Roger Köppel wants to become SVP National Councillor

The reason for his candidacy is the disastrous and alarming policy of the "left-wing majority in the Federal Council and parliament" in Bern, said Köppel. It was no longer enough to stand on the sidelines as an independent publisher and editor-in-chief; he now had to "enter the fray" himself.

He wanted to counteract undesirable developments. For him, only the SVP was an option as a party. Other bourgeois parties did not stand up clearly and consistently enough for the issues that were important to him. The lateral entrant was previously independent and has only now joined the SVP.

No conflict of interest 

It is nothing unusual for "editors-in-chief to go to Bern in difficult times", said Köppel, mentioning Willy Bretscher (NZZ, FDP), Peter Dürrenmatt (Basler Nachrichten, LDP) and Ernst Nobs (Volksrecht, SP). Köppel will retain his functions at Weltwoche if he is elected. In case of doubt, he will always be "the editor-in-chief Köppel and not the party soldier Köppel".

Tipping point for the candidacy

The decisive factor for his candidacy was the speech given by SP Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga at this year's Albisgüetli conference, in which she wanted to give the impression that the SVP is opposed to human rights. For Köppel, it is important that international law is not placed above the Swiss Federal Constitution across the board.

Direct democracy is the backbone and lifeblood of Switzerland and is being "systematically torpedoed", continued Köppel. Federalism must also be defended by not shifting more and more responsibilities from municipal to federal level.

According to Cantonal Party President and National Councillor Alfred Heer, the office of the party leadership has asked the selection committee to include Köppel on the National Council list. It remains to be seen which place the Weltwoche leader will take. An assembly of delegates will decide on the National Council list in May. (SDA)