SRG: No national election studio in Bern - Presidents' Meeting in Zurich
For the National Council and Council of States elections on October 23, the SRG plans to set up three regional election centers in Zurich, Geneva, and Lugano. As was the case on election days in 2003 and 2007, Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) will not broadcast from Bern.
On election day, the discussion of the presidential panel, which will be broadcast live on television and radio, will also take place in Leutschenbach. SRF spokesperson Marco Meroni told the news agency SDA on Friday. The leaders of the Federal Council parties as well as the Greens, glp, EVP, EDU and CSP have been invited to Zurich.
SRF will be broadcasting live from Leutschenbach from 12 noon to midnight on election day. The fact that the election studio is being set up in Zurich and not in the political center of Bern is causing controversy today, just as it did before previous federal elections. SVP General Secretary Martin Baltisser takes a relaxed view of the matter. They are adjusting to the framework that is coming. You have to look at it soberly and pragmatically. The main thing is that fee payers are burdened as little as possible. CVP President Christophe Darbellay has a different opinion. He and the party presidents of French-speaking Switzerland would rather have the elephant round in Bern, said the Valaisan. This had proved its worth in the votes. It is practical for politicians and media people and is also symbolically important, as Bern is the capital. Bern is the capital and not Leutschenbach, added SP General Secretary Thomas Christen. A broadcast on such an important date as the federal elections must come from Bern, especially in multilingual Switzerland. The SP wanted to voice its criticism of the SRG.
Since SRF/SRG will be holding the pre-election event "Treffpunkt Bundesplatz" on the Bundesplatz in Bern from September 19 to 30, it makes no economic sense to leave the infrastructure in place until October 23, says SRF spokesperson Marco Meroni. A large part of the infrastructure would have to be brought to Bern and set up for an election broadcast from the Bundesplatz. This would cost a lot. The special set-up of another location would require additional funds. SRF will report on the elections in the canton of Bern from Bern City Hall on October 23.
The election center of the French-speaking Swiss radio and television station RTS is located in Geneva and that of the Italian-speaking radio and television station RSI in Lugano. RTS and RSI will also have space for live locations in Zurich.
