Zurich National Councillor Girod does not want to run for the Federal Council
Published: Thursday, Nov 2nd 2023, 13:20
Updated At: Friday, Nov 3rd 2023, 00:54
Retour au fil d'actualité
Another rejection of the Green Party's candidacy for the Federal Council: Bastien Girod, a member of the National Council from Zurich, also does not want to run in December.
He has come to the conclusion that he is not available to run for office this winter, Girod said in an interview published Thursday on blick.ch. Girod is 42 years old and has been a member of the National Council since 2007.
Starting position difficult
With Gerhard Andrey from Fribourg, a good candidate with a similar political profile was available, he said. "That made the decision easier." Andrey will keep the environment and climate flag flying high in the Federal Council, he added. And with his digital background, he brings other important expertise to the table.
The starting position was difficult, Girod admitted. But the Green candidacy emphasizes the Greens' claim to one seat in the state government. "In purely mathematical terms, our claim to one seat is significantly greater than that of the FDP to two seats."
Mathias Zopfi (GL), a member of the Council of States, gave a similar explanation for his decision on Wednesday. The fact that Andrey is running sends a signal, Zopfi told Tamedia newspapers. "We make an offer to the parliament, are ready to take responsibility," he said. "It is anything but a token candidacy."
The Greens want to attack an FDP seat in the overall government renewal elections on December 13, despite their losses in the national elections. The Greens lost 3.4 percentage points in voter share, landing at around 9.8 percent. The FDP came in at just under 14.3 percent.
However, the chances of the Greens that one of the FDP members of the Federal Council will not be re-elected by parliament in their favor are considered low. The Greens do not want to contest the seat of SP Federal Councilor Alain Berset.
Numerous cancellations
By (tomorrow) Friday, those interested in running must contact the Green Party. Andrey is the only one who has entered the race so far. Others in the media as possible candidates canceled.
Green Party President Balthasar Glättli took himself out of the running, as did Council of States member Lisa Mazzone (GE) and National Councilors Greta Gysin (TI) and Irène Kälin (AG). Green Bernese Councillor and former National Councillor Christine Häsler and former Green Bernese Councillor Bernhard Pulver also dropped out.
The Zug National Councillor and long-serving member of the government Manuela Weichelt has recently been thinking about running for office. She wants to use the next few days for talks with her family, friends and the party, she told the news agency Keystone-SDA on Tuesday.
©Keystone/SDA
French 
English 
German 
Spanish 
Arabic