So far 90 complaints against Gripen contribution

Ombudsman Achille Casanova could not confirm whether there was an orchestrated campaign behind the large number of complaints. However, the large number of complaints would indicate that this could be the case. According to Casanova, the majority of the complaints were directed against the "Rundschau" report. Viewers criticized that the report was one-sidedly against the Gripen, the moderation of the programme was poor and aggressive, false comparisons were made and the wrong experts were invited. Around ten complaints criticized Maurer's behaviour. Tristan Brenn, Editor-in-Chief of SRF TV, clearly rejected the accusation of one-sided reporting. "The report and the interview should always be seen as a unit, that is part of the journalistic concept of the Rundschau", he told the SDA news agency on Friday. "In a nine-minute interview, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer was able to refute the criticism of the Gripen expressed in the report."

Comparison Switzerland-Austria

The political magazine program on Swiss German television compared the Swiss fleet with that of Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary, as all three countries are comparable in size to Switzerland. Austria's fleet consists of 15 Eurofighters, while the Czech Republic and Hungary each have 14 leased Gripen aircraft. The focus of the report was on Austria. A test pilot from the Swiss Air Force, the head of the Austrian Air Force and a German "armaments expert" had their say in the report. The latter criticized the Gripen procurement as too expensive and unnecessary.

"Weak performance"

Afterwards, "Rundschau" broadcast an interview with Defense Minister Ueli Maurer, in which he dismissed the report as one-sided, tendentious and a poor piece of journalism. "I find it relatively tendentious for a television station that lives off public money," said Maurer. The program had only used countries with fewer fighter jets for comparison, but not countries such as Belgium or the Netherlands, which have far more aircraft. In response to this accusation, the "Rundschau" explained that the focus had been placed on Austria because it is a neighboring country, it is also not a member of the NATO military alliance and security experts would also compare Switzerland and Austria.

One month before the vote

In one month's time, on May 18, the electorate will decide indirectly on the purchase of 22 Gripen fighter jets from the Swedish manufacturer Saab. The financing of the purchase will be put to the vote with the Gripen Fund Act. The ombudsman's office of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) will inform the parties involved of its conclusions and recommendations within 40 days of receiving the complaints. However, Ombudsman Casanova has no authority to make decisions or issue instructions. (SDA)