Politics · Switzerland · 13 hrs ago
Aeschi could join Pfister as second Baar resident in Swiss cabinet
Thomas Aeschi is a possible candidate to succeed Guy Parmelin on the Swiss Federal Council, the country’s seven-member government.
Aeschi and fellow council member Martin Pfister are both from Baar, in the canton of Zug.
If elected, Aeschi would make two Baar residents in the cabinet; both men are from the same municipality.
Until 1999, a rule allowed only one Federal Council member from each canton, to prevent power from becoming concentrated in a few cantons.
Voters and the cantons abolished that rule in 1999, although regional balance still matters in government selections.
The canton is now one of several factors considered alongside issues such as region, gender and political party.
The SVP is expected to decide on its candidate on November 20, and Baar says it is ready to prepare a celebration if Aeschi is chosen.
Thomas Aeschi could become the second Baar resident in Switzerland’s Federal Council, alongside Martin Pfister.
Aeschi is among those who may be selected for the SVP ticket to succeed Guy Parmelin, but the candidate has not yet been announced.
Both Aeschi and Pfister live in Baar, in the canton of Zug.
A rule limiting the Federal Council to one member from each canton was abolished in 1999.
Baar’s mayor says the municipality is ready to prepare a celebration if Aeschi is selected for the ticket.
- Who
- Thomas Aeschi could join Martin Pfister in the Federal Council. Both live in Baar.
- What
- Aeschi is among potential candidates for the SVP ticket to succeed Guy Parmelin.
- When
- The SVP ticket is expected to be announced on November 20.
- Where
- Baar, in the canton of Zug, Switzerland.
- Why
- The Federal Council is choosing a successor to Guy Parmelin. The former one-member-per-canton rule no longer applies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Voters and cantons abolished the rule limiting the Federal Council to one member from each canton.
Christoph Blocher joined Moritz Leuenberger as the first pair of Federal Council members from the same canton after the rule was abolished.
Baar prepared for a celebration when Thomas Aeschi was first placed on the SVP ticket.
Baar celebrated Martin Pfister’s election to the Federal Council.
If Aeschi is selected for the SVP ticket, Baar’s mayor says the municipality will prepare a celebration.
- Potential candidate
- Thomas Aeschi
- Federal Council member from Baar
- Martin Pfister
- Canton
- Zug
- Municipality population
- About 25,000
- Former rule abolished
- 1999
- Potential ticket date
- November 20
What people are saying
If Thomas Aeschi is on the ticket on November 20, we will certainly prepare a celebration
As is often the case in Switzerland, they wanted to prevent a concentration of power
Today, the canton question is one of many, but no longer the most important