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Politics is back from the summer break: the leaders of the parties are discussing in the “Arena”. A controversy erupts about the usefulness of list connections. Topics are also climate and energy policy, healthcare costs and migration.
The election slogans are in place, the slogans are ready and the party presidents give absolutely nothing in the discussion in the “Arena”: The election campaign has really begun. The parties have only two months left to win as many voters as possible.
“I’m happy that it’s starting today,” said Center President Gerhard Pfister. There are many political challenges ahead. But it is dangerous that the political camps in Switzerland speak less and less to each other: “Polarization threatens to split our society.”
The rifts between the political camps were clearly felt in the “Arena”. SVP President Marco Chiesa to the address of SP Co-President Mattea Meyer: “We must be afraid of your left-green policy – it creates huge problems!”
SVP plays people off against each other. We are committed to a social Switzerland.
Meyer countered: “The SVP plays people off against each other. We are committed to a social Switzerland.” Meanwhile, FDP President Thierry Burkart criticized the fact that the left and, to some extent, the SVP were no longer willing to make compromises: “We are at a standstill. That means: Switzerland falls behind.”
A little foretaste of the political exchange of blows in the coming weeks.
Big differences in climate and energy policy
The most important campaign issues include climate change and energy supply. FDP President Burkart warned that the rapid nuclear phase-out aimed at by Left-Green poses a threat to electricity security: “We are heading into a blackout with our eyes wide open.”
The whole world relies on new nuclear power plants because they deliver low-CO₂ energy!
SVP President Chiesa agreed: “The whole world relies on new nuclear power plants because they deliver low-CO₂ energy!” Center President Pfister recalled that voters in 2017 decided to phase out nuclear power at the ballot box. But: “We have failed to expand quickly enough with renewable energies.” SP Co-President Meyer blew the same horn: “We have to invest in renewables – especially for future generations.”
Greens and GLP also clearly reject a future with nuclear energy. Green President Balthasar Glättli argued that new nuclear power plants were too expensive – this money would be better invested in solar energy: “This is the most accepted of all renewable energies.” GLP President Jürg Grossen complained that the commoners wanted to stick to an old technology. “In just a few years we will have significantly more solar energy than nuclear energy today.”
EPP President Lilian Studer called for quick measures in climate policy: “If we don’t act now, it will be too late for future generations.” EDU President Daniel Frischknecht also considers the fight against climate change to be important. But: “We must not stir up fear.”
Hot topic list connections
In addition to the rising health costs and migration, the planned list connections between the parties also caused discussions on the show.
SP co-president Meyer criticized Thierry Burkart for the fact that the FDP had merged with the SVP in the canton of Aargau: “A vote for the FDP there is also a vote for SVP National Councilor Andreas Glarner, who operates misanthropic agitation.” Burkart replied that list connections between the FDP and SVP made sense in order to strengthen the right-wing camp. In addition, the GLP has joined forces with the Greens, SP and Juso in some cantons – their positions are even further apart.
GLP President Grossen, however, argued purely mathematically: “Our electoral system favors large parties – as a small party we therefore have to enter into lists.”
October 22 will show which party benefits from the list connections entered into and which arguments are particularly convincing to the voters.
Until then, it means: election campaign!