Everyone fails in the VBS – is Martin Pfister now turned?

Experts such as the former Villiger consultant Daniel Eckmann urgently call for “rethinking” and more team spirit in the Federal Council: “Everyone has to help shape and support security policy.”

« The VBS is the easiest to lead, » says a former colonel and politician. There are ordered above, obey below.

So far the theory. In practice, most of the defense department (VBS) experienced it differently.

By Ueli Maurer (SVP), who fled to the financial department after seven lean years in 2016, has been handed down that he complained in the VBS: « I am only lied to here. »

In the Bundeshaus, the expression of the « layer of clay » often falls today when it comes to the question of why the VBS bosses and finally the VBS boss all fail or at least appear in this department.

Accordingly, there is a difficult to penetrate between politics and the generality: the or the above never really look through how the system works below, who moves and how.

Although: Viola Amherd was more successful and more committed than her last predecessors. She got reforms on the way, even if not everyone was succeeded. Created more money and a new fighter jet. But ultimately she also ran when the war came.

So can the next VBS boss, the new Federal Councilor Martin Pfister (63, center), ever prepare for his failure?

Experts all come to the same conclusion: Yes, if nothing changes in the Federal Council.

Daniel Eckmann, 74, is one of the most experienced political observers, for a long time he was « delegate for communication » by the Lucerne FDP Federal Council and Military Minister Kaspar Villiger.