What the scat of Trump and Selenski means for Switzerland

The scandal in the White House also shakes Swiss politics. « Fuck You, Mr. Trump, » wrote SP-Co President Cédric Wermuth on social media in response to the word battle between the US president, his vice and the Ukrainian President Wolodimir Selenski. The Solothurn Middle National Councilor Stefan Müller-Aldermatt described the US administration on the Bluesky platform as « border -debile child's heads ».

They are coarse names. They show how deep the shock goes – and how at a loss Trump's uninhibited power policy leaves many Swiss parliamentarians behind.

Meanwhile, the Federal Council is remarkable – yes, it is speechless. Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter only put a short post on the X platform. « Switzerland continues to campaign for just and permanent peace and condemns Russian aggression against a sovereign state, » she wrote in English. In addition the hashtag «#Ukraine». Not a word from Trump, the USA, what has happened.

Research show that in the federal administration there are discussions on how Switzerland should react to the escalation. A few departments voices become voices that demand a clear position of positions by the government. And quickly. But that is not currently emerging. It is pointed out that nothing has changed in the attitude of the Federal Council – and there is therefore nothing to communicate.

Nevertheless, Switzerland is not only on the sidelines of world politics and looks at. As Ch Media knows, the federal government is represented by European discussions on how the war could be ended in Ukraine – even without the USA. On Sunday at the invitation of the British Prime Minister Keir Stranger State and Prime Minister from Europe, they met for a Ukraine summit in London. Bern is not at the highest political level, but at least involved in a diplomatic level.

Gerhard Pfister calls for coordination on army finances

Nevertheless: the booming silence of the Federal Council is increasingly becoming incomprehensible and criticism in parliament.

Central President Gerhard Pfister says: « Of course, what happened in the white house also has to do with Switzerland, because it has a direct impact on our security. » Although there is still the possibility that the United States did not finally move away from the Ukraine side and Europe, « but the transatlantic alliance, NATO, is obviously damaged, » said Pfister.

The Federal Council must therefore now show « what this transatlantic mood for Switzerland means ». Especially for military security, but also on questions of legal certainty: « Does the Trump government stick to contracts such as that of the fighter jet F-35? ». As a result of the Federal Council break, Pfister determines a “vacuum of orientation”, which leads to uncertainty among the population and in parliament.

According to Pfister, it is undisputed that Switzerland has to contribute to the security of Europe. In contrast to FDP President Thierry Burkart, he finds: « For the necessary strengthening of our army, we won't get around additional revenue. » Pfister therefore speaks for a motion of his party colleague, Council of States Benedikt Würth, who strives to increase VAT – which is only possible by referendum. « We have to make the decision on how we want to ensure our security and what we are willing to pay for to present voters, » says Pfister.

Aid for Ukraine past debt brake

The Security Policy Commission (SIK) has already become active last week. In view of the latest international developments and the increasing geopolitical “tensions”, it demands an explanation from the National Council: Switzerland has to cooperate more with Europe in the area of ​​security policy.

One of the driving forces behind it is SP National Councilor Fabian Molina. « The Federal Council obviously did not understand that we are at a turning point in history, » he says. You have to support Ukraine much more than you have done so far. « Nothing is more important for European security than that Putin does not win the war. »

Molina as well as the two sites Tiana Angelina Moser (GLP) and Marianne Binder (middle) demand in the same way that Switzerland increases the auxiliary funds for Ukraine – and these expenses are excluded from the debt brake.