Shot ex-divisionist leaves frustration over Amherd on Instagram

A former top squad of the Swiss army has been violent criticism of Defense Minister Viola Amherd and army chief Thomas Süssli on his Instagram profile for months. Ex-divisionist Mathias Tüscher, 58, also stands out with partially defamatory statements.

At the end of October 2024, Tüscher retired from the professional military after a 30-year career-formally at his own request. Most recently, he had served as commander of the territorial division 1.

But the departure was not entirely voluntary: Last June, Tüscher failed due to the periodically carried out person safety test for federal civil servants and military members and had to vacate his desk immediately. According to the “Sonntagsblick”, the Federal Chancellery, which carried out the exam, should accuse Tüscher a “lack of integrity” and “susceptibility to blackmail” and consider it a security risk.

Tüscher has apparently poorly digested his forced departure. The Vaud regularly divides its frustration with its over 5000 followers on Instagram.

Most recently, at the end of last week, he expressed himself to the change from Air Force Chief Peter Merz to the CEO post of Skyguide. In a post, Tüscher Defense Minister Amherd and army chief Süssli described as a « fatal couple » and asked: « Is there someone who controls the plane? » This may mean the VBS defense department.

When it became known that Amherd's close familiar Brigitte Hauser-Süess will continue to work with a special contract beyond her ordinary pension, ex-division Tüscher wrote: « Now I know where the wage contributions owed to me are going. »

« All of this for 5 villains »

Tüscher commented on a disproportionate remark of an Instagram follow-up, which apparently described Amherd as « Schlumpfine » and army chief Süessli as « Gargamel »: « J'adore! He used several times the hashtag #Toutçapour5coquins (all for 5 villains) for contributions to his departure.

On request, Viola Amherd's head of communication Renato Kalbermatten says that the VBS is aware of Tüscher's statements on social media, but do not comment on them.

In parliament, SVP National Councilor Nicolas Kolly submitted a critical interpellation to depart Tüscher and Divisionischer Guy Vallat, who also failed due to the personal safety test.

In his response from November, the Federal Council stated that he had « implemented the legal and contractual requirements as part of the discretion ». Higher staff officers would have to meet high demands on personal integrity, trustworthiness and security and should neither be blackmailed nor bribed, the Federal Council wrote.