Five candidates are standing for the seat of Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer (71) at the SVP. In the SP, on the other hand, no one has dared to climb on the branches and throw in the hat for the successor of federal councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (62).
The SVP does want to examine which candidates the SP proposes, reports Landsraad member Thomas Matter (56, ZH) in the political conversation on Blick TV. “If they are left-wing extremists, our ticket may look different,” he said. For example, if National Councilor and ex-Juso boss Tamara Funiciello (32, BE) were appointed, the SVP could fill their ticket with someone just as polarizing, he said. Then an SVP ticket would look different than if, for example, SP Landraad member Flavia Wasserfallen (43, BE) would stand for election.
Except that the Matter tactic has a catch. More than a week before the SP, the SVP nominates its candidates. On November 18, the SVP faction will decide whether they will enter the race with a two- or three-person ticket – and who they will bet on. The SP party will only decide on its election proposals on 26 November.
Postponement possible
Nevertheless, the SVP faction could in theory change the timetable and postpone the nomination, faction leader Thomas Aeschi (43) confirmed to Blick. “If a group member makes a request, it is possible – but in practice I think it is unlikely that anyone will do it,” the Zug National Council said. He also sees no reason to expand the group of candidates. “I am very satisfied with our field of candidates.”
Aeschi personally sees no reason to change the timetable – certainly not because of the SP. “We are acting from a strong position and do not need to make our nomination dependent on that of the left.”
Aeschi would listen to Funiciello
On the other hand, Aeschi does not want to anticipate how one would react to a ticket with “extreme left” SP candidates. “Then the group has to decide how to deal with it.” Personally, he would not impose any restrictions on the SP. “The faction has to decide for itself who should represent the SP ideas in the Federal Council – that’s how our concordance system works,” he says.
Even a nomination from Funiciello wouldn’t hurt him. “For me, it’s not necessarily unselectable from the start. We would certainly listen to their views and motivations and then decide on an election recommendation.”
However, it is becoming clear that the SVP will not find itself in such a dilemma. Councilor Eva Herzog of Basel (60) or National Councilor Flavia Wasserfallen (43) of Bern are considered favorites to succeed Sommaruga if they participate. None of them are considered a red rag by the common people.
And SVP man Matter can rest easy, because Funiciello himself makes it very clear: “I’m happy where I am at the moment,” she tells Blick. “A candidacy for the Federal Council is currently out of the question for me.”