The first Showdown, in the case of the SRF radio Studio

The anger was gross, as, the SRG decided in September to relocate 170 Radio Stations from Bern to Zurich, the headquarters of the SRG in Leutschenbach. An example was the gone campaign of the opposition. Even the Zurich cantonal councillor Jacqueline Fehr (SP), which should welcome the step from the Zurich point of view, spoke in a video post.

The SRG remained hard. And so four of the party President and a Vice-President submitted a few weeks later, five of the same parliamentary initiatives, with the aim that the site in question in the law. The Radio is supposed to stay in Bern, television in Zurich. The same for the Western part of Switzerland, where the SRG restructuring, and between Geneva and Lausanne jobs want to move. Regula Rytz (Green), and Albert Rösti (SVP), Gerhard Pfister (CVP) and Martin Landolt (BDP), as well as SP-Vice President of Beat Jans want to prevent that. The councillor Beat Vonlanthen (CVP, FR) has submitted the same Initiative. In view of this political-width, one might think that the business almost without discussion by the instances.

ditches by the parties

But it's not that easy. On Monday and Tuesday, the telecommunications Commission of the national Council (KVF-N) advises the initiatives. Ask members of the Commission show that the majority of relationships are scarce. The reason is that The parties are divided, in the SVP, the SP and the CVP there are different opinions.

Controversial relocation: SRG-General Director Gilles Marchand talks to the controversial move. Video: SDA

the Grisons CVP-Nationalrat Martin Candinas rejects, for example, the motions, although his party President Gerhard Pfister has contributed to it. The reason: "It's a consistent policy. We want the SRG is independent, journalistically and economically. So you need to go with this principle, and not because of an unpleasant decision to break." Other CVP-parliamentarians to see the similar. The party is close to the SRG tends to be, but there is a SRG-critical minority, of which the President of Pfister.

"economic freedom"

SVP national Council Thomas Hurter (SH) has not yet reached a decision. He was open, he says. Otherwise, it would make the discussions in the Commission and all hearings no sense. The Commission shall hear the initiator, present, the Federal office for communications (Ofcom) will be. Hurter but that he rejects the advances tend to be. He tend to leave the services of the SRG SSR is the business of freedom, he says. You should not interfere to set into the business. The SVP Delegation decides on Monday morning, as they positioned themselves.

the fact is that For the 150 jobs out of the radio Studio, Bern, Zurich.Regula Rytz, President, Green

Commission President, Edith Graf-Litscher (SP) is also sceptical: It is the question as to whether in respect of the production sites of the SRG legislative action was required, and whether the performance of the SRG provides for this. Her party colleague Matthias Aebischer on the other hand, he is also a member of the Commission, is in favour of initiatives. The decision of the SRG from political Considerations is wrong, he says. That is why the policy is required.

location or state political issue?

Meanwhile, the SSR lobby. In a paper submitted to this newspaper and have to get the members of the Commission, argued the prohibition of the SRG against the Reins: federalism was less a question of locations, but the attitude is there, for example. Or: The organizational freedom and political independence of the SRG, it is important to preserve. Or: The SRG would need to save, you will have to do better in infrastructure than in places of work. The expected saving effect, however, is doubted by the reins opponents.

It'll probably be a close decision, says Green-President Regula Rytz, one of the initiators. "Because the SRG lobby intensively and is with two arguments: The constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press also includes the freedom of Association. And If the centralization is not successful, would have to be dismantled." These arguments could counter, however, said Rytz. In the first point, the SRG speak of themselves, as they write on their Website, the Federal government's plan to give her activities, organization, and financing Substantially. With regards to the Save, could identify the initiators that the financial savings through the centralisation to be low. "The fact is that For the 150 jobs out of the radio Studio, Bern, Zurich. They are not included in the space program of leutschenbach," says Rytz. This discussion is not a location question, but a political question: "The public Service differs from private media due to the wide regional anchoring and stand-alone editors. It says So in the law and the concession. It was promised in the No-vote campaign. So it is to be lived."

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 11.01.2019, 15:18 PM