Regardless of the SVP's rhetoric, rural resentment exists

Le Regard Libre N° 78 - Jonas Follonier

SVP president Marco Chiesa's political declaration of war in his speech on 1^er August drew criticism from all the other parties and most of the media. It has to be said that the man from Ticino didn't pull any punches:

«The politics of left-wing cities is the politics of parasites. They are world champions at hoarding and spending money that others have earned. Like parasites, they live off others. Worse still, they have become the champions of social parasites, bringing other people en masse to our country to live off the Swiss. We declare war on this sanctimonious, condescending left.»

The tone is not unlike that of opponents in France of the policies of Socialist Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris and candidate for the French presidency. Spending on social and cultural projects, anti-motorist measures - these do not go down well with a section of the population, made up of people from all walks of life, but who have one thing in common: they do not approve of this policy. In the countryside, these people are relatively numerous. The UDC has chosen to make them its first voters, by pitting them against the «bobos», the «caviar left»:

«The caviar left and the urban green moralists want to tell everyone else in the country how to think and live. They regard the rural population with contempt and condescension, while enjoying the benefits of the countryside, for example through financial equalization.»

This national holiday speech can be criticized for accentuating divisions on a day when unifying words should take precedence. Especially since the SVP prides itself on being the only truly patriotic party. As for the financial equalization argument, it's more than debatable. But there's more to it than that. In fact, it heralded the party's new strategy, confirmed, for example, by Genevan National Councillor Yves Nidegger in his post «La gauche caviar: bailli du peuple suisse» (The caviar left: bailiwick of the Swiss people) published in the SVP's newspaper. Outspoken.

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The SVP has seized on a real phenomenon: the urban-rural divide. Is it stronger than choosing sides? Perhaps it is. But it's at least thematizing it. And there's nothing surprising about a political tactic that avoids nuance, especially on the part of this party, which moreover assumes its generalizations.

Criticizing the SVP for seizing on a geographical, sociological and political divide is sterile. Rather, it's important to remember that in recent years, several votes have shown that cities wish to impose constraints on environmental grounds, which the regions concerned - the countryside - do not view favorably. The rejection of the CO₂ by the campaigns and votes of the PLR electorate against their party has served as a cold shower for those who thought the case was closed. Add to this the fact that the affluent, urban left targeted by the SVP is not renowned for its tolerance of opposing views on societal issues, and we have to admit this: those who present themselves as such are not necessarily unifying. So let's build instead of criticize.

Write to the author: jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com

Drawing: © Nathanaël Schmid for Le Regard Libre