The “arena” became a round of elephants due to the coronavirus measures. Image: srf
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13-year-old explains the meaning of coronavirus measures in the “arena”
For the third time in a row, the corona virus was debated in the SRF arena – this time without an audience. The party leaders discussed the latest federal measures.
It has been exactly two weeks since the federal government took the lead in coping with the coronavirus crisis. A lot has happened since then: The pressure on politics increased day by day, not least because the crisis in neighboring Italy worsened and Mr. and Mrs. Swiss watched as other countries took measures one after the other.
That changed 4.5 hours before the recording of the party president’s “arena” on Friday. The Federal Council took action and tightened its measures: Switzerland is shut down to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Is this enough?
The third “arena” on the corona virus revolved around this question. It was carried out for the first time without an audience. In addition to the six party presidents of the major parties, only three other experts, three guests and moderator Sandro Brotz were allowed into Studio 8 in Zurich’s Leutschenbach.
SVP-Rösti did not want to be an opposition
On this basis, the assumption was justified that the discussion would feel unusual for the viewer at home: the audience was missing, which applauded when good statements were made.
Overview of corona virus
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At the beginning, Brotz wanted to know whether the Federal Council did everything right in the coronavirus crisis. FDP President Petra Gössi, SVP President Albert Rösti and CVP President Gerhard Pfister presented unity and praised the Federal Council’s Coronavirus measures – and that despite the fact that Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga and Minister of Health Alain Berset have two government members with an SP party book.
Not even the retiring SVP leader Albert Rösti found it difficult to give up the role of the opposition party: “It’s not difficult for me.” The protection of the population and the groups concerned is in his interest. But he also wanted to emphasize that Ticino called for other measures such as closing the borders.
The longer the discussion went on, the more believable the collectively presented unity became. Green leader Regula Rytz provided an explanation for this when asked whether Switzerland was acting too slowly: “It is certainly not up to politics to judge what the experts in the management of Mr. Berset assess.” For them, too, it is now a matter of protecting the population – the search for any mistakes, scapegoats or the hair in the soup does “nothing at all”.
Fear of students hanging around
This direction of travel was also recognized by the 13-year-old student Raphael Fink, who was invited to the «Arena» as a guest. He talked about his uncertainty and the surprise at how quickly classes were canceled. «But I think that this measure is understandable. This is how you can contain the number of cases. We are a school with over 1,700 students, and if someone has it there, someone quickly gets sick. »
This also impressed the «Arena» moderator Sandro Brotz. It would have been a moment when the audience applauded. The applause could not be expected from the empty seats. And so the discussion hurried on and provided reason for critical votes.
From the point of view of the party leaders, the Federal Council’s thick package of measures provided many open questions. In the discontinued school, for example, there is uncertainty about what will happen to students who could not be looked after at home because of working parents.
Government councilor and top Swiss education director Silvia Steiner (CVP / ZH) spoke on this point. She explained that the schools in her canton are not closed and that they are still open to those parents who are unable to look after their children because of the job. “I don’t want to see a single child unattended and not a single child hanging around on the street just because it doesn’t know where to stay.” A solution had to be found individually for each child.
Fear of the economic crisis
Uncertainty was not just about the children – the economy was also an issue. The trader Peter Hug, who earns his money with a mobile gelater, spoke up. “Everything has been standing still for ten days.” The situation was extremely difficult for him, because he could lose income for the next two or three months.
He could already understand the latest federal measures. However, he criticizes: “If the Federal Council decides something like this, then it must also look for small businesses.”
The reason for his uncertainty is the fact that self-employed workers cannot use short-time working in emergency situations. In the arena, everyone agreed that this group of entrepreneurs now needed a solution after the Federal Council had promised CHF 10 billion in emergency aid for the economy.
A suggestion was already on the table at the beginning of the program: politicians from CVP, SVP and SP are calling for the creation of a fund in the Bundeshaus, which is to be used to speak 500 million francs for such traders. The FDP is not included. Her party leader Petra Gössi criticized that it takes too long to create such a fund. SP President Levrat agreed with her argument that other solutions could be implemented more quickly.
SP-Levrat admits mistakes
The retiring SP boss was also insightful when Brotz teased him in a direct conversation. The moderator asked him provocatively what was the stupidest idea the SP had come up with in connection with the corona virus.
At Levrat’s request to tell him that, Brotz mentioned the controversial SP campaign in which the party manipulated the federal government’s official coronavirus poster to promote political demands. “It was a bad idea, wasn’t it?” Asked Brotz. The Social Democrat showed himself to be humble without resistance and agreed with him. The campaign was stopped.
