Climate activists disrupt Swiss minister's media outing

Climate activists disrupted Federal Councilor Albert Rösti's annual summer outing with journalists in Lucerne, turning the event into a protest.

As Rösti began his speech on the train station square, an activist in a bright rain jacket immediately interrupted, shouting that Rösti's "shitty environmental policy violates human rights." The disruption escalated as a dozen climate activists began blowing whistles and chanting slogans like "Rösti, Rösti, we won't be roasted." The planned "stroll" to the transport museum became a slow-motion protest march.

Rösti, a member of the Swiss People's Party, likely did not envision his summer excursion with the media unfolding this way. These outings, often held during political lulls, are a tradition for Swiss federal councilors to engage with journalists. Former councilors like Pascal Couchepin, Simonetta Sommaruga, and Ueli Maurer have hosted similar events, hiking or sledding while discussing policy.

This year's event in Lucerne highlighted Rösti's focus on the railway system, with plans to invest 36 billion francs over the next 20 years. It also comes as a parliamentary decision to allow new nuclear power plant construction, a success for Rösti, is heading to a public vote after left-green parties initiated a referendum. Last year, Rösti discussed the lost vote on highway expansion and a counter-proposal to the "Blackout Initiative" during a hike.