A Herculean task is waiting for Thierry Burkart’s successor

A difficult heritage is waiting for the successor of Thierry Burkart. It is important to avert the historic Super-Gau in 2027: that the FDP, as the founding party in Switzerland, only has a Federal Council seat.

When Thierry Burkart declared his resignation as a FDP president on Tuesday, he described his four-year presidential period in rosy colors. In terms of content, the freedom is, for example, positioned more clearly with education policy, has gained a communicative cleaver, was better positioned organizationally, and had significantly reinforced the campaign ability. His successor could harvest the fruits in 2027.

But: Is that true? Burkart actually brought the FDP up to scratch organizationally and communicatively. With security policy, he had a brilliant phase in the first years of the war of Ukraine. The FDP determined the discourse. After that, the SVP approached it, for example on migration, climate and energy issues. It was irritating that Burkart as a representative of the liberal founding party in Switzerland with her direct democracy could not hear any criticism from the autocratic behavior of US President Donald Trump. In addition, the FDP has lost eight out of ten cantonal elections since the 2023 elections.

A relaxation is not really in sight. The new President is facing a Herculean task. In 2027, she or he had to save the second Federal Council seat, which until 1891 and still took three seats until 1959. It would be a historic super-gau for the freeness, losing her second seat in 2027. A lot indicates this. Seen in this way, Burkart’s surprising departure can also be seen as an escape. When Burkart hates one, they are defeats.