Swiss Council of States sees heated clash over Bilaterals III, with Rieder likening deal to colonial pact
In the Ständerat, members debated the Bilaterals III EU package, and Mitte senator Beat Rieder sparked controversy by calling the agreement a "colonial treaty."
The first day of debate on the Bilaterals III in the Swiss Council of States was marked by strong scepticism. Mitte representative Beat Rieder delivered a provocative speech, comparing the EU deal to a colonial contract. Within the Mitte party, opinions on the EU package diverged sharply, fueling a broader partisan clash.
Why it matters
The debate reveals deep political divisions in Switzerland over its future ties with the EU.
In this story
Bilaterals IIIEU packagecolonial treatySwiss Council of Statespolitical debate
