Christoph Blocher's plans for the Baz
In an interview with the *Sonntagszeitung*, Zurich SVP National Council member Christoph Blocher spoke specifically about his plans for the *Basler Zeitung*. His goal is a «stripped-down *Basler Zeitung*.».
Blocher said he was assuming the risks at the Basel newspaper Baz. The only difference is that Baz is not a newspaper, but "a distressed conglomerate with more than 1,000 employees. This also included "non-operational" properties, printing plants, brokers, advertising intermediaries for third parties and much more. Medienvielfalt Holding wants to keep this daily independent, he said. "The goal is a Basler Zeitung naked, with only editorial staff and an independent publisher," Blocher continued.
Blocher supports this goal with investments in real estate: "The company is loss-making, has little liquidity and too much debt," says Blocher. That is why he is buying the real estate that is not necessary for business purposes. In this way, the company gets rid of the bank debts and makes a smaller loss because the high interest burden is eliminated.
Things look less rosy for the print shop. "There is far too much printing capacity in Switzerland," the former Federal Councilor tells the Sonntagszeitung. The Baz printing plant would also either have to operate at full capacity or close down. A decision on this would be made in the spring.
(Image: Keystone)
