Who governs Switzerland?
Its citizens or NATO?
by Thomas Scherr*
(20 February 2026) In unstable times, it is particularly important to reflect on one’s own strengths. Switzerland is known for its direct democracy. This includes solid support for political actiosn, established neutrality in a diverse and divergent world, and finally, acting in accordance with the principle of “good faith”.
support for political action, long-standing neutrality in a diverse and
divergent world, and, finally, acting in accordance with the principle of
"good faith".(Photo ma)
The behaviour of the federal government in Bern increasingly gives the impression that good faith is no longer the maxim for action. Reliability, honesty and openness are increasingly being “communicated” as words, but they hardly seem credible anymore and are believed less and less. This is very bad for a national government in turbulent times.
The fact that the Federal Council has left a Swiss citizen such as Jacques Baud, a Swiss Army colonel and expert on intelligence and terrorism, out in the cold in such a cruel manner is and remains a scandal.
For two months, there has been no personal, verbal or written contact from any official body in the federal government in Bern with Jacques Baud, who is stuck in Brussels.
Why are email messages between the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) regarding the EU’s sanctions against Jacques Baud only disclosed in their entirety redacted?1
What is there to hide?
This email exchange took place before 15 December 2025, the day on which the EU imposed sanctions on Colonel Baud.
The fact that Belgium recently granted his request for a “humanitarian exemption” (thanks to the efforts of his lawyers) is the first piece of positive news from official sources. Jacques Baud will now at least be able to pay his bills, his rent and cover his living expenses.
In view of this deadlocked situation, one wonders: who determines policy in Ignazio Cassis’ FDFA department? Brussels’ will or the welfare of Swiss citizens?
Why is the Federal Council faltering?
How did the disastrous purchase of the F-35 fighter jet, which is unsuitable for national defence, barely operational and, moreover, downright gilded, come about? Neither its operational capability within the framework of Swiss neutrality was credibly demonstrated, nor were the costs honestly communicated. So how did this purchase come about? The Federal Councillor responsible, Viola Amherd, has retired. Her successor, Martin Pfister, is continuing in the same vein, wanting even more of the same.2 The next increase in VAT, which is still subject to a vote, is probably also intended for this purpose.
Who determines the policy at the Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS)? Brussels or the idea of a secure national defence?
Bern in the wake of Vilnius?
During the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, NATO member states announced their fight against “disinformation” and recommended that the EU also work in this direction in the interests of “war readiness”.3 In June 2024, the EU adopted this NATO guideline in its “Strategic Agenda 2024–2029”:4 Any opinions that deviate from the government’s course must be branded as “attempts at destabilisation” or “disinformation” and combated as a form of “terrorism” – such is the totalitarian thinking.
This means NATO is setting the course behind the scenes. And constitutional guarantees such as freedom of expression and information no longer apply as soon as NATO is affected.
This also explains the EU’s dictatorial action against Jacques Baud. His only “offence” is to have a well-founded opinion on the war in Ukraine that does not coincide with NATO’s spin.
Meanwhile, the Federal Council has hinted that it too would like to establish a form of censorship like that in the EU. Disguised as a “fight against influence activities”, the aim is to bring public discussion into line – in line with the approach taken by NATO and the EU. Why this mistrust of citizens in one’s own country? Federal Councillor Martin Pfister is going far out on a limb.5
Who determines the policy in Pfister’s DDPS department? Brussels or the commitment to an independent, free Switzerland?
The difference between citizens and subjects
However, Switzerland is neither a member of the European Union nor a member of NATO. And it is neutral.
Furthermore, Switzerland is organised as a direct democracy. Opinion-forming and diversity of opinion are central. This means that decision-making must take place in an open and free discussion and not on a media playground dictated by government representatives in the wake of Brussels.
In Switzerland, the citizens are sovereign – not the Federal Council or its administration or the DDPS leadership. Switzerland is not a “controlled”, purely representative democracy like France, Germany or the United States, where governance is top-down. When citizens elect representatives to political office, they place their trust in their honest and sincere work.
Neutrality is enshrined in the constitution, as is freedom of expression. The very fact that a popular initiative was necessary to remind the Federal Council that Switzerland must be completely neutral is scandalous. Even worse is having to remind it what freedom of expression means.
“Take-off” of the Federal Council and its administration?
What is going on in Bern? Has a “take-off” taken place? Away from the people to the pots and privileges in Brussels?6 Who are the prompters in federal politics?
The Federal Council increasingly appears to be acting as a representative of Brussels. Must we now regard it as a kind of deputy bailiff of the EU and NATO, whose job it is to dictate what we should and should not do?
Given that recent decisions by the Federal Council, the National Council and the Council of States are clearly serving the overall welfare of the country less and less and increasingly accommodating Brussels.7 It now seems that Switzerland’s assets are also slowly being transferred to Brussels. There, it is extremely welcome for various EU armament, migration and debt projects.
Pro Memoriam: As a small country, it is vital to stay out of the conflicts of the great powers. This requires clever diplomacy and forward-looking politics. It also requires the right personnel.
One example of this is the Ticino politician Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940). As a member of the Federal Council, he corrected his own decisions regarding the League of Nations, thereby paving the way for a credible Swiss policy of neutrality during the Second World War.
| * Thomas Scherr writes as an independent author for the “Swiss Standpoint”. |
(Translation “Swiss Standpoint”
1 https://weltwoche.ch/daily/ignazio-cassis-eda-schwaerzt-e-mails-zum-fall-jacques-baud-die-offenlegung-gefaehrde-aussenpolitische-interessen-der-schweiz/, 31 January 2026
2 https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/beschaffung-der-f-35-martin-pfister-will-die-zeitenwende, 12 December 2025
3 https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-texts-and-resources/official-texts/2023/07/11/vilnius-summit-communique, 11 July 2023
4 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/yxrc05pz/sn02167en24_web.pdf, 2024
5 https://www.vbs.admin.ch/de/newnsb/J8mMdTrhq6zNYonZf1DG9, 8 January 2026
6 https://www.20min.ch/story/berset-als-spitzenkandidat-was-macht-eigentlich-der-generalsekretaer-des-europarats-103135179, 25 June 2024