Federal Council candidate Amaudruz: Criticism of the leadership style of the Geneva SVP politician

Céline Amaudruz, a 47-year-old Geneva-based lawyer and asset manager, has announced her candidacy for the Swiss Federal Council to succeed Guy Parmelin. While she is viewed as a strong contender within her party, recent investigations have highlighted criticisms regarding her leadership style and her intense self-promotion. Amaudruz, who has served in the National Council since 2011, faces scrutiny over her deviations from strict party lines on social issues, despite maintaining high alignment with the Swiss People's Party on economic matters. Her announcement was marked by a public appearance at a sawmill in Bulle, Fribourg, where she addressed a gathering of the national SVP delegation. The candidate’s background places her firmly within Geneva’s elite financial circles. She grew up in a wealthy family of lawyers and attended private schools. Her parents, Dominique and Michel Amaudruz, were prominent business attorneys. In 2021, reports linked them to complex financial structures involving a Russian oligarch, allegedly helping to obscure ownership of a villa on the French Riviera. Michel Amaudruz, who has since died, consistently maintained that he had adhered to the law. The author Marc Guéniat dedicated a chapter of his book on Geneva’s financial sector to Amaudruz, describing her as politically shrewd and instrumental in modernizing the local SVP branch. He noted her deep connections within the city's network of lawyers and wealth managers, an ecosystem that attracts global capital but carries inherent risks. Her political environment includes controversial figures such as former Liberal Democrat National Councillor Charles Poncet. Poncet gained notoriety as the lawyer for Hannibal al-Gadhafi, whose arrest in a Geneva hotel in 2009 triggered a diplomatic crisis. Despite Poncet's contentious reputation, Amaudruz recruited him as an SVP candidate for cantonal elections in 2021, facilitating his return to politics. This association contributes to perceptions of her operating within a specific, high-profile milieu that sometimes clashes with broader party expectations. Critics point to a lack of political tact in certain instances. Media inquiries suggest she engages in intensive lobbying for her own interests. However, her voting record shows strong adherence to the SVP platform on key economic issues. During the autumn session of 2026, she voted to maintain reduced VAT rates for hotels, supported the free trade agreement between EFTA states and Mercosur, and advocated for financing military procurement through the regular federal budget. On migration and security, she supported the expulsion of dual citizens convicted of terrorism or serious crimes and opposed proposals for increased integration of asylum seekers. She also voted to tighten practices regarding Afghan women seeking asylum. Despite this alignment, she occasionally draws criticism from German-speaking SVP members for deviating on socio-political topics. Notable exceptions include her support for same-sex marriage and paternity leave. Data from Smartmonitor indicates her party loyalty stands at 95.9 percent. In the 2023 Smartvote survey, she positioned herself firmly on the right regarding the welfare state, health, and migration. She opposed a sugar tax, sought limits on federal pandemic powers, resisted loosening naturalization requirements, and rejected closer ties with the European Union. She also expressed support for the construction of new nuclear power plants. Personal disclosures have added layers to her public profile. In 2017, during the height of the MeToo movement, she told the press that she had been subjected to inappropriate gestures and assaults by another member of parliament. She declined to name the individual, citing privacy. More recently, she submitted a motion proposing an incentive program for legumes, coupled with protectionist demands for tariffs on imported beans. The decision to run for office while raising two young children has generated discussion in media circles. For the SVP, Amaudruz represents a stabilizing force in the Federal Council. Her combination of legal expertise, financial industry experience, and consistent voting record makes her a distinct candidate. As the campaign progresses, attention will likely remain focused on how she navigates the tension between her elite Geneva background and the party's base expectations. The upcoming election will determine whether voters accept her profile as a suitable successor to Parmelin.