Michael Graber apologizes for Nazi comparison
Published: Friday, Jun 14th 2024, 03:40
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SVP National Councillor Michael Graber regrets his Nazi comparison in the wake of the scuffle between his party colleague Thomas Aeschi and two federal police officers. "That was an overreaction, I regret the statement," says Graber.
The statement was made "in the heat of the moment". "I'm sorry about that and I apologize to the police officers," Graber said in an interview with Blick published on Friday. In the aftermath of the incident on the steps of the Federal Palace on Wednesday, Graber had accused the police officers of being the first to carry out Hitler's orders.
In addition to his obvious remorse about his statement, Graber did not see any self-inflicted blame for the situation in the interview: "The real inappropriateness on that day was the security arrangements. The fact that armed police officers stood on the steps with sharp machine guns and did not distinguish between democratically elected parliamentarians and people who could be a danger," he said. In addition, the Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk is a potential target for attacks. This "additional danger" during an ongoing session was "questionable".
"Have you ever waited for the elevator?"
Alternative routes to the stairs, such as the available elevator, are too slow. "Have you ever waited for the elevator? It takes forever," says Graber. "And it wasn't communicated that the stairs were closed. In our haste, we just ran down there. And then suddenly there was a gunman downstairs." Barriers need to be better communicated.
SVP parliamentary group leader Thomas Aeschi had a scuffle with armed police officers in the Federal Palace on Wednesday. The reason for this was a cordon for a photo opportunity with the Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Stefanchuk, which the SVP politician tried to break through.
©Keystone/SDA
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