Politics · Switzerland · 10 hrs ago
Swiss defence chief faces speculation amid costly military projects
Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister is facing speculation about changing departments as government reshuffles are discussed after Guy Parmelin’s resignation.
The claims rely mainly on anonymous members of Pfister’s Centre Party, and party leader Philipp Matthias Bregy has called the discussion inappropriate.
Pfister took office in March 2025 and had said he planned to serve longer, but unresolved problems in the defence department have accumulated.
The F-35 fighter jet deal is expected to exceed its approved budget of six billion Swiss francs, and the final cost remains unclear.
Pfister plans to buy 30 aircraft instead of the 36 originally planned, while Switzerland has already paid 1.7 billion francs in advance.
Delivery of Patriot air-defence systems keeps being delayed, and the government is expected to decide soon whether to buy a second system.
Military funding is also disputed, and the article gives no indication of whether Pfister will change departments.
Reports of a possible portfolio change by Swiss defence chief Martin Pfister are based mainly on anonymous sources, according to Watson.
The speculation comes as the Defence Department faces delays to weapons deliveries, disputes over military funding and rising costs for the F-35 fighter jet.
Pfister has said Switzerland should buy 30 F-35s rather than the 36 originally planned because the approved six billion francs will not be enough.
The final cost of the aircraft remains unclear, and Switzerland has already paid 1.7 billion francs in advance to the United States.
Pfister had pledged before his election in March 2025 to serve longer term as defence minister.
- Who
- Swiss defence chief Martin Pfister is at the centre of speculation about a possible portfolio change.
- What
- Reports suggest he may consider leaving the Defence Department, which faces costly and delayed military projects.
- When
- The report was published on 17 October 2026; Pfister took office in March 2025.
- Where
- Switzerland; the first Swiss-bound F-35 was symbolically signed in Fort Worth, Texas.
- Why
- The speculation comes amid problems with military projects and funding. The report says its claims about Pfister are based mainly on anonymous sources.
Pierre-Alain Fridez
Martin Pfister
F-35 procurement
Pierre-Alain Fridez
Fridez and his party have called for the procurement to be stopped.
Martin Pfister
Pfister aims to limit the damage and has proposed buying 30 aircraft instead of 36.
Swiss voters narrowly approved six billion francs for the F-35 purchase.
The Swiss government announced its decision to select the F-35.
Pfister was elected and committed to a longer-term engagement as defence minister.
A Defence Department delegation symbolically signed the first F-35 intended for Switzerland in Fort Worth, Texas.
Finland received the first of its 64 ordered F-35s, but not in the configuration promised by the United States.
Watson reported speculation that Pfister might consider a portfolio change.
- Aircraft purchase
- 30 F-35s proposed instead of 36
- Approved funding
- Six billion francs
- Advance payments
- 1.7 billion francs paid to the United States
- Patriot systems
- Delivery date to Switzerland remains unclear
- First Swiss-bound F-35
- Symbolically signed on 22 September in Fort Worth, Texas
What people are saying
Diese Diskussion ist unangebracht auf Stufe Parlament.
Der Gesamtpreis bleibt aber weiterhin unklar.