Politicians denigrate Switzerland critics

Parliamentary elections take place in Switzerland on October 23. But populist campaigns are creating problems where they don't exist, writes journalist Joëlle Kuntz in the liberal daily Le Temps: "Is there anyone here who doesn't love Switzerland? All those who don't love Switzerland please raise your hands. No hands go up. That's what I thought: you all love Switzerland. You're surprised I'm even asking the question? ... You're right, it's a surprising thing to ask. But if I do ask it's because the electoral posters, campaign slogans and candidates' discourse all call into question your 'love of Switzerland'. The Christian Democratic party assures us that it doesn't have the same problem. Its love for Switzerland is so all-embracing, so devoted, that it's only thanks to it that the country functions at all. So it issues 'a challenge to those who denigrate Switzerland and who endanger the policy of consensus'. Is there anyone here who denigrates Switzerland? All those who do, please raise your hands. No hands go up. That's what I thought."

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