Several SVP exponents express interest in the post of party leader
Published: Thursday, Dec 28th 2023, 16:10
Updated At: Thursday, Dec 28th 2023, 16:10
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Following the announcement of the departure of SVP President Marco Chiesa, there is already speculation about a possible successor. The following names are circulating:
MARCEL DETTLING: The Schwyz National Councillor is SVP Vice President and was campaign manager in the last elections. He is considered the favorite and has been named as a possible successor by Geneva National Councillor Céline Amaudruz. Dettling told the Keystone-SDA news agency that he was interested and would seriously consider a candidacy. In contrast to four years ago, when he declined to run for the office, he is now better able to assess what the office entails. The 42-year-old is a farmer.
CELINE AMAUDRUZ: The Geneva National Councillor and SVP Vice-President would be the best-known candidate from French-speaking Switzerland. She has not yet considered a candidacy, she told the Keystone-SDA news agency. The 44-year-old has worked as an asset manager at several major banks such as UBS.
FRANZ GRÜTER: The Lucerne National Councillor has not ruled out a candidacy for the time being. "If I were approached, I would give it some thought. But it's a tough job," Grüter told the Keystone-SDA news agency. The 60-year-old works as an entrepreneur.
LARS GUGGISBERG: The Bernese National Councillor expressed his interest in the post. "I can absolutely imagine it and will be holding talks with my professional and private circle over the next few days," Guggisberg told the Keystone-SDA news agency. The 46-year-old is the director of the Bernese SME trade association.
MIKE EGGER: The successor to Marco Chiesa has "great appeal" for the St. Gallen National Councillor, as he told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper. He will give it some serious thought in the next few days. The 31-year-old is a senior meat specialist at Micarna.
MANFRED BÜHLER: The Bernese National Councillor is President of the SVP of the Canton of Bern. He could be of particular interest to the SVP because he is bilingual. The 44-year-old works as a lawyer and has not yet declared his candidacy.
ALFRED HEER: The Zurich National Councillor also showed interest in a Zurich seat in the Council of States in October, but was narrowly not nominated by his party. However, he could be considered for the office of party president again. The 62-year-old is an entrepreneur.
Cancellations
GREGOR RUTZ: The Zurich National Councillor ran for the Council of States in the October elections, but was defeated. It would have been possible that he would now be interested in the presidency. But the 51-year-old is not standing. "Unfortunately, my activities as a project manager and entrepreneur mean I don't have the time," he told Keystone-SDA.
WERNER SALZMANN: As the former President of the Bernese SVP and a candidate for the Federal Council in October 2022, the Bernese Councillor of States would have the qualifications for the office. However, Salzmann is not available, as he told Keystone-SDA. The 61-year-old is a tax expert at the Tax Administration of the Canton of Bern.
JEAN-LUC ADDOR: The Valais National Councillor has already withdrawn from the race for a possible candidacy. The presidency of a Swiss party is crazy, said Addor. He prefers to remain a militia politician. In addition, he would rather see someone from German-speaking Switzerland as the next leader of the SVP.
BENJAMIN FISCHER: The Zurich National Councillor has also declined to stand as a candidate. He has three small children and is satisfied with his job, he told Keystone-SDA. There are enough other excellent candidates, according to Fischer. The 32-year-old is a business economist at insurer Swiss Life.
MANUEL STRUPLER: The Thurgau National Councillor told Keystone-SDA that the office is an exciting but also huge task. "With children and a company, it would be a challenge," said Strupler. There are already many good candidates. The 43-year-old runs a gardening company.
©Keystone/SDA
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