Wake-up call for Switzerland

Introduction

The US has slapped Switzerland with a 39% tariff. Before Trump, it was 0%, by the way. Switzerland has one of the most expensive infrastructures in the world. Everything has to be top notch. However, this also requires the country and its government to be top notch in terms of education, employment, and political assertiveness. If Switzerland can muster the energy and courage to step out of its comfort zone and get the population on board, the problem can be solved—otherwise, it cannot.

From proud David to anonymous follower

Small and poor

Switzerland has always been small and, for a long time, poor – so poor that many people emigrated or had to offer their services as mercenaries in order to survive. I come from such a family of farmers and mercenaries: 12 children and five pairs of shoes – that's how my grandfather described his childhood.

Luck also plays a part: neutrality

But we have also been lucky. For example, when we were granted the privilege of neutrality at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, incidentally on the initiative of Tsar Alexander I, whose former Swiss tutor Frédéric-César de La Harpe successfully persuaded the young tsar to do so. Yes, Switzerland owes its neutrality to Russia and repays Russia by trampling on both Russia and its neutrality. I already dealt with the misguided path Switzerland is taking in detail in 2023 in “Die Schweiz ist in Gefahr” (Switzerland is in danger).

Hard-earned respect

The Swiss not only accepted the gift of neutrality, they turned their poor Alpine republic into a jewel through hard work, skill, tenacity, and modest but consistent diplomatic action, which spared the country from both world wars.

All this was recognized and respected internationally, with the result that Switzerland's good offices were gladly accepted by many countries and world powers. The Red Cross, founded by Swiss citizen Henri Dunant, the League of Nations, the Olympic Committee, the UN in Geneva, and many other international organizations settled in Switzerland, not only but also as a sign of recognition of Switzerland's good offices.

Switzerland as a role model

The modest and hardworking Swiss have long been regarded as role models around the world. The last time a vote caused an international stir was in 2012, when 66.5% of Swiss voters rejected an initiative calling for six weeks' vacation for all employees – the people believed that this would be bad for the economy and were willing to take less vacation in order to keep the economy strong overall. I consider pride to be a dangerous emotion, but because of these characteristics, as a Swiss citizen, I was proud of my country.

The profile-raising neuroses of incompetent do-gooders destroyed neutrality

It is difficult to judge when Switzerland strayed from the path of virtue that made our country so strong. Great recognition and success always carry the risk of arrogance. People think it doesn't matter and that they can afford to choose the path of least resistance, which is more comfortable.

“Micheline Calmy-Rey: Sense of mission instead of competence.”

Neutrality means not taking sides. It's as simple as that. However, this also means keeping your personal opinions to yourself, otherwise neutrality does not work: that is why self-discipline is also necessary. A country that is consistently neutral and does not allow itself to be pressured earns the respect of the great powers, with the result that no one dares to attack it – either militarily or diplomatically. But you have to be consistent.

The first clear weakening of neutrality came with Switzerland's accession to the UN. This heralded the era of profile-raising neurosis, and our politicians felt called upon to dictate to other countries how they should live. Our Federal Councilor Michelin Calmy-Rey spoke of active neutrality and considered the concept of neutrality to be outdated. She is very likely the pioneer of the destruction of our neutrality: a sense of mission instead of competence.

Without neutrality no backbone

With the erosion of neutrality came a lack of backbone toward our greatest friend: the US. Over the past thirty years, Swiss politicians have repeatedly caved in to our big “friends,” either directly or via Brussels: the Holocaust compensation affair, banking secrecy, EU treaties, automatic adoption of EU sanctions. The Federal Council did not even notice that Switzerland was forced by the US to save the global banking system by “rescuing” Credit Suisse. We reported on this: “Derivatives bomb – Credit Suisse rescue – Everyone was lied to” and which Federal Councillor was responsible for this? – That's right, Ms. Keller-Suter. Her cabinet colleague Viola Amherd managed to sign a contract for the purchase of F-35s and believed that they had secured a fixed price. Clearly, we no longer have anyone in Bern who is capable of reading and even understanding a contract.

Washington and Brussels have realized that all they have to do is shout and the wimps in Bern will cave in. That wouldn't have happened 40 years ago – our politicians have brought this on us.

Smarter politics during the Cold War than now

Between 1991 and recently, the US was the undisputed hegemon – the sole power holder. During the Cold War, Switzerland was more skilful in dealing with the blocs. Although the Swiss were closer to the US, communication with the Soviet Union was surprisingly good. Now that the Iron Curtain fell over 30 years ago, Switzerland is slavishly following the Americans, who want to weaken Russia for geopolitical reasons. The Americans treat Switzerland extremely badly, yet we kiss their feet and stir up sentiment against Russia, nota bene against a country that has never done anything to Switzerland. Whenever there are differences, the Americans put a knife to the Swiss's throat. They do this because they know we will cave in – diplomatic customary law.

Weak executive

The Swiss executive consists of a seven-member collegial body known as the Federal Council. Its members are not elected by the people, but by the joint Federal Assembly (National Council and Council of States), which corresponds to the US House of Representatives and Senate. This poses two problems: First, before every election, a bazaar begins in which the 26 cantons compete for positions based on the principle of “I want a turn, and I haven't had one in a long time.” Then there is another problem: the quota for women – women must have more power. Whether candidates are qualified for office is completely irrelevant.

It is important to be able to fit in – in other words, to be a candidate who appeals to everyone, preferably without any rough edges. The result is then not long in coming. In 2022, for example, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baum-Schneider was elected to the Federal Council from the small canton of Jura. A small canton thus came into its own and a woman was found. She took over the Federal Department of Justice and Police (Eidgenössisches Justiz- und Polizeidepartement, EJPD). She had no idea about the job and was then “transferred” to the Federal Department of Home Affairs (Eidgenössisches Departement des Innern, EDI) in 2024. A sigh of relief went through the EJPD and the officials at the EDI received condolences – now they have the hot potato that no one wants. The fact that the selection of Federal Councillors is handled so disastrously is thanks to the members of parliament.

Apparatschiks in parliament

In the past, the Federal Parliament was a militia parliament, i.e. it was a part-time position and the idea was to bring independent and competent people into the Swiss legislature who would work part-time for the interests of Switzerland. Today, there are fewer and fewer successful citizens in parliament and more and more apparatchiks who live the good life at the expense of taxpayers, collecting attendance fees and association allowances and thus achieving a lifestyle that they would never be able to attain in the free economy due to their lack of competence, education, and willingness to work. These parasites haggle over positions and pursue one interest above all else: to live off doing nothing for as long as possible and to protect other apparatchiks so that they too can be protected. Are they all like that? No, but too many are, because the result shows that their ranks produce incompetent Federal Councillors.

Solution

The big problem is that Switzerland is still doing far too well and most voters are completely unaware of the slippery slope the country is on. The solution would be simple: stop electing losers and parasites to parliament. People who cannot demonstrate a clear track record of achievement should not have a chance of getting into parliament. You wouldn't get on a plane piloted by an idiot who just wants to fly, would you?

Furthermore, Parliament – and not the Federal Council – would have to allocate the departments by seeking and selecting a leading expert in the relevant field for each department. It would then no longer matter which canton a candidate comes from or whether they are male or female, but rather whether they have the skills to do the job.

The solution is therefore simple, but it will probably remain a pipe dream.

How should the government respond?

Negotiating – or, as Trump likes to say, “making a deal” – is ultimately a matter of communication. Our Federal Council has no idea how Trump works as a person, and yes, that is important. His erratic behavior, his vanity, his tendency to surround himself with beautiful women in his administration, his delight in deal-making are all behavioral patterns that should not be criticized, but understood and classified so that the insights gained can then be used in Switzerland's interests. Trump has no intellect whatsoever, does not read, is completely gut-driven, and loves to be flattered.

The horizons and intuition of an interpreter born in Niederuzwil then led precisely to the debacle she caused. The Swiss press wrote that our Federal Councillor came across as “schoolmarmish” to Trump, according to a source in the White House. Thank you, Ms. Keller-Suter.

There are thousands of Swiss citizens who have lived, studied, and worked in the US for decades. Would it perhaps be a good idea to consult such people when drawing up the negotiation strategy, or are we just pulling ideas out of thin air and thinking that the Toggenburg flair will also strike a chord with Trump?

This is a wake-up call. The Swiss population must realize what is going on and react. The first step will be taken in the next elections. Incompetent windbags, woke idiots, do-gooders, and those who put the interests of Brussels above those of Switzerland will no longer be elected and will be replaced by people who have already achieved something. Then everything will be fine.