The resignation announcement of FDP President Petra Gössi (45) came unexpectedly for many. It was foreseeable that Sunday’s debacle at CO2-Gesetz would spark a discussion about the future of Schwyzerin at the top of the party. But Gössi had a real bombshell when she announced on Monday lunchtime that she would be stepping down by the end of the year at the latest.
Pascal Couchepin (79) was meanwhile not surprised. Basically nothing surprises him anymore, says the old FDP Federal Councilor on the phone. Couchepin had publicly supported Gössi’s eco-course. Last weekend he described the party leader’s merits in the “NZZ am Sonntag” even as “historical”.
Gössi brought the ecological question into the party, “which was difficult and courageous,” said the former FDP parliamentary group leader. Those who criticize them from ambush will have little chance of uniting the party. “And that’s important now,” said the “animal politique”, which still embodies something statesmanlike. Couchepin has remained very close to his FDP to this day. Also familiar: his daughter is mayor in his home town of Martigny VS – as he once was. In an interview with Blick, the eternal statesman explains how he assesses Gössi’s decision and its consequences for the party.
Blick: Mr. Couchepin, you supported Gössi’s climate course. Does your resignation mean the end of it?
Pascal Couchepin: It seems to me that the whole debate about the wing struggles among the free-minded people is artificially exaggerated. Like the other parties, the FDP currently has two problems: European and environmental policy. When it came to the framework agreement, our two federal councilors did not follow the party line. This has caused unrest in the FDP. And what the CO2– Law concerns: The vote was not so central to our party. A certain environmental sensitivity will certainly remain.
Gössi is of the opinion that now is the best time to leave. Do you agree with her?
I think it’s better now than in ten days. And also better than ten days ago. Before the CO2-Vote, her resignation would have been interpreted as if she had been pressured to do so. But the fact is that she announced her decision to a few people a few weeks ago. And with the 2023 elections in mind, a year from now it would have been too late to go. But of course, there is never the right time to resign.
We think she is leaving a party that is deeply in crisis.
Again: All parties are currently facing problems. The SP lost in the elections in favor of the Greens, the Greens themselves were the big losers on Sunday. And the SVP only exists because it keeps saying no. That is a problem per se. All of this is the result of the fragmentation of the political landscape.
The FDP is in a particularly tricky position: it threatens to be crushed between SVP and GLP. What is the solution?
Well, you are always influenced by local conditions. Here in Martigny, the FDP – as has been customary since 1848 – won. At the cantonal level, too, the liberals in Valais have grown. In Neuchâtel the Liberals regained a majority in the government, and in this year’s Grand Council elections they remained the strongest force, in Solothurn as well. I definitely see success there too. From the outside it looks like there are problems with the cohesion of the party in some German-speaking cantons. To overcome this, there needs to be a common sense for the good of the party.
There is a potential candidate for Gössi’s successor from Zurich: National Councilor Andri Silberschmidt. But he has already taken himself out of the race – at just 27 years old, would he even be an option?
Oh, the potential candidates are doing very modestly now. It’s part of the game. But everything is still open, I would say. I can well imagine that Mr. Silberschmidt will change his mind.
What kind of personality is needed at the top of the FDP?
I can not say that. The liberals now need a discussion about the future of the party and its ideas. The party has to recognize where it is going. And then with whom she achieves this.
Some also bring dual leadership into play. Do you see a co-presidency for the FDP?
If the party wants that, that’s a possibility. But I think a single president is the better option.
Pascal Couchepin (79) was a member of the Federal Council from 1998 to 2009. The Valais lead a life for politics: he was mayor of Martigny VS for over a dozen years, after which he sat on the National Council for almost 20 years and also served as the FDP parliamentary group leader for some time. He still lives in Martigny.
After resignation: Now Petra Gössi is talking(04:21)