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Media funding, energy crisis, transport: Federal Councilor Albert Rösti is facing major challenges in his department. In the “Arena”, the guests discussed what the new composition of DETEC means for the future of Swiss infrastructure.
After 27 years in which DETEC was led by the centre-left, a new era is dawning: SVP Federal Councilor Albert Rösti will be responsible for everything to do with the environment, transport, energy and communication. So what does the future hold for Swiss infrastructure? This question was the focus of the «Arena».
Dispute over SRG fees
One challenge facing Bundesrat Rösti is media funding. An initiative published this year aims to reduce radio and television fees from CHF 335 to CHF 200.
“The SRG is a huge Moloch,” said SVP National Councilor Monika Rüegger. Media behavior has changed, and young people in particular are now using other channels to obtain information. You can imagine that Rösti, who spoke out in favor of halving the license fee before he took office, will now make an indirect counter-proposal to the initiative.
The young would appreciate serious, independent journalism against the background of the numerous and increasingly confusing reporting, contradicted SP National Councilor Jon Pult. “Disinformation and fake news are among the greatest challenges facing today’s democracies.” Media companies that provide credible information must therefore be protected.
FDP National Councilor Andri Silberschmidt would like to leave responsibility to the population. “Citizens should be able to decide for themselves what quality media is for them.” Silberschmidt therefore welcomes the idea of media vouchers, which should give the population greater freedom in the consumption of private and public media content.
Nuclear power plants as a solution to the energy crisis
Another construction site that is spreading in front of Albert Rösti is the energy supply. The current blockade can be attributed to the centre-left, Rüegger said. “Renewable energies are far from sufficient for a stable and secure supply.” She expects Rösti to keep the nuclear power plants running as long as they are safe, or even to include the new generation of large power plants in his considerations.
“We are in an energy crisis because Putin is at war and French nuclear power plants are unreliable,” countered Jon Pult. The problem is precisely the fossil fuels and nuclear power production. It is quite possible to produce enough electricity from renewable energies – through expansion and efficiency.
Green National Councilor Florence Brenzikofer also sees the solution in the existing infrastructure: “We have to check where there are already roads and power lines in the Alpine areas. And solar power modules can also be set up in the Mittelland, for example on motorways or marshalling yards.” In addition, oil and gas heating systems urgently need to be replaced.
More public transport, more roads
There is also a need for action in DETEC with regard to the transport network. The population in Switzerland is growing, and there is a need to expand the capacity of the motorways and rail network.
“Traffic is a huge climate sinner,” says Brenzikofer. It is therefore absolutely necessary to intelligently link the car and public transport, clever transfer models for leisure travel and simple and inexpensive ticket systems.
“Three quarters of the population primarily need the road and not the rails,” says Silberschmidt. That must not be neglected. Instead of sticking to rigid timetables, Silberschmidt sees the future in flexible offers. “We have to work more demand-oriented and digital.”
The interests of the National Councilors who were guests in the “Arena” naturally differed widely in some cases. Whether Federal Councilor Rösti excels as a bridge builder in his department remains to be seen in the coming year.