According to Simonazzi, Berset had no knowledge of the indiscretions
According to statements in the Federal Council, President Alain Berset had no knowledge of any indiscretions between his former communications chief and the media. This was announced by Federal Council spokesman André Simonazzi.
"Based on the information provided by the president of the Confederation, who has given assurances that he had no knowledge of such indiscretions, the Federal Council will continue to conduct business on the basis of restored confidence," Simonazzi said in a statement to the media in Bern on Wednesday after the Federal Council meeting.
The Federal Council has taken note of the opening of an investigation by the parliament's business audit commissions GPK and wishes that this be carried out quickly in the interest of the necessary confidence in the institutions, it was further stated.
Federal Council: Indiscretions harm
The Federal Council also said that a climate of trust, both internally and externally, was necessary for the quality of its decisions. "Indiscretions damage the work in the body, the credibility of the college and the interests of the country." The Federal Council does not tolerate them and condemns them.
Berset repeated, in addition, that he was ready to testify before the GPK. This investigation must be carried out within the framework of the institutions, he said. It should be clarified "all at once", he said.
Berset and Simonazzi did not answer further questions from journalists - for example about the climate in the Federal Council, whether Berset had resigned of his own accord, and about Berset's contacts with Ringier.
Berset indirectly takes a stand
Until now, Berset had also not said in public that he had not known about the indiscretions. This was now heard indirectly for the first time via the Federal Council spokesman.
At its meeting, the Federal Council discussed potential indiscretions reported by the media. Simonazzi said that Berset had taken a break for part of the discussion. Vice President Viola Amherd then informed him about the content of the discussion before it continued.
A working group of the GPK is now to clarify which indiscretions occurred in connection with Covid 19 transactions of the Federal Council. It is also to find out who triggered these and who was the recipient of these indiscretions. It will also examine whether the Federal Council as a whole has taken sufficient steps to ensure that indiscretions are prevented.
The Switzerland at the weekend had revealed that Berset's former head of communications Peter Lauener had given the View-Ringier, or rather its boss Marc Walder, had repeatedly passed on confidential information about the Federal Council's planned Covid measures. According to the newspaper, this was based on e-mails and interview protocols that were available to the editorial team. In particular, the requests from the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) were reported. (SDA)
