Baz: Does Moritz Suter want to get rid of Blocher?
Moritz Suter, nominally publisher of the Basler Zeitung, wants to sell 70 percent of the shares to readers. His opponent is said to be Christoph Blocher.
He explained the new ownership model he has in mind in a lecture to the Association of Basel Economists on the anniversary of his taking office, writes the newspaper Der Sonntag. A minority of 30 percent is to remain with a small group of shareholders to ensure the stability of the company. Suter is thus taking up a plan of his predecessor Martin Wagner. Wagner had even wanted to float a majority of Baz on the stock exchange. However, like Wagner before him, Suter's hands are tied: As a trustee of anonymous investors, he lacks any room for maneuver.
According to Der Sonntag, Suter has been at loggerheads with his financial backers for months. In confidential one-on-one discussions with personalities from business and politics, Suter has repeatedly indicated that SVP politician Christoph Blocher is his opponent in this matter. When asked about this by Der Sonntag, Suter did not comment.
