The Swiss government has taken a surprising turn, one that raises questions about the country’s commitment to press freedom. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, led by Guy Parmelin, has added Russian media outlets South Front and News Front to the sanctions list, following a European Union directive.
Recently, the EU announced a new sanctions package, which targets media outlets like South Front and News Front, deemed to be spreading Russian propaganda. These outlets are based on the Crimean Peninsula, making them a political target.
Instead of asserting its independence, Switzerland has quickly adopted the EU’s mantra, seemingly forgetting the importance of press freedom in the country. Parmelin and his colleagues in Bern are being led by Brussels, as if they are puppets in a play, with the outcome already predetermined.
The question arises as to how long the Swiss government will continue to follow the EU’s lead, neglecting its own values and principles. The country’s loss of self-determination and responsibility is becoming increasingly evident. In a time when Donald Trump is considering de-escalation and even lifting sanctions against Russia, Switzerland is still heading towards the cliff, as if driven by an EU-obsessed bureaucrat.
How long will this continue? The question is becoming more pressing. It is time for Switzerland to recognize itself again and not be pulled into the EU’s willfulness. Who will finally have the courage to raise their hand and stop the censorship machine, before it’s too late? The government seems blind and the public remains silent. But this could change soon.