Young parties call on JSVP to distance itself from right-wing extremism
Published: Wednesday, Apr 3rd 2024, 09:10
Updated At: Wednesday, Apr 3rd 2024, 20:01
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Six young parties have called on the Young SVP to distance itself from right-wing extremist content and individuals. A red line is being crossed here, according to a joint appeal by the Young Socialists, Young Liberals, Young Center, Young Green Liberals and Young EPP.
The "obvious lack of distance to right-wing extremist forces and content" worries and irritates them, they said in a press release on Wednesday. These ideas should not be normalized. It is a danger to an open society, the liberal constitutional state and democracy.
But through its silence and its proximity to right-wing extremist circles, the JSVP is doing just that. And that speaks volumes, said Marc Rüdisüli, President of the Junge Mitte. The party leadership of the Young SVP now has a duty to consistently distance itself from right-wing extremism, JFDP President Jonas Lüthy is quoted as saying.
If the JSVP does not consistently distance itself from the right-wing extremist group "Junge Tat" and the Austrian right-wing radical Martin Sellner, this would prove that they are "in cahoots", said Juso President Nicola Siegrist.
Democracy is not a political position but the cornerstone of our society, explained Magdalena Erni, President of the Young Greens.
JSVP sections demand clarification
Criticism of the Young SVP's proximity to extreme right-wing positions had also been voiced. Six cantonal sections distanced themselves from extremist positions and demanded that the party leadership clearly distance itself from right-wing extremists. Ideologies of all political extremes have no place in the Young Party's understanding of values.
The six cantonal sections demanded that JSVP strategy chief Sarah Regez (BL) resign from her position in the national party leadership for the time being. A possible resignation or exclusion from the party leadership should be considered.
According to "SonntagsBlick" on March 31, Regez took part in a secret meeting with Sellner, which was also attended by members of the far-right group "Junge Tat".
Support from the President
On Wednesday, Sarah Regez criticized on the social network Tiktok the "undemocratic and, in my opinion, left-wing extremist assumption" that she is not allowed to deal with certain people and topics.
This puts her in a corner and implies that she automatically adopts thought patterns. But democracy means engaging with other opinions. A person must be judged by what they say and not by who they listen to.
Nils Fiechter, President of the Young SVP and Regez's relationship partner, told Swiss Radio SRF that the party wanted to resolve its problems internally and was seeking talks with those who had "aired differences of opinion in public".
It was "definitely out of the question" for Head of Strategy Regez to resign, Fiechter continued. Fiechter, who has been convicted of racism, rejected a blanket distancing from individuals or positions.
Criticism from the parent party
The head of the parent party SVP has so far refused to comment on the matter, as SRF reported in the radio program "Echo der Zeit" on Wednesday.
However, National Councillor Sandra Sollberger from Basel, a member of the party leadership committee, said that the JSVP was an independent party and that the SVP would therefore "definitely not interfere". However, not all SVP members would share this view.
For Bernese National Councillor Hans Jörg Rüegsegger, it is tricky to let people get away with this issue, even if they are young people. In the end, it does the party more harm than good if you don't look at it from the outset.
National Councillor Thomas de Courten from Basel-Stadt said: "We need to talk to everyone involved, bring them to the table, clarify the facts, set out our party's clear guidelines in this matter and act consistently in accordance with them."
The party leadership is responsible for the integrity of the party. "They represent our party. With this in mind, I believe it is appropriate for them to take a stand and assume their responsibility," said de Courten.
Solidarity with a right-wing extremist
The Aargau section of the JSVP also caused a stir recently. It expressed its solidarity with the right-wing extremist after an appearance by remigration propagandist Sellner was prevented by the police.
The Aargau cantonal police had stopped the Austrian in Tägerwilen AG and turned him away. The event had been organized by "Junge Tat". The Aargau section later distanced itself from right-wing extremist positions.
©Keystone/SDA
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