Amherd succession Center Party President Gerhard Pfister does not want to become a Federal Councillor
Center-President Gerhard Pfister does not want to become a Federal Councillor. In an interview with the Tagesanzeiger newspaper on Saturday, he said that he had decided not to run to succeed Viola Amherd, who had resigned from the Mitte party. The office would not suit him.
18.01.2025, 21:33
SDA
He naturally asked himself whether he could run for the office, he said in the interview. "And with all modesty: I would trust myself to do the job." But he had also asked himself whether the office suited him. And he came to the conclusion: no.
Anyone who knows him better knows that he would not be a happy Federal Councillor. He loves discourse, he enjoys debating and arguing. "To do that, I need a certain amount of personal freedom," said Pfister. He has that as party president, but "certainly not any more" as a Federal Councillor.
The centrist Federal Councillor Viola Amherd announced her resignation from the Federal Council on Wednesday. A week and a half earlier, Pfister had announced that he would step down as party president in the summer. This double resignation made people a little nervous, said Pfister in an interview. There are now suddenly many career opportunities. As party president, however, he still wants to do his best to contribute to a "fair, transparent and calm competition".
But time is pressing. Viola Amherd's successor will be elected by the united Federal Assembly on March 12. According to Pfister, a decision on the ticket will probably be made at the parliamentary group meeting on February 21. The nominated candidates will be able to present themselves to the grassroots at the delegates' meeting on February 22 in Visp.
