Switzerland Today

Greetings from Lausanne!

Ueli Maurer, an old-school politician who rose from his farming roots in Zurich to reach the highest ranks of Swiss government, announced on Friday that he is stepping down as finance minister.

The 71-year-old says there is no single reason that has led to this decision. But after four decades in politics, it is time for a change, he noted.

The big question is who will replace him? Could it be a female candidate – a first for the Swiss People’s Party. Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, Natalie Rickli, Esther Friedli or Diana Gutjahr are just a few of the names circulating to line up against male candidates such as Gregor Rutz, Franz Grüter or Albert Rösti.

Keystone / Urs Flueeler

In the news: university removes controversial name, foreign currency purchases and international sanctions.

• The University of Geneva has decided to remove the name of “Carl Vogt”, a 19th-century naturalist accused of holding racist and sexist views, from a university building.
• Several professional football clubs in Switzerland that received extra funds for Covid-relatedlosses during the pandemic must reimburse CHF4 million to the federal authorities.
• In a final vote on Friday, the Swiss parliament rejected a proposal that would have allowed Switzerland to unilaterally sanction countries and individuals. The Swiss government will continue to follow sanctions already imposed by the United Nations, the European Union or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OCSE). 
• The Swiss government plans to temporarily ease wateruse rules to allow a number of hydropower plants to boost capacity ahead of possible power shortages this winter. They will benefit from access to increased quantities of water. Dam operators will be permitted to temporarily reduce the amount of residual water that they have to release from reservoirs into lower-lying streams and rivers under Swiss law.
• Food giant Nestle plans to stop sourcingExternal link from subsidiaries of Astra Agro Lestari (AAL), a major Indonesian palm oil producer accused by environmental groups of land and human rights abuses.
• The Swiss National Bank sold CHF5 million ($5.1 million) worth of foreign currency in market interventions in the second quarter of 2022, data on Friday showed, endingExternal link an era of heavy foreign currency purchases to curb the franc’s gains.
• The fire at the Glacier 3000 mountain restaurant above Les Diablerets ten days ago was not the result of a crime, the police said on Friday. The exact causes remain unknown, but investigators assume that it was a technical problem.

© Keystone / Peter Klaunzer

Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer to step down at end of year.

Maurer (in photo above), who in recent years kept tight control of state finances but who recognised the need to turn on the money taps to help Switzerland get through the Covid-19 pandemic, will step down at the end of the year.

The 71-year-old cabinet minister made the announcement on Friday at a press conferenceExternal link in Bern. Maurer, former leader and still member of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, has been a member of Switzerland’s Federal Council (executive body) since 2009. 

He was initially responsible for the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS). Since 2016, he has been in charge of the finance ministry.

He told journalists he was leaving “half-smiling and half-crying”.  He said he would miss an “exceptional team” but was looking forward to the future. 

“I have done more than 40 years in politicsExternal link, including 14 in the Federal Council, and I really enjoyed the work,” said the minister. But he said he was also looking forward to a normal private life and becoming “normal Ueli” again.

The outgoing minister said he had made the decision to step down over the summer but had only told a few people in his close circle until today’s announcement.  He said no single event had led to the decision but that it was time for a change and he has “energy to do something else”.

The race to succeed him will now be on, with some speculationExternal link as to whether his party might put forward a woman – for the first time – to replace him in the seven-member cabinet. Parliament will elect his replacement on December 7.

ETH Zurich

E-Sling electric plane takes off from Zurich.

Students at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich have been celebrating the successful first flight of a four-seater electric aircraft, known as e-Sling, which they built during their studies.

A team of 20 students worked on the two-year project to build a sustainable battery-powered light aircraft. They presentedExternal link their project to the press on Friday.

As well as constructing an efficient electric engine, the students also developed a modular battery system with a special cooling system. They made use of an existing aircraft design from the South African manufacturer Sling Aircraft to build the shell to fit their technology.

“Being able to construct an aircraft during your studies and then actually see it flying is an indescribable feeling,” said mechanical engineering student Maurice Kaulich.

e-Sling is the first electric aircraft to be fitted with a modular battery system. Batteries can be exchanged during a stopover. The plane currently has a range of around 180 km. In the future the team wants to develop a hydrogen powertrain for the aircraft which could increase the aircraft’s range.