Federal Council spreads misinformation about the pandemic
The Federal Council is spreading misinformation and propaganda about the Covid-19 pandemic. This article critically analyses its communication strategy.
On 27.09.21, the Federal Council presented the public with misinformation, propaganda, and fear-mongering ahead of the vote on the amendments to the Covid-19 Act.
The Federal Council claims: Freedom of travel will be restricted without a Covid certificate: This is false. Travel within the EU and around the world is possible without a certificate — you only need the relevant proof of testing or vaccination. The United Kingdom, for example, has no Covid certificate, and in some US states such proof is even prohibited. The Covid certificate with QR code does not serve public health; it serves to control and mass-surveil the population.
The Federal Council claims: The Covid certificate is necessary for tourism: The opposite is true. Tourism is restricted and hampered by the certificate requirement. The Covid certificate is causing enormous damage to the tourism industry!
The Federal Council claims: Abolishing the Covid certificate would have negative consequences for the hotel and restaurant industry: This is a blatant lie, because the opposite is true. The Covid certificate has demonstrably caused massive revenue losses of 17% for the restaurant industry (cf. TA, 21.09.21), will drive even more businesses into ruin, and destroy thousands more jobs.
The Federal Council claims: A NO vote means the federal government can no longer issue Covid certificates: This is a baseless and coercive threat. The federal government or cantons could of course offer a voluntary certificate for international travel as a service to citizens. Instead, the Federal Council is attempting to blackmail the population using the Covid certificate for travel and claims there is “no Plan B.”
The Federal Council claims: Important financial assistance would become void in the event of a NO vote: This statement is false, as practically all financial assistance expires at the end of 2021 or at the end of March 2022 (the Covid tightening measures remain in effect until then even with a NO vote).
The Federal Council claims: Without the certificate, a lockdown could occur: This is nothing but fear-mongering and intimidation. There is no reason for a lockdown with or without the certificate. Since the vaccine became available, the federal government has had the obligation to roll back and end all coronavirus measures, as stipulated in the Covid-19 Act and as the Federal Council promised on 26 March of this year: «If everyone willing to be vaccinated is vaccinated by July, no more measures will be needed»!
The Federal Council claims: Without the certificate, business closures could occur: This is pure propaganda. In reality, the Covid certificate is leading to bankruptcies, business closures, layoffs, and the loss of thousands of jobs in the hotel, restaurant, and events and culture sectors.
The Federal Council claims: The Covid certificate enables certain events to take place: This is false: For example, the Alba festival in Zurich was banned despite the certificate requirement (thereby discriminating against our Albanian fellow residents). The certificate is medically untenable, because vaccinated individuals can demonstrably still carry and transmit the virus. Since a vaccine is available for all who want one, such restrictions must be lifted and it must once again be possible to hold events without a health pass.
The NO Committee against the dangerous Covid tightening measures advocates for objective information, a fair referendum campaign, and a free Switzerland without compulsory vaccination, mass surveillance, or discrimination.
