It was a huge bang in European politics: the Federal Council buried the framework agreement with the EU. This is especially good for one: SVP superfather Christoph Blocher (80), who campaigned against the treaty – and who had already fought against joining the European Economic Area almost 30 years ago.
He does not see the end of the contract as a personal triumph, says the former Federal Councilor in his weekly video format “Teleblocher”. But it is very much “a triumph for Switzerland”. He had followed the press conference with the three Federal Councilors Guy Parmelin (61, SVP), Ignazio Cassis (60, SVP) and Karin Keller-Sutter (57 FDP). Above all, Parmelin and Cassis appeared “very statesmanlike”, he praised, and the decision took courage.
Comparable to EEA
The independent adaptation of Swiss norms to the EU will of course be complicated, admits the SVP doyen, and if the EU wants to exercise its power, it can. “But they protect their interests and we protect ours – that’s the most natural thing in the world!”
According to Blocher, the end of the framework agreement can be compared with the EEA vote in 1992. Only at that time the EU was still a much looser entity.
Read the contract carefully
For the former Federal Council it is clear why the current state government has now spoken out so clearly against the controversial treaty. “You suppressed everything until the end and now dealt with it for the first time!”
There were three sticking points in the treaty where no agreement was reached: wage protection, the Union Citizens Directive and state aid. There was too much focus on these three points and too little on the wider implications, especially the role of the European Court of Justice.
EU interest
“You may not be talking about Plan B, but there are variants,” says Blocher with certainty. But there is no need for one. “Everything is going well, at first you don’t have to do anything.” If the EU doesn’t want any new treaties, then there won’t be any. “But they’re coming up to us, they’re also interested!” He says. Switzerland is an important partner for the Union and, above all, needs to be more self-confident.
He doesn’t leave a good hair to Karin Keller-Sutter – who, like Blocher once did, heads the justice department. Keller-Sutter wants to take the dossier away from Cassis – and above all secure its own seat if the FDP should lose one. “I’m a little sorry for Cassis.” (gbl)