Esther Friedli: Wolf Policy and Environmental Ratings
St. Gallen Council of States member Esther Friedli (SVP) repeatedly attracts negative attention for her positions on environmental and agricultural issues.
On 25 September 2025, the Council of States voted 33 to 10, with one abstention, in favour of a motion by Esther Friedli.
This provides that wolves for which a culling permit has been issued may in future also be killed in hunting reserve areas. Proponents argue in favour of protecting livestock and more effective regulation of the wolf population. Critics fear a weakening of protected areas and warn of negative consequences for biodiversity.
Several environmental organisations publish annual so-called “environmental ratings” that evaluate the voting behaviour of members of parliament. According to one such rating, Friedli voted in favour of environmentally friendly positions in relevant proposals an average of approximately 4% of the time, while many other members of parliament achieved significantly higher scores. Her actions are frequently classified by nature conservation organisations as ecologically unsound. These opposing stances are evident across all subject areas, from climate to species and nature conservation.
In the area of species protection, Friedli sees no need to withdraw pesticides that are harmful to waterways from circulation. Funding for herd protection against wolves is not to be increased. Nor does Friedli wish to take action against the over-fertilisation of the landscape and waterways.
The SVP figurehead's claim that farmers are the true greens cannot, in any case, be substantiated on the basis of her voting record.
In autumn 2023, Friedli made headlines due to an incident at SC Brühl in St. Gallen. At a football match shortly before the elections, she distributed free sausages and beer. Critics saw this as a problematic conflation of electioneering and a club event.
Friedli's positions stand as a prime example of an incompetent political line that prioritises the economic interests of livestock exploitation and in doing so comes into conflict with ecological concerns.
In 2024, approximately 86 million livestock were slaughtered in Switzerland — that is Esther Friedli's focus and commitment.
The upper chamber today also adopted a proposal by Pascal Broulis (FDP/VD) to kill “problem wolves.” Even if they belong to a pack, the latter should be allowed to be shot if they cause significant damage to livestock or endanger people.
Both motions were adopted with the support of the SVP, the FDP and the Centre party, against the resistance of the Red-Green bloc. The Federal Council had opposed tightening the regulation of wolf hunting laws.
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