Will the cards be reshuffled in the new Federal Council?
Published: Wednesday, Dec 13th 2023, 16:30
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It remains to be seen which department Beat Jans (SP) will take over. The Federal Council is expected to decide in the next few days whether the newcomer will join the Department of Home Affairs. Or will Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (FDP) take it for himself? The most important questions and answers on the distribution of departments:
WILL THE NEW FEDERAL COUNCILLOR BEAT JANS SUCCEED ALAIN BERSET IN THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT?
Not automatically. The seven departments will be reassigned by the newly composed Federal Council. The members of the government are expected to divide up the departments among themselves this week at an informal meeting without minutes. The new government will officially take up its work on New Year's Day. The allocation of departments will be formally confirmed at the first meeting of the Federal Council in January.
WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR THE ALLOCATION OF DEPARTMENTS?
The distribution is based on the principle of seniority: the members of the Federal Council who have been in office the longest are allowed to make their wishes known first. Guy Parmelin (SVP) is therefore the longest-serving member. He was elected to the national government in December 2015. He is followed by Ignazio Cassis (FDP) from Ticino, who has been in office since 2017. Next in line are Viola Amherd (center) and Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP); both have been Federal Councillors since the beginning of 2019. Then it is the turn of Albert Rösti (SVP) and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (SP), who were newly elected a year ago. Newcomer Beat Jans has to take what's left. He said after the election that he was open to all departments. He had not yet held any talks with the members of the Federal Council on the subject of departmental choices.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS DISAGREEMENT?
If no agreement is reached, the Federal Council votes. Then the majority decides, and this majority is conservative. However, the government tries to avoid such votes as far as possible so as not to disavow the individual members. Last year, when Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP) moved from the Department of Justice to the Department of Finance, the government found an amicable solution within two hours. There are also known meetings in which everything was sealed within a quarter of an hour.
IS IGNAZIO CASSIS MOVING TO THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT?
The members of the Federal Council have so far kept a low profile. Nothing is known about any desire to change before the upcoming distribution round. There has been speculation for some time that Ignazio Cassis (FDP) could move to the important Department of Home Affairs after more than six years in the Foreign Ministry. Foreign policy is generally regarded as a field of activity with little influence but some potential for frustration. In the event of a change, the doctor and former health insurance representative would be responsible, among other things, for healthcare - a domain that has been unchallenged in the hands of the Social Democrats for twelve years. A move by Cassis, who is Berset's official deputy in the Department of Home Affairs, would be an indication that the 62-year-old would definitely like to remain in the Federal Council for several more years.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER PREVIOUS FEDERAL COUNCILORS?
Observers believe a major reshuffle is rather unlikely: Guy Parmelin (SVP) apparently feels comfortable in the Department of Economic Affairs. He moved to the key department in 2018. No one expects him to change domains again for a few years at the age of 64. Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP) only took over the finances a year ago at her own request. It is also unlikely that Albert Rösti (SVP) and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (SP) will switch again just one year after their election. It is not known whether Viola Amherd (center) from Valais also wants to swap departments during her presidential year. A year ago, she said she remained in the Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport "out of conviction". This was regarded by her predecessors as a rather unpopular entry-level department.
WHEN WAS THE LAST BIG ROCHADE?
The last major reshuffle took place in 2010, when four departments received a new head. Prior to that, there had been no changes at all for eight years. Newly elected federal councillors always took over the departments of their predecessors. Before 2010, the last rotation of four was in 1960, immediately after the introduction of the magic formula.
WHAT WISHES DO THE PARTIES HAVE?
What the parties actually want, what they claim to want and what the preferences of their Federal Councillors are are often not congruent. One thing is clear: the conservatives like the economy and finances. The latter is seen as a key department because the heads can influence the business of other departments via finance. The left-wingers prefer the influential Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications and the Department of Home Affairs with social issues such as health and pensions. SP Co-President Cédric Wermuth recently made no secret of the fact that he fears that the conservatives could take control of the Department of Home Affairs after Berset's departure. For him, this would be a "horror scenario".
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE DISTRIBUTION OF DEPARTMENTS?
Politically, a change of department never actually leads to major upheavals. However, it is not unimportant which party a head of department belongs to. A Federal Councillor has numerous opportunities to exert influence in his or her department. Among other things, they have the power to accelerate or postpone decisions. They also make important personnel decisions in key positions.
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