Eva Herzog is the first woman from Basel to be elected President of the Council of States
Published: Monday, Dec 4th 2023, 18:10
Updated At: Monday, Dec 4th 2023, 18:10
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On Monday, SP politician Eva Herzog became the first woman from Basel to be elected President of the Council of States. She received all 44 valid votes. Herzog's election marks the tenth time since 1919 that the SP has held the presidency of the Council of States. Herzog is the sixth woman to hold the office.
Herzog follows in the footsteps of Josi Meier (1991), Francoise Saudan (2000), Erika Forster-Vannini (2009), Karin Keller-Sutter (2017) and most recently Brigitte Häberli-Koller (2023), who will take over from the Basel-based member of the Council of States for Thurgau.
The 44 out of 44 valid votes cast for Herzog by the members of the Council of States is above average in a long-term comparison. The average number of votes for the election of the President of the Council of States is 42.1. Four Presidents of the Council of States were elected unanimously with a maximum of 45 votes until the election of Eva Herzog. This was last the case with the last President, Brigitte Häberli-Koller (center/TG).
Herzog has been a member of the Council of States since 2019. Last year, she ran to succeed Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga. She was defeated by Elisabeth Baume-Schneider from the canton of Jura. Herzog then took over Baume-Schneider's seat as Vice-President of the Council of States. Before her time as a member of the Council of States, Herzog was a formative figure in the Basel government.
To date, the canton of Basel-Stadt has chaired the Council of States eight times. Regardless of gender, Herzog's election means that the city canton now holds the presidency of the small chamber for the ninth time.
Importance of relations with the EU
In her inauguration speech, 61-year-old Herzog focused on Switzerland's relationship with the EU and its reliance on democratic values. "The EU is first and foremost a guarantor of our fundamental values and of peace, which is what we also stand for," Herzog told the members of the Council of States.
"Our relations with the EU are good, but we are already noticing that they are eroding," she continued. This is the case in areas such as research cooperation, energy supply, medicines and medical technology.
Herzog expressed his relief that the Federal Council intends to adopt a negotiating mandate by the end of the year. However, compromises were needed in order to conclude the negotiations. At the end of the day, the solution found must be accepted. Swiss neutrality must also be discussed. "It is not an immutable doctrine. It is an instrument that must be adapted to the times and circumstances," said Herzog.
The newly elected President of the Council of States also emphasized the centrality of democratic values. Democracy is under pressure because it does not provide quick solutions. "It is our values that are under pressure." It is institutions such as the Council of States that give Switzerland stability and security, especially in difficult times.
Herzog also emphasized her focus on cities and their agglomerations. Three quarters of the Swiss population live in urban areas. "I want to close the political urban-rural divide," said the SP President of the Council of States.
Office of the Council of States is complete
Herzog succeeds Brigitte Häberli-Koller, a member of the Council of States from the canton of Thurgau. In her farewell speech, she emphasized the special culture of debate in the small chamber, which manages "without spectacle", is "calm and respectful" and must be maintained. This culture of debate cannot be taken for granted and is contrary to the spirit of the times. Häberli-Koller has been a member of the Council of States since 2011.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Presidency of the Council of States was filled by Andrea Caroni, an FDP politician from Ausserrhoden. Caroni was elected with 42 out of 42 valid votes. The politician from Ausserrhoden was already a vote counter in the Council of States last year.
The representatives of the small chamber elected Stefan Engler (center/GR) as second vice president. Werner Salzmann (SVP/BE) was elected as vote counter, Mathilde Crevoisier Crelier (SP/JU) as substitute vote counter. The Council of States is now complete.
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