After a dispute over the nomination of the National Council: Pietro Vernazza leaves GLP

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Bang in the St. Gallen GLP: The infectiologist Pietro Vernazza (66) has left the party. According to the St. Gallen newspaper.

It is the last capital of a power struggle that began four years ago. Vernazza is running for National Council. At the time, the doctor of the Kantonziekenhuis St. Gallen was chief physician for infectiology and an internationally sought-after HIV researcher. However, he narrowly missed out on the parliamentary elections, finishing in second place – starting from penultimate on the list. Thomas Brunner (62) gets the seat in St. Gallen.

Then the corona pandemic begins and Vernazza repeatedly criticizes individual measures taken by the Federal Council. “My Covid statements were not well received by the majority of the party board,” he will say later.

Second chance erupts

After four years, Brunner has had enough in Bern. He is not seeking re-election. His seat will become vacant and Vernazza hopes that things will turn out well in national politics. But the cantonal party refused him the candidacy. The disappointment is great. Vernazza speaks of a “framed game”.

A few days later, former National Councilor Margrit Kessler (75) questions the legality of the nomination event, writes the “St. Dagblad Gallen. She complained about procedural errors. And indeed: the cantonal party invites you to an extraordinary general meeting at the beginning June The party wants to discuss the list of the National Council Again.

Vernazza herself says that she only became aware of the renewed general meeting through the invitation. “Without having spoken to me beforehand to see if I was still available.”

The St. Gallense GLP party chairman Ramon Waser (27) contradicts it: Kessler mentioned that the procedure had been agreed with Vernazza and a board member spoke to Vernazza by telephone during the meeting. Waser does admit that he should have spoken to the now emeritus infectious disease specialist personally. “That was a mistake, I stand by that,” he says to the “St. Dagblad Gallen. However, the most recent developments are the result of individuals struggling to “accept democratically made decisions”.

Is there a change of parties?

Vernazza is apparently considering a change of sides. He is in talks with the center party about a candidacy for the National Council, writes the “NZZ”. The center in St. Gallen would therefore still have free places on the list of the National Council.

Speaking to the “St. Galler Tagblatt,” Vernazza says he is in talks with several parties, but is not naming any names. Four years ago, the Mitte party lost a seat in St. Gallen — in favor of the GLP. (oco/bro )

Source:Blick