Struggle for neutrality – “Auns” becomes “Pro Switzerland” – News

  • A successor organization to the campaign for an independent and neutral Switzerland (AUNS) has been founded in Bern with “Pro Schweiz”.
  • “Pro Schweiz” emerged from the merger of three EU-critical associations.
  • The General Assembly elected the Zug doctor and medtech entrepreneur Stephan Rietiker as President.

At the start, former Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher swore the founding assembly of “Pro Switzerland” to defend neutrality. In the new association, the action for an independent and neutral Switzerland (AUNS), the committee No to creeping EU accession (EU-NO) and the entrepreneurs’ association against EU accession have joined forces. The General Assembly elected the Zug doctor and medtech entrepreneur Stephan Rietiker as President.

defense of neutrality

Former Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher led the founding act. He explained that it was good not to have someone from politics at the helm, but a practitioner. Vice President will be Solothurn’s SVP National Councilor Walter Wobmann, who is stepping down for the next elections.

Blocher praised him as “the most efficient National Councilor”. Because Wobmann had led the minaret initiative and the popular initiative “Yes to the ban on coverings” (burqa initiative) to success. “Pro Switzerland” needs such a voter, because the new association should ultimately be successful as a fighting organization in the interests of Switzerland, according to Blocher.

In his presidential address, Stephan Rietiker criticized politics during the corona crisis. Freedom of expression has suffered. And like during the pandemic, the energy crisis is now going on blindly.

According to Rietiker, the focus on the EU must give way to one on the true growth markets of Asia and America. He also questioned the EU research program Horizon, as the best university in Europe was only ranked 44th in the global rankings. “Switzerland first and forever,” Rietiker called into the hall.

Board of «Pro Switzerland»


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The founding assembly elected the old national councilors of the SVP, Adrian Amstutz (BE), Christoph Mörgeli (ZH) and Ulrich Schlueer (ZH), to the initially 13-strong association board. Piero Marchesi (TI) and Therese Schläpfer (ZH) are active members of the SVP National Council. With Florence Sager-Koenig, another woman takes a seat on the board. In the course of the work, the number of board members should increase to 15.

Werner Gartenmann becomes managing director, having already held this office at “Auns”.

Finally, Blocher promoted his “neutrality initiative”, which rules out joining a defense alliance. She also wants to ban sanctions because they are a weapon of war. However, Switzerland must comply with the obligations of the UN. Blocher announced that the initiative committee would announce its composition on October 20. The collection of signatures is scheduled to start in November. “Pro Switzerland” decided unanimously to support the popular initiative.

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