Viola Amherd

Amherd had guaranteed a price of approximately six billion. After her departure, Washington demanded more than an additional billion and referred to a misunderstanding, despite warnings from the Swiss Federal Audit Office.

State of the evidence

Official dispute with the United States and announced additional costs

Legal status — source text

No conviction; political responsibility debated

Attribution

Direct responsibility for the presentation of the contract during her tenure

A 2019 report of potentially fraudulent transactions at RUAG was not handled properly. In 2026, a Council of States committee described government oversight under Amherd as seriously deficient.

State of the evidence

Reports by the Swiss Federal Audit Office and the parliamentary committee

Legal status — source text

Proceedings targeting former executives; no personal guilt of Amherd established

Attribution

Institutional responsibility for oversight considered inadequate

The armed forces had to postpone payments, and several major IT and defence procurement projects were classified as critical. Amherd was accused of simultaneously promising accelerated rearmament and a balanced budget.

State of the evidence

Oversight reports and budget figures documented

Legal status — source text

No personal criminal proceedings

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as head of the DDPS

Amherd committed Switzerland to European Sky Shield, a German-led initiative linked to NATO interoperability. Critics on both the left and right denounced closer alignment without prior parliamentary debate.

State of the evidence

Declaration of intent and public positions documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

Amherd supported easing restrictions to allow third countries to re-export Swiss military equipment to Ukraine. Advocates of strict neutrality accused her of eroding Swiss doctrine.

State of the evidence

Public position documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

The choice of the F-35 was challenged over the assessment criteria, actual costs and aircraft suitability for Swiss needs. Opponents suspected that the selection process had been biased towards the American aircraft.

State of the evidence

Procurement procedure and public assessments documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility as Defence Minister

Amherd signed the contract before an initiative specifically opposing the F-35 could be put to a vote, rendering its objective moot. Its organisers denounced the move as circumventing direct democracy.

State of the evidence

Signing and timetable of the initiative documented

Legal status — source text

Lawful political decision; no criminal proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

Gymnasts reported humiliation, psychological pressure and harsh training methods at Magglingen. Parliament demanded answers from Amherd about oversight of elite sport funded by the Confederation.

State of the evidence

Multiple testimonies and parliamentary intervention documented

Legal status — source text

Administrative reforms; no personal criminal wrongdoing by Amherd

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as Sports Minister

Revelations of espionage through Crypto AG exposed failings in intelligence oversight. Amherd parted company with director Jean-Philippe Gaudin following disagreements over the handling of the affair and the information provided to the government.

State of the evidence

Historical affair and termination of contract documented

Legal status — source text

No personal criminal proceedings against Amherd

In May 2019, Viola Amherd and her sisters were ordered by a civil court at first instance to repay more than 250,000 francs to Alpiq for rent deemed excessive. They appealed, before a settlement ended the dispute with a partial payment whose amount remained confidential.

State of the evidence

First-instance civil judgment and subsequent out-of-court settlement documented

Legal status — source text

First-instance civil judgment challenged on appeal; out-of-court settlement involving a partial payment; no criminal proceedings

Attribution

Direct involvement as co-heir