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After an interview on the neutrality debate, Alain Berset received criticism from Parliament.
The Federal Council is opposed to European states being able to transfer Swiss weapons to Ukraine. Many parties in Parliament are in favor of it in principle. This difference has been clear for a long time.
But now Federal President Alain Berset said in an interview with the “NZZ am Sonntag” that he perceived a “war frenzy” in “certain circles”. This reminds him of the situation before the First World War. Criticism has poured down from Parliament.
FDP party president Thierry Burkart is shocked. Federal President Berset “speaks of war frenzy, but does not mean Russia, which has attacked a sovereign country, but the western states”. That is anything but neutral. And Burkart is convinced: “It damages the reputation and positioning of our country.”
Center Party President Gerhard Pfister speaks of a dangerous narrative. It is the narrative of those who clearly side with Russia in this conflict and who would qualify any efforts to defend Ukraine as warmongering. “By simply letting the accusation stand in the air, President Berset is doing something that I find very problematic for a Federal President,” said Pfister.
Also the Party President of the Green Liberals, Jürg Grossen, is bothered by the Federal President’s choice of words: “He is accusing the parties that are in favor of indirect arms deliveries of war frenzy.” In Grossen’s opinion, however, it is about something else: “There is Mr. Putin here, an aggressor who is attacking Ukraine on its territory – a violation of international law, a blatant one.” Thinking about how to help the weaker is far from being a war frenzy.
SP Federal Councilor Berset gets support from an unfamiliar quarter: SVP party president Marco Chiesa considers the position of the Federal President to be “reasonable”. “The law of neutrality is clear: no weapons to warring parties.” Chiesa emphasizes that neutrality is one of Switzerland’s most important values. “It has brought security, prosperity and freedom.”
Federal President Berset, on the other hand, has been criticized from within his own party. SP parliamentary group president Roger Nordmann rejects the accusation of war frenzy: “It is not in Switzerland that one is in a war frenzy, but Mr. Putin is in a war frenzy.” He started the war and violated international law. “That’s the main problem.”
Legend:
Alain Berset’s statements are largely criticized in Parliament. His interior department initially did not want to comment further on the statement when asked.
REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann