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This is the newly composed Federal Council with the newly elected Albert Rösti (3rd from right) and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (2nd from right).
The state government is stepping on the gas: the departments will be redistributed as early as Thursday afternoon. At least if the two new and five previous Federal Councilors agree. Otherwise, the final decision will not be made until Friday.
The worst fears of the left-green camp could come true. “If Rösti takes over the energy department, it will be a disaster,” railed an SP parliamentarian on Wednesday after the election.
A dream job for Rösti
In fact, Albert Rösti (55) from Bern could follow Simonetta Sommaruga (62) in the Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK). It would be a dream job for the nuclear power plant advocate, car lobbyist and former Swissoil president. He never hid that.
Free ride for Rösti: A deal between FDP and SVP should ensure this. According to reports, there are agreements according to which the key departments of the UVEK and the Department of Finance (EFD) want to be mutually entrusted.
Newly elected Federal Council: “Are you learning Italian now, Herr Rösti?”(00:47)
Keller-Sutter is likely to become Treasury Secretary
FDP Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (58), who is likely to take over the finances from SVP Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer (72), has a great desire for something new. SP Federal Councilor Alain Berset (50) has also kept an eye on the EFD. Without necessity, the bourgeoisie will not turn a leftist into a coffers champion.
In addition, Berset suffered a bad setback on Wednesday. The fact that he was elected Federal President with just 140 votes is a good sign that his best time in the Federal Council is over.
Berset should look for a new job
The election of Jurassic Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (58) has further worsened Berset’s cards: the Latin majority in the government is increasing the pressure on the senior official. “Berset should use his presidential year to look for an international mandate,” says the Federal Palace.
If the SP magistrate wants to stay longer, only an office swap with FDP Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (61) will help him. But his suffering in the EU dossier has recently decreased. Cassis hopes to be able to negotiate a new framework agreement in the foreseeable future. He still has ambitions and few reasons for a change, my observer.
Baume-Schneider would remain the Justice Department
Central Federal Councilor Viola Amherd (60), who flirted with the UVEK in between, should remain in the defense department. This will be upgraded with a Federal Office for Cyber Security, which is said to have satisfied Amherd’s desire to change.
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin (63, SVP) has absolutely no reasons for a change. The new SP magistrate Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (58) then has to take what is left, willy-nilly. That would be the Justice and Police Department, where she has to deal with the asylum problem and the Ukraine refugees. For the former social worker it was almost a precision landing.