Federal Council election Markus Ritter: "Life goes on, full steam ahead!"
Shortly after the election result was announced, Markus Ritter, the defeated centrist candidate for the Federal Council, appeared composed. "I'm happy for Martin." Now he will devote himself to new goals with vigor. "Life goes on, full steam ahead!"
12.03.2025, 10:27
SDA
Ritter congratulated his opponent Martin Pfister several times, whom he had "not known until a few weeks ago". After a fair election campaign, he could say that he had made a new friend in Pfister.
He wished the new centrist Federal Councillor "a lucky hand in the many deals that await him", said Ritter. "And God's blessing." A "Herculean task" awaits the new Federal Councillor, said Ritter. He trusts Pfister for the office. "He will do it well."
"You should never say never in life"
Ritter was unable to say much about the reasons for his defeat. "That's reading coffee grounds," the St. Gallen National Councillor told the media on Wednesday in the Federal Palace in Bern. Party strategy goals were probably at the forefront.
After the first round of voting, when Pfister missed out on an absolute majority by just one vote, the race was decided for him, said Ritter. "I thought: that's the way it is now."
Ritter said that he had always remained authentic during the election campaign. "I am who I am." He described the past few weeks as an "exciting and good experience". Ritter left open whether he would run again as a centrist Federal Councillor in the future. "You should never say never in life."
"I have fought hard"
But now it's time to pursue other goals. "I am still a National Councillor and President of the Farmers' Association," said Ritter. He will prepare the Farmers' Association board meeting on Wednesday "with full vigor" and take his seat in the National Council "comfortably and happily" in the afternoon.
Ritter went on to say that running for the Federal Council was not easy for him. "I wrestled hard because it would have been a fundamental change of life." It is a "great consolation" that he can continue to live in Altstätten SG for the most part.
