Former Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer has defended his record in government during the coronavirus pandemic and denies he was ever against vaccines.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA
But in interviews with the Le Matin Dimanche and the SonntagsZeitung newspapers, Maurer repeated earlier controversial comments. “Of course there was hysteria around Covid,” he said in the Sunday interviews.
This hysteria was even “on a global scale”, Maurer added. “We said that Covid was fatal, and based on this assumption, we stretched a health net like we had never seen before. Anyone who dared to ask a critical question was dismissed or treated as a conspirator.”
Maurer also expressed surprise at the negative reaction to comments he made in the media two weeks ago. He dismissed the outcry as an “anti-Maurer reflex” from the media.
But the former government minister did take the opportunity to qualify his earlier interview statement that anti-Covid vaccines are “a lot of hot air”.
“Of course, people immediately said that I was anti-vax, which is not true,” he stated on Sunday.
The usefulness of vaccines is undisputed, but Switzerland went too far by telling everyone to get vaccinated, Maurer said. “I am convinced that in the coming years we will increasingly deal with the damage caused by the vaccine,” he added.
Maurer also answered critics who say he let down small businesses by not allowing more financial aid during the pandemic. “The state cannot be responsible for everything. Nor can it protect everyone from death,” he said.
“The state must help protect society, but it can only distribute the money it first takes from people.”
This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team. At SWI swissinfo.ch we select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate it into English. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. You can find them here.
If you want to know more about how we work, have a look here, and if you have feedback on this news story please write to english@swissinfo.ch.
External Content
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.
Natural disasters cause billions in damage worldwide
This content was published on
In the first six months of the year, natural disasters caused billions in losses worldwide, with severe thunderstorms in the USA being a major factor, according to a Swiss Re Institute press release on Wednesday.
Rear seat belts save lives: a 30-year Swiss milestone
This content was published on
For 30 years now, seat belts have been compulsory in the rear seats of cars in Switzerland. Current data from the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) and the Federal Statistical Office confirm the effectiveness of this road safety measure.
Women receive fewer painkillers than men in emergencies
This content was published on
The situation is similar in Switzerland. Three years ago, a study from Swiss intensive care units showed that women had a lower chance of receiving intensive medical care than men.
Locarno Film Festival opens with 225 screenings, 104 world premieres
This content was published on
The 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival opens today, marking the beginning of the Maja Hoffmann era. Situated on the shores of Lake Maggiore, the eagerly awaited festival features a packed programme: 225 screenings over 10 days, including 104 world premieres.
Swiss breast cancer screening quality varies across cantons
This content was published on
The quality of breast cancer screening programmes in Switzerland varies from canton to canton. However, according to a study published on Tuesday, the results align with the European standard.
Swiss army neutralised 280 unexploded ordnances in 2023
This content was published on
The Swiss army neutralised 280 unexploded ordnance last year. A total of 1,122 reports were received, a record figure attributed to increased leisure activities and greater public awareness of this danger.
Switzerland closely monitoring Bangladesh amidst political turmoil
This content was published on
Switzerland has been "concerned and affected by the unprecedented loss of life since mid-July," said the Swiss foreign ministry.
Adecco faces continued challenges amid sales decline and cost cuts
This content was published on
The job placement agency, Adecco Group's business remained challenging in the second quarter of 2024, with the personnel services provider continuing to anticipate difficulties in the third quarter.
UN investigates UNRWA staff involvement in October 7 Hamas attack
This content was published on
Nine employees of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) "may have been involved" in the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, according to the UN's internal investigation. This involved 19 people accused by Israel.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.