair not to put that clearly on the table. There is no fundamental right to join the Federal Council.
For the SP it can also be a woman from Romandie. This means that four of the seven seats would be occupied by Latins – and German-speaking Switzerland would be significantly under-represented.
That wouldn’t be a problem at all. Incidentally, there was once a Latin majority. From 1917 to 1920, the Federal Council had two Romans, one Ticino and one Romansh. I don’t understand what the German-speaking Swiss are afraid of when there are three French-speakers in the Federal Council.
Many potential candidates have already unsubscribed. Is the federal councilor’s office so unappealing?
It is an exciting office, but also an unbelievable battle of wear and tear. As co-party chairman, I can see how much the federal councilors are doing. It is difficult to combine such a job with family life. It’s practically a 24/7 job.
Among the potential candidates, there are several with children of school age. Can you be a member of the Federal Council and be there for your family? Or do you have to make a decision?
Unfortunately, it is a reality that it is difficult to combine such an office with an intact family life. In other countries it is much better organized. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has a four-year-old daughter; New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has given birth during her tenure. There it goes without saying that the woman in office can remain a mother.
Do you advise women with small children not to become members of the federal council?
On the contrary! We need to talk about how to arrange the office in such a way that a private life is possible in addition to work – whether you have children or not. For example, by increasing the number of federal councilors to nine or by reallocating large departments. The lack of compatibility between work and family is generally a problem in Switzerland and we urgently need to change that.
Federal councilor Sommaruga has often been harshly attacked by the SVP. Do such attacks contribute to the reluctance of potential candidates?
Yes. Since Simonetta Sommaruga announced her retirement, several potential candidates have asked us how we were feeling. Mrs. Sommaruga let such attacks roll off her with admirable composure. But it’s no secret that women are attacked in a more direct and sexist way, especially by SVP. Such attacks discourage women from entering politics.
What do you mean?
We see this in the nominations for the National Council. People are hesitant to expose themselves to it. This problem exists today even at the municipal and cantonal level. Zurich cantonal councilor Sarah Akanji has resigned over attacks on her person. They try to silence people and their concerns in a targeted manner. As Democrats, we cannot accept that.