Jean-Claude Juncker's statement that Switzerland was an "absurdity" was a great pass for Blocher. The SVP party strategist hit back with the Nazi club and is now in the headlines himself. Jean-Claude Juncker When Juncker gave an interview to the German weekly newspaper "Die Zeit" in mid-December, he could hardly have imagined that he would trigger a scandal.
The Luxembourg finance minister and EU finance chief wanted Switzerland to join the EU, "even though I know that the people's sovereignty is still opposed to it" (Blick). Sentences switzerland rcs data that make you sit up and take notice The EU would thus become more complete. He then added the sentence: "It remains a geostrategic absurdity that we have this blank spot on the European map." The sentences may make you sit up and take notice.
But what makes you sit up and take notice is how SVP vice president Christoph Blocher now comments on the sentences in Blick . And on Teleblocher, the former Federal Councillor said: "There are sounds coming into Switzerland that I haven't heard for 70 years." In Juncker's view, Switzerland is "an absurdity, not even a thing, let alone a country." One that has apparently been "supposed to disappear from the map" for a long time. And then the decisive sentence: "That's what Hitler said! Switzerland, the cheeky porcupine, and stuff like that." Debate turns into a scandal The debate between Blocher and Juncker is increasingly derailing "and is becoming a scandal," says historian Urs Altermatt. "Blocher is using the debate with the top EU politician as a platform for the election campaign, which is abusing the terrible history of the time of Nazi Germany. Hitler brought Europe the world war and the Holocaust, terrible crimes and suffering for millions of people. To relate Juncker's words to Hitler is reprehensible and defamatory and lacks historical expertise." Blocher stands by his statements. He told Sonntagsblick: "I was shocked when I heard that Juncker described Switzerland as a geopolitical absurdity." He said he grew up on the German border. "The last time we heard such statements was 70 years ago. That is a sign of contempt for Switzerland. That must not happen. We must defend ourselves against it." Is the panel canceled? Piquant: A panel with Juncker and Blocher is planned for January 12 in Zurich. Kohler would not be surprised if the EU finance chief canceled his appearance after this slip-up.