Maria Wegelin Steps Down from Office Amid Link to “Young Act” Ahead of 2023 Elections
Published: Sunday, Oct 1st 2023, 14:00
Actualizado el: Viernes, Oct 13th 2023, 14:12
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Maria Wegelin, President of the SVP Winterthur and National Council candidate, has stepped down from her position following allegations of her collaboration with two activists of the far-right "Young Tat". The party will discuss the matter at an extraordinary general assembly at the end of October, as announced on Sunday. Maria Wegelin has decided, in agreement with the party executive, to suspend her role as party president until the extraordinary assembly. The party does not tolerate any form of extremism, including right-wing extremism, in any way. Last week, the "Sonntagsblick" made public that Wegelin had commissioned two activists from the far-right "Jungen Tat" to support them in their election campaign on social media. Both of them have prior convictions. This week, it was additionally revealed that the leader of the "Jungen Tat" is a member of the Young SVP in the canton of Thurgau. At the time of the contract award, Wegelin told the NZZ that she had never heard of the group "Junge Tat". She said the two young men were sympathetic to her, and there were similarities. Wegelin mentioned in this context Corona and the measures of the Federal Government. The youth group "Junge Tat" is under observation by the Federal Police (Fedpol). Several proceedings are underway against members of the Young Tat. The group gained notoriety when they disrupted an event in Zurich in 2022, where drag queens were reading books to children. The Homeowners Association of Winterthur (HEV) has withdrawn its support for SVP candidate Wegelin in the national elections. It called on her to distance herself from the "Young Act", which she had not done within the specified period, according to the association.
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