German newspaper describes the SVP as a “party of Putin understanders”

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Many politicians and parties in Europe used to have close ties with Moscow. People have now distanced themselves, at least officially. Many high-ranking politicians in Europe remain loyal to war president Vladimir (70) Putin, writes the German newspaper Welt. There are still people on both the left and right of the political spectrum who understand Putin.

Mentioned are Putin’s personal friend and former prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi (86). Austrian Herbert Kickl (54), leader of the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ), ranted at every opportunity against the “meaningless sanctions” and was “loyal to Putin”.

In strongly anti-Russian Poland, the far-right Konfederacja party is calling for an end to EU sanctions and an end to aid to Ukraine. And in Hungary, even members of the government are striking the same tone as the Konfederacja. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (59) has a friendship with Putin. Orban is critical of import bans on Russian raw materials. Hungary would also not arrest the Russian president, who has an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), on its territory, Orbán’s chief of staff said last week.

“Putin understands please”

In Switzerland, too, there are still people who are loyal to the Kremlin, writes the “Welt” under the headline: “Those Putin nerds cling to Russia.” The country’s largest party is singled out by name: “In Switzerland, the right-wing nationalist SVP is considered the party that understands Putin. Their ranks include politicians such as National Councilor Andreas Glarner (60), who blamed the West for the Russian attack on Ukraine. »

The SVP’s stance has changed since the start of the war, the newspaper admits: “As a member of the government, she supports the decision to support EU sanctions against Russia. SVP representatives who spoke out for Putin had to SVP member Roger Köppel (58), publisher of the magazine “Weltwoche” and one of the most prominent Putin supporters, announced that he would leave the National Council in the coming legislature.”

Politics that suits Putin

However, the SVP has not yet completely abandoned a policy that is at least convenient for Putin, the conservative paper writes: “For example, the party opposes – in the name of Swiss neutrality – an amendment to the War Material Act that would allow countries to sell Swiss-produced weapons to Ukraine.” Germany, Spain and other countries also asked for it.

Source: Blick