This is how the international press reacted to Berset’s statements

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Federal President Alain Berset (50) has been caught in the crossfire. His statement to the “NZZ am Sonntag”, in which he accused others of “war madness”, caused quite a stir.

The current debate in Switzerland is also discussed abroad. Blick knows exactly what happened and how the international media reacted.

In an interview with the “NZZ am Sonntag”, Swiss President Alain Berset ruled out the re-export of Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine. “Swiss weapons should not be used in wars,” Berset said. But that’s not all: he accused the opponents of “warmongering”. “Today I feel this war frenzy in certain circles. And I am very concerned about that,” said the SP federal councilor in an interview, in which he also called for a quick diplomatic solution to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“The Swiss president is against arms shipments to Ukraine,” writes the Financial Times on Monday. According to the newspaper, Berset’s statements will mainly disappoint those who had hoped for a change of attitude in Switzerland. In recent months, diplomats from Germany, France and the Netherlands have been pushing for Swiss-made weapons to be passed on to support Ukrainian forces.

In fact, as a senior Western official told the New York Times, Switzerland’s current stance makes Western diplomats feel that Switzerland is aiming for “economic benefit neutrality.” The Alpine country would therefore not have made itself popular with the neighboring countries with “their months of wringing their hands”. The longer, the more accusations are made against Switzerland by Western countries that sticking to neutrality is less idealistic and more business incentive.

The newspaper also quotes the professor of Swiss history, Sacha Zala (54): “Everyone knows that this is bad for Switzerland. The whole European Union is angry. Americans are angry. The discontent also comes from the Russians,” said the historian. Sala shows the current situation how deep the belief in neutrality is in people’s minds.

As the “Financial Times” writes, a change in the status quo with the Federal President’s latest statement is highly unlikely. This is because the Swiss Federal Government makes its decisions based on the consensus principle. The goal is therefore always to find a consensus that is accepted by all involved.

It is still unclear what consequences Berset’s statements could have for him. But one thing is certain: the indiscretion affair surrounding confidential information of the Federal Council has already had an impact on the president’s popularity. That his latest statements caused red heads in his own party should not exactly contribute to Berset’s popular support.

Source: Blick