Ruag boss comes under fire

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It was blunt statements about the war in Ukraine and the debate about arms supplies from Switzerland that got Brigitte Beck, head of the federal armaments group Ruag, into trouble. She spoke about the fact that Germany or Spain could also supply Swiss weapons to Ukraine without Switzerland’s permission – and criticized the Federal Council. This is not only badly received in parliament, but also in the board of the RUAG.

The story began with an interview with CH Media, which never materialized after Beck’s subsequent intervention and the threat of a lawsuit for damages. Ruag boss Beck would not have minced words in the conversation, but then did not want to know anything more about it. In internal statements, RUAG’s board of directors allegedly complained that statements were “sometimes taken out of context or presented separately from the text”, as the “Tages-Anzeiger” now reports.

Fuel thrown on the fire

But that is not everything. The Ruag boss publicly doubled down. At a panel on Swiss neutrality last week in Zurich, she called on Germany and Spain to supply Swiss weapons to Ukraine. The head of a federal company thus ignores the Swiss neutrality policy and the War Material Act.

As can be seen on the video portal Vimeo, Beck envisioned that there would be little consequence if other states passed on Swiss armaments without the approval of the Federal Council. “Germany or Spain, deliver this stuff to Ukraine,” Beck said – in direct contradiction to the attitude of the Bundesrat.

Beck comes under political pressure

This creates problems in parliament. SP People’s Councilor Matthias Aebischer (55) is surprised by the “Tages-Anzeiger” that “after the interview was prevented, internal and public statements still added fuel to the fire”. And: “I find it all kinds of things that a director of a federal company publicly calls on other countries to violate Swiss laws.” For Central National Councilor Alois Gmür (68), Beck behaves “clumsily and unprofessionally”.

The two chairmen of the security committees of the National Council and the Council of States are also annoyed. For SVP State Councilor Mauro Tuena (51) and SVP State Councilor Werner Salzmann (60) something like this should not be repeated. Beck must lead the Ruag and must not express himself politically.

Criminal charges are under investigation

“The DDPS must take the necessary measures,” said Salzmann, and Tuena wanted to raise the issue at the next committee meeting with Defense Minister Viola Amherd (60). Defense does not want to comment on Brigitte Beck’s statements for the time being.

The Auns successor movement “Pro Switzerland” is completely different: it currently makes clear to what extent the call to break laws and violate legally binding agreements is criminally relevant and can be legally punished. And she calls for Beck’s resignation.

The whole thing also makes the Ruag uncomfortable himself. The board is “not happy with the current situation,” Ruag chairman Nicolas Perrin told “CH Media” — announcing internal clarifications. (dba)

Source:Blick