Federal Council candidacy Markus Ritter: "I've never seen a starting position like this before"
Central National Councillor Markus Ritter has described the situation surrounding the successor to Federal Councillor Viola Amherd as difficult. "This is the ninth Federal Council election that I have witnessed - but I have never seen a situation like this before," he told Tamedia.
05.02.2025, 05:58
SDA
The sticking point is the leadership of the Department of Defense (DDPS), which, according to him, needs someone who wants to stand up and take responsibility. After all the rejections in the centrist party, especially that of Graubünden National Councillor Martin Candinas, he asked himself whether he was that person. The answer was now yes.
Ritter regretted the lack of candidates from the cities. This could be due to the heavy workload: "In the Federal Council you have to work 60 to 80 hours and be present, there's no other way," he told the Tamedia newspapers. As President of the Swiss Farmers' Union and National Councillor, he himself is used to working almost non-stop throughout the year.
"Trump is unpredictable"
In terms of Switzerland's security policy, Ritter spoke out in favor of "armed neutrality". Switzerland should stay out of conflicts. He was particularly uneasy about the policies of US President Donald Trump. "He is unpredictable and he will put Europe under pressure," said Ritter. In view of the conflicts between the major powers, it is important that Switzerland "stays under the radar".
With regard to the internal challenges in the DDPS, Ritter also addressed the criticism of the parliamentary finance delegation, which had reported "worrying conditions" in several key projects. Should he take over the department, he wants to act quickly and transfer trust and responsibility to the employees. "The Department of Defense should be a place where people are proud to work."
Ticket decision on February 21
Markus Ritter was elected to the National Council in 2011 as President of the St. Gallen Farmers' Association. He has led the Swiss Farmers' Union since 2012. His political career began in 1993 as a councillor in Altstätten SG. Now he would like to take over the seat of outgoing Central Federal Councillor Viola Amherd, as would Zug's Director of Health Martin Pfister.
"We have two excellent candidates," explained party president Gerhard Pfister at a media conference. Decisions against a candidacy must be respected, he emphasized, alluding to the numerous rejections of other possible candidates.
The centrist parliamentary group will decide on its ticket for March 12 in two and a half weeks, on February 21. The new member of the Federal Council will be elected until the end of 2027, i.e. until the end of the current four-year term of office.
