Editorial on the EU mandate: Urgently wanted: Miss or Mister Europe

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This glittering gold ring! His watch! And those stylish glasses frames that somehow match the tie.
When Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis presented the EU’s negotiating mandate to the public on Friday, he marched with a high-profile armada of federal representatives. Alexandre Fasel, who negotiated the current document
was particularly noticeable.

In response to a question from the audience, the ambassador began lecturing with frantic hand movements about getting the best out of Brussels while overcoming the domestic political hurdles in Bern.

Fasel seemed to enjoy the role of a simple explainer bear. With a mild smile he instructed a journalist that the electricity market should be ‘opened’ and not ‘liberalised’. The State Secretary embodies what Christoph Blocher’s partisans probably have in mind when their idol criticizes the ‘classe politique’.

Another linguistic image with a populist twist that Fasel serves well, at least visually: “The one in Bern above.” A cliché intended to mark the distance of a distant authority from the common people.

Given the dimensions of the European issue, this observation may seem ridiculous – but it is precisely such small things that reveal the big problem facing the Federal Council: if it wants to win the EU vote one day, it needs it.
he has a credible channel for his message. And that is: Switzerland needs this institutional rapprochement with Brussels, otherwise it is threatened with decline as a nation.

But who should deliver this message? Proud peacocks with diplomatic passports don’t stand a chance against sappers like Pierre-Yves Maillard. The business associations are left with their financial resources – but their tragedy is that they can no longer win votes; The AHV debate is only the latest proof of this. And the leading Federal Council itself? It is at least questionable whether the Ticino resident is suitable as a driving force in this debate.

If Cassis, Amherd and their colleagues want to win this referendum, they urgently need a legitimate Mister Europe – or a Miss Europe. With or without gold finger ring.

Source: Blick