Twice city against country

Sophia Reinhardt and Leah Hartman

At first glance, the SVP candidates are clear: there will be a duel between Zurich and Bern, between the city dwellers Hans-Ueli Vogt (52) and Albert Rösti (55) from rural Uetendorf BE.

The current National Council Rösti is credited with the greater electoral chances. He enjoys a good reputation among parliamentarians and his condescension is praised even by his political opponents. He is also better anchored in the group.

By contrast, the Zurich professor of law Vogt did not always have an easy time in federal Bern: some describe the former National Council as cerebral, but at the same time very sensitive. But Rösti has also been criticized in recent weeks. For him it is the numerous offices he holds in addition to the municipal presidency of Uetendorf and his mandate of the national council.

parents of the same sex

Politically, Vogt is more in favor of a liberal society than Rösti. Vogt would like homosexual couples to have the same rights as heterosexual couples in all areas – Rösti rejects this. There’s no reason to treat same-sex couples differently than opposite-sex couples, Vogt said for his Smartvote profile. “They can be equally good parents, and they can support each other equally.” On the other hand, both SVP candidates advocate relaxing the rules for reproductive medicine.

Rösti is also willing to talk about stricter requirements for online companies such as Airbnb or Uber taxis. Stadter Vogt sees no urgency in this. Vogt also favors individual taxation “rather”, his opponent from Bern rejects it.

Child vaccinations required?

When it comes to mandatory vaccinations for children, the opinions of the two also differ: Rösti supported before the 2019 elections – so before Corona – that the recommended childhood vaccinations could become mandatory, Vogt goes too far. Nevertheless, schools should be able to send children home, for example if they have not been vaccinated during an epidemic, Vogt stated three years ago.

The two SVP men agree on many matters, such as the purchase of new fighter planes or the reinforcement of the army. However, in the case of a smartvote question, the answers of the two are completely different. At Rösti, for example, the statement: “If you are not guilty of anything, there is nothing to fear from state security measures” is fully supported, Vogt does not believe in that at all.

Stadsland also with the SP

The SP candidates will also compete on 7 December city-land. Eva Herzog (60) from Basel is also the favorite here. You get better chances, especially in the civilian camp. Because she is part of the liberal SP reform platform and as finance director fought for Corporate Tax Reform III, which the SP rejected. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (58) is considered significantly more left-wing than Herzog. The Jura native of the 1,500-inhabitant village of Les Breuleux was a Marxist at a young age, but has since turned away from it.

Their different origins are reflected in the traffic policy of the two SP women: unlike Herzog, Baume-Schneider does not want to cut federal funds for road traffic. According to Smartvote, they have different opinions about road pricing: Herzog thinks that’s a good thing. Baume-Schneider, the candidate from the peripheral regions, rejects her. Herzog is also clearly in favor of a CO₂ tax on petrol and diesel, Baume-Schneider is only “more likely” in favor of it.

Save with farmers

The differing attitudes of the two are also noticeable when it comes to promoting agriculture. If it’s up to Herzog, federal funds can be spared for the farmers, Baume-Schneider doesn’t want to cut that.

Herzog and Baume-Schneider also have different views when it comes to financial settlement. Herzog from the donor canton of Basel-Stadt advocates a further reduction in payments from financially strong cantons to financially weak ones. Baume-Schneider from poor Jura rejects this.