Albert Rösti

Following the 2024 rejection, Rösti put several routes or alternatives resembling the rejected projects back under consideration. Opponents accused him of circumventing the popular verdict and prioritising roads over rail.

State of the evidence

Planning and government announcements documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rösti pushed through a counterproposal lifting the ban on new nuclear power stations adopted in 2017. Colleagues and opponents criticised the costly signal, arguing that it would divert capital and attention from renewables.

State of the evidence

Government counterproposal and parliamentary votes documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility as Energy Minister

After the clear rejection of the initiative to halve the licence fee, Rösti maintained plans for savings and restrictions affecting SRG. Trade unions and public broadcasting advocates accused him of disregarding the popular verdict.

State of the evidence

Statements and political decisions documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility as Media Minister

Pilots aged over 60 accused Rösti of involvement in administrative discrimination and covering up failings by his staff. They announced a complaint alleging abuse of authority.

State of the evidence

Criminal complaint announced; allegations not adjudicated

Legal status — source text

Report under consideration; no guilt established

Attribution

Personal involvement alleged and disputed

Rösti's department lowered a threshold allowing more companies to be exempted from the CO2 levy and supported a reorientation of the measure. The left accused him of dismantling the most effective climate instrument.

State of the evidence

Regulatory change and political criticism documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Rösti paved the way for preventive culling of a large proportion of Swiss wolf packs. NGOs described the policy as a massacre and challenged its compliance with species protection and the popular will.

State of the evidence

Regulatory decision and reactions documented

Legal status — source text

Administrative litigation over certain culls; no personal criminal wrongdoing

Attribution

Direct responsibility as Environment Minister

Rösti defended six motorway projects by citing benefits for congestion and the environment which associations described as misleading. Voters rejected the package in November 2024.

State of the evidence

Referendum campaign and public fact-checks documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility as Transport Minister

Rösti spoke favourably about Donald Trump shortly before the US election, prompting accusations of partisan interference and a lack of restraint by a Federal Councillor.

State of the evidence

Public statements documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rösti's candidacy for the Federal Council prompted an opposition campaign because of his former paid positions in the oil and automotive sectors, when he was due to oversee the environment, energy and transport.

State of the evidence

Positions and public functions documented

Legal status — source text

No personal judicial proceedings

Attribution

Direct involvement as former president of Swissoil and Auto-Suisse before joining the government

Rösti opposed several climate policy measures, including the CO2 Act, and was portrayed by environmental organisations as a key figure in slowing the energy transition.

State of the evidence

Political positions and campaigns documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Direct involvement as SVP president and parliamentarian