Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Le Temps, the main newspaper for intellectuals in French-speaking Switzerland, is calling for reforms to the way the Swiss Federal Council works, in the wake of a series of international crises.

Le Temps is harshly critical Wednesday morning 10 February in an editorial that calls for the whole “collegial” approach to government to be re-thought. The Swiss government consists of seven federal councilors from five parties, approved by Parliament, who work behind closed doors. They reach decisions that are then supported publicly by the group, which speaks with one voice.

But Le Temps argues that the group has been too much influenced by the members’ parties since the days when Christoph Blocher ruled the right-wing UDC, and that it is increasingly difficult for the Council to make decisions quickly, after adequate reflection. The councilors are also overloaded with work as ministers in charge of government offices, departments and ministries, says the Geneva-based newspaper. In a related article Le Temps points to the slowness of the council in making decisions about banks and double taxation agreements, but most importantly a lack of clear communication and strategy as evidence that reform is needed.

Thomas Held, director of the think tank Avenir Suisse, says in an interview that is part of Le Temps’s package of articles that the government is being overtaken by events and is not guiding reactions as it should, as a result.

Arguments in favour of reform or at least greater accountability are coming from other parts of the Swiss political world, as well. RSR, public radio, Tuesday 9 February published a report saying that the Federal Council decided not to keep a written record of its discussions about UBS, held in secret, in order to avoid leaks. It quotes Yves Perrin, a UDC politician, as saying this is unacceptable and that he wants to see a parliamentary inquiry.

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