Demand for Amherd's resignation Center Party President sharply criticizes SVP leadership

SDA

12.1.2024 - 23:23

Disagreeing with the SVP's demand that Federal Councillor Viola Amherd resign: Center Party President and National Councillor Gerhard Pfister.
Disagreeing with the SVP's demand that Federal Councillor Viola Amherd resign: Center Party President and National Councillor Gerhard Pfister.
sda (Archivbild)

Center Party President Gerhard Pfister has sharply criticized the SVP leadership for demanding the resignation of Viola Amherd. This "culture" contradicts Swiss institutions and is unfounded.

Keystone-SDA

No time? blue News summarizes for you

  • The SVP leadership called for the resignation of Defense Minister Viola Amherd on Saturday.
  • According to Center Party President Gerhard Pfister, the demand was criticized. He said it contradicted Swiss institutions and was also unfounded.
  • On Saturday, the SVP accused Amherd of "political missteps" and "bad appointments" in the defense department. The DDPS refrained from commenting on the accusations for the time being.

Center Party President Gerhard Pfister has criticized the SVP's demand for the resignation of Defence Minister Viola Amherd. The party accused Amherd on Saturday of setting the wrong priorities for the army.

For Gerhard Pfister, the "culture" of demanding the resignation of an incumbent Federal Councillor contradicts Swiss institutions. It is also unfounded. Viola Amherd had achieved some successes in her department, said the Zug National Councillor on the RTS television news program on Sunday evening.

He recalled the purchase of the new fighter aircraft and the increase in the army budget. When asked about the accusations against the Central Federal Councillor, Pfister pointed out that the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) is involved in around 4,000 projects that are not only dependent on Switzerland. "Some projects are indeed complex," said Pfister. "We need to see how we can improve project management."

On Saturday, the SVP accused Amherd of "political missteps" and "bad appointments" in the Defense Department. The DDPS refrained from commenting on the accusations for the time being.

In December, the Finance Delegation (Findel) of the Federal Assembly sent a letter to the head of the DDPS. In the letter, it expressed its concern about the state of several army projects, as Findel President Lars Guggisberg (SVP/BE) told Keystone-SDA on request. The "NZZ" and the "Blick" reported on the letter on Saturday.

According to Findel, the situation of some projects in the DDPS had deteriorated. These include the purchase of drones and the renewal of a command and communication system. Findel is planning a discussion with Amherd in mid-February.