Contents
Alain Berset will only remain in the Federal Council until the end of the year. Who will succeed the SP magistrate? A first inventory.
It has to be a person, explained Alain Berset at today’s media conference when asked about his successor. Beyond that, however, much remains open. One trend can only be seen in the region of origin: After the Federal Council election of Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, there are many indications that the successor might come from a center in German-speaking Switzerland.
A well-known name from the canton of Zurich
The fact that the most populous canton is not represented in the state government is historically an exception. When it comes to restoring this balance from Zurich’s point of view, the name of the long-standing Council of States inevitably comes up Daniel Jositsch. Last fall, however, his candidacy to succeed Simonetta Sommaruga ended in a spat within the party. When asked by SRF about a possible renewed candidacy for the Federal Council, Jositsch explains that a renewed candidacy “is an issue”. He must first discuss this with the cantonal party. The 58-year-old promises to want to communicate in the coming days – and is already setting the pace.
The candidate carousel for the Berset successor
Another prominent name from Zurich politics is a little more leisurely. Acting Director of Justice Jacqueline Fehr is also familiar with Bundesrat candidates. In 2010 she sent the party into the race in a two-way ticket. The decision then fell in favor of Simonetta Sommaruga. When asked by SRF about a possible new candidacy, Fehr is still reluctant: “Today is Alain’s day.”
A bunch of names from the Basel region
The Basel region has not had a representative in the state government for 50 years. Last December, people thought they were very close to the knee of the Rhine, but in the end, the Jura native Elisabeth Baume-Schneider surprisingly won the race ahead of the Basel State Councilor Eva Herzog. Their name is mentioned again now. Herzog himself tells SRF: “I will think twice about a candidacy.”
The former National Councilor and incumbent Basel District President is a bit more specific Beat Jans: “I am honored to be brought into play for the office of the Federal Council, and of course that would be a very fascinating task for me.” However, he is still satisfied in Basel. He will take time over the summer holidays to consider the question of a candidacy with his family.
Another prominent name from the region is that of Eric Nussbaumer (National Councilor SP/BL), prominent member of the Foreign Policy Commission and important voice in the Europe dossier. He also confirmed to SRF that he was considering a candidacy. His counterpart Mustafa Atici is also open to a candidacy to the local media in Basel.
How do the Greens and the Green Liberals position themselves?
In 2019, an attack by the Greens with the then National Councilor Regula Rytz (BE) on the seat of Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis failed. According to its own statements, the party now wants to “check all scenarios”. The Green Liberals also seem to have chances of contesting a seat with the SP. The outcome of the elections on October 22 is decisive for filling the seat, they explain in a statement.