The Theater of Moral Principles in Bern

Swiss political rituals follow a predictable choreography, where outrage is measured and compromise is mandatory. The upcoming contest for Guy Parmelin’s seat on the Federal Council is no exception, serving up the usual mix of party posturing and tactical hesitation. At the center of the latest commotion is National Councillor Céline Amaudruz, the sole female candidate put forward by the Swiss People's Party, whose dual role as a politician and former banker has provided easy target practice for her opponents.

Green Party President Lisa Mazzone has wasted little time pointing out the uncomfortable optics. Amaudruz was employed by private bank Reyl until late September—an institution reprimanded by the financial market supervisor FINMA for inadequate anti-money laundering precautions, alongside its long-standing business ties with Russia. When Amaudruz subsequently launched parliamentary initiatives criticizing FINMA, the conflict of interest seemed almost too blatant to ignore. For Mazzone, this explicit lobbying for a troubled financial institution renders the candidate unacceptable.

Yet, consistency remains a rare commodity in Bern. Only two weeks prior, Green parliamentary leader Greta Gysin offered a far warmer assessment, suggesting that Amaudruz possessed qualities that could benefit the cabinet's balance. Now, Mazzone paints a picture of a thoroughly flawed candidate field, dryly noting that the SVP line-up contains more men from Upper Valais than women, alongside contenders nearing retirement age.

Despite these sharp words, the Greens have decided to invite the SVP candidates to a formal hearing. It is a pragmatic shift for a faction that holds 23 seats in the Federal Assembly, representing over ten percent of the voting power. While the party has historically refrained from officially backing any SVP nominee, individual Green parliamentarians have quietly cast their votes for them in past secret ballots.

Rather than launching a wildcard candidate to challenge the succession of Parmelin—a tactic the Greens are skipping for the second time since 2022—Mazzone is playing the longer game. She decries the four-party government as a power cartel that leaves a quarter of the electorate unrepresented, pointing to the FDP’s overrepresentation while setting her sights on next year’s general renewal elections. Whether this calculated restraint reflects political strategy or constitutional timidity, the outcome in Bern remains entirely business as usual.

Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com