Federal President Viola Amherd gave the opening speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. She also criticized the elite present. Now, after countless speed-dating-style meetings, she is taking stock.
SRF News: Madam Federal President, have you ever experienced a week like this in your political career?
Viola Amherd: No. It is a very intensive week, with the opportunity to have many conversations with high-profile partners. I’ve never experienced it with this intensity before.
Macron, Zelensky, the Chinese Prime Minister, Polish President Duda, NATO’s Stoltenberg and the UN Secretary General… Who impressed you the most?
There were many very exciting and impressive conversations. But of course: the meetings with President Zelensky were something special.
Do you already have a conclusion from this week?
I draw a positive conclusion. We in Switzerland – not just me and my colleagues from the Federal Council – have had important discussions. It has been seen that Switzerland’s values are valued. How we work for peace, the rule of law and democracy.
The hope and interest is that the peace summit will take place as soon as possible.
But be honest: is there any concrete result, any concrete progress on any dossier this week?
A concrete result is that we will organize a peace summit. And of course I have arranged further meetings with many partners in order to delve deeper into specific topics. For example, cooperation with NATO. It is our turn to expand cooperation in the interest of Switzerland’s security.
In your opening speech you criticized the elite and said that some of them were an isolated caste and that you had to take care of social inequality, otherwise you would have a problem with the people. Have you received any reactions?
There were reactions, but not negative ones.
On Ukraine and the planned peace summit. You are Federal President this year. How big is the chance that you will open the peace conference in Switzerland this year?
The work for the organization is just beginning. The starting signal has been fired and the teams are starting to work. The hope and interest is that the summit will take place as soon as possible.
So this year. What are your conditions? Russia will hardly be able to take part. Does China have to be there?
It is important that this peace summit is broad-based. 83 countries were represented at the meeting of national security advisors last Sunday. I think this minimum number of countries would most likely have to be represented in order for there to be broad support.
Zelensky said very emphatically that his country needed funds. More specifically: Why can’t Switzerland simply confiscate the oligarch funds blocked here and pay them to Ukraine?
We have no legal basis for this. This is a question of the rule of law.
But laws can be changed…
Theoretically you can change laws, but it is a question of international law. And we are a democratic country that upholds the rule of law. That’s why we can’t make quick decisions or promise anything that might not be possible. We work differently.
The interview was conducted by Urs Leuthard.