He is the last person who still believes in the Deal

Europe, Europe, Europe! If he tweets, then European. Eric Nussbaumer shares a speech by Frans Timmermans, the candidate of the socialists for the presidency of the EU Commission, a congratulations on 25 years of the EEA, from Sweden, a note from Brussels on the new rules on the electricity market. Anyone who follows Nussbaumer on social media, you will get a good insight of what is on the SP-national councillor from the Basel area in those days (and long): Hashtag inEurope at home, Hashtag Swiss your installation. And above all: Hashtag framework agreement.

The messages on Twitter of the reverberation are one of the most intense sessions of the past few years for Eric Nussbaumer and the social Democrats. "I have seldom experienced so fierce clashes in the group, as in this December, says SP national councillor Cédric Wermuth. "The discussions have touched the core of the social democratic self-understanding."

A question of principle

The ferocity of the discussions can be well explained. For the first Time in a long time, the socialists had to relate to Europe and to the EU Position. . No programmatic confessions, no big Speeches or theories, but in a very concrete and sober, we Want this framework agreement with the EU, or do we not want him? It is a debate that needs to be outside the house – and also violent. What it means for the left's policy on Europe if the party refuses the framework agreement? The base of the party, the Left in Switzerland will accept a no?

Because the group is of the opinion that as Long as the protection of Wages of the Swiss workers is not sufficiently secured, there will be no framework agreement. This proposal is not sufficient, let him die. Hashtag NoDeal.

would Prefer to have football as the Federal house of intrigue: Nussbaumer as a player of the FC of the national Council before a game against the Ambassador. Photo: Keystone

Eric Nussbaumer. Shortly after the winter session, he published on his Website, a Text, a kind of minority's request. The best Deal, wrote Nussbaumer, was for him the contractual EU-accession of Switzerland. "We had a sovereignty that we have lost in a networked Europe since 1992." On the table the other sun now, and the question was fundamental: "Is this Deal to the economic, research and education, and thus also the people living in Switzerland who? It is a Good Deal? I mean Yes, because it regulates a reliable an existing and over the years developed a relationship." Yes to the framework agreement, Yes for the accession of Switzerland to the EU. In the SP-group, there are a handful of people who see this and say, but no one has it embodies in the past few weeks, more and more clearly said than Eric Nussbaumer.

His opponent during the Session was a trade Union leader, Corrado Pardini. Almost daily, the two stuck together in December, the heads, discuss, argued, and quarrelled. "That was loud, and passionate, but constructive and necessary," says Pardini. The discussions revolved around the Details in the lowlands of the European posting of workers directives, but also to the big question: How do you lead as a Left a discussion on a framework agreement, to demonise the EU as a Whole?

round of applause from the FDP

The clashes between Nussbaumer and Pardini were so present that they perceived also in other groups, and even in the Federal Council hearings on the subject were. As Karin Keller-Sutter of Nussbaumer in the course of the Hearings it was asked how you think it is with the protection of Wages, she replied: "Dear Eric, the protection of Wages I'm likely to be more consistent than you!"

The scene was applause for Karin Keller-Sutter. Applause for a liberal, who had just made a SPler funny: In the social democratic group, there is probably not many members survive something like that unscathed. Eric Nussbaumer creates the. "His Position within the party is so Central and stable that he can afford to be. It also has to do with it, that he takes his arguments have a very collegial manner. I don't know anyone who has a Problem with Eric Nussbaumer", says Cédric Wermuth, which is connected to the Basel area is also private.

The role of Eric Nussbaumer in the Federal house was not consolidated as it is today. As the believer in Christ (he is active in the United Methodist Church) moved into the Board in 2007 in the national Council, it took a long time, until he arrived in Bern. The System, the tussles in the group, the fuss – it overwhelmed him, knew it from the Basel area is different. There, he had been a respected County Commissioner and the cantonal President. "It was only the sight of suffering. Like a stray dog, Eric Nussbaumer shuffled through the lobby of the Federal building," it was said once, in a portrait of the "Basler Zeitung". He played up the fact at the time, with his role in the shade, with the Rating of the "SonntagsZeitung" that put him in 2009 on the last rank of all members of Parliament. To participate backbenchers, and preferred playing with the FC of the national Council of football, as the internal power struggles in the party.

everywhere

Until March 2011. As in Fukushima, a nuclear power plant in the air was Nussbaumer on the slopes. He heard the news and said to his wife: Now I have to go home. Nussbaumer had always been power politics, he is a trained electrical engineer, was the long time CEO of an energy co-operative, and now his Moment had come. At home in Frenkendorf BL, he designed a Roadmap for the orderly withdrawal from nuclear energy and it was then the man of the hour, everyone wanted something: the media, parliamentarians, the own party. "In Bern to give at the right Moment full throttle and a lot to work with. Then you will be perceived," he said at the time.

A wanted man: Nussbaumer talks to Fukushima on exit scenarios from the nuclear power. Photo: Keystone

Without Fukushima Nussbaumer would not be today in the Parliament. He was one of the leading forces of the energy revolution, and he is now one of the most influential voices in the Europe debate. In doing so, he also benefits from the weakness of his comrades-in-arms. Of the Nebs, the New European movement Switzerland, is heard in the debate about the framework agreement. Its President, Martin Naef, a colleague of Nussbaumer, from a media perspective, much less present, the former Ambassador and national Council of Tim Guldimann, he also became a major European politician, is submerged in Berlin.

It only Nussbaumer, the debate represents as solitaire in Europe, a Position that is hardly a majority. Him not to bother he says. "We have failed over the years to have a real discussion about Europe. Now is the Moment for it."

it will be Interesting what happens with nut Baumer Position, when the discussion leaves the Federal house, if the first needle stitches of the EU are starting to take effect, if it hurts. Whether the SP-Basis is to reject the framework agreement and then just as determined as the group in the Federal house and the party line? You will see it. Maybe Eric Nussbaumer has the feeling for the right Timing. It wouldn't be the first Time. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 11.01.2019, 11:10 PM