Contents
The Swiss army has to save money and is canceling several events with an audience. This is causing political waves.
The army actually wanted to show its best side in Emmen in Lucerne, in Bière in Vaud and on the Axalp in the Bernese Oberland. But: The three major events that would have been planned for this year and next year will not take place for cost-saving reasons.
Army chief Thomas Süssli told the Tagesschau yesterday that, among other things, operating costs had increased. It was only last Wednesday that it was recognized that the major events would be canceled and a decision was subsequently made, says Süssli.
This raises questions. Security politicians criticize the fact that they were not informed about this important decision.
Legend:
In addition to the major events “AirSpirit 24” in Emmen and “Defense 25” in Bière, the army is also canceling the aerial shooting competition on the Axalp – not just for 2024, but now also for 2025. In the picture: a Swiss Air Force fighter plane in front of an audience the Axalp in October 2023.
KEYSTONE/Anthony Anex
Priska Seiler Graf (SP), President of the Security Policy Commission of the National Council, says: “I am very irritated and so are my colleagues in the Security Policy Commission. We had a meeting with Mr. Süssli on Monday. He didn’t say anything about the cancellations of these major events.”
We had no information at all about these major events, what they cost, or what sponsors might contribute.
From left to right, the way the army chief has communicated – or failed to communicate – is causing incomprehension. SVP National Councilor Mauro Tuena generally complains that too little information was received about the planned events.
“We had no information at all about these major events, what they cost, or what sponsors might contribute. This is very remarkable, especially because we have only just had a commission meeting and something could have been said. It is the Commission or Parliament that ultimately provides the money, says Tuena.
For me it is clearly a cry for help from the army. The army has too few resources available.
There was also criticism on X (formerly Twitter). Andrea Gmür-Schönenberger (Die Mitte), President of the Security Policy Commission of the Council of States, found out about the decision via social media.
“For me it is clearly a cry for help from the army. The army has too few resources available. So she has to start saving somewhere. “I extremely regret that such events should be canceled,” says Gmür-Schönenberger.
Even the head of the air force was not informed in advance
Another highlight in the story: The Tagesschau knows from several independent sources that the head of the Air Force, Peter Merz, only found out about the cancellation of the planned major events almost at the same time as the media release.
The head of the army, Thomas Süssli, does not want to comment on the criticism expressed to SRF in front of the camera today. But he sends a written message: “The army leadership recognized this on Wednesday and made this decision. The project managers were informed before the media release was published.”
There remain open questions, but one thing is clear: the last-minute decision to cancel was made by the army leadership itself. Army chief Süssli will now probably have to answer questions at the next meeting of the Security Policy Commission.