Scandal: Lorenz Hess once again conceals mandate
Serial office-collector and Center Party politician Lorenz Hess has once again failed to declare a new position.
Lorenz Hess is one of the parliamentary members with the most secondary mandates.
According to research by Lobbywatch, he holds a dozen mandates in the healthcare sector. His salary — 166’750 francs in 2023 — is said to be the compensation for his mandate as Chairman of the Board of the Visana Group as a whole.
Among other things, he earns money in addition to his compensation as a parliamentarian, the average National Councillor today receiving 132’500 francs per year, including as President of the Information Group for Soft Drinks. This lobby organisation representing Rivella, Red Bull and Coca-Cola in Switzerland campaigns against stricter regulation of sugary drinks. He is a member of the advisory board of Gastro Suisse, Zurich, and much more.
As with hobby hunting, quantity rather than quality appears to take priority.
Citizens have a right to information about the mandates of their representative in the Federal Palace. It is important to ensure transparency.
Despite his high income, he approaches the public to solicit donations for himself. “I need your support,” his website states. «Without you, it cannot work: My election campaign for the Council of States and National Council needs supporters.»
As early as 2018, the Beobachter wrote: «In total, Hess failed to declare twelve activities as required. These include his own PR and consulting firm, Hess Advisum GmbH. Why Hess discloses only nine out of 21 activities remains his secret.»
Both hobby hunting and the healthcare sector are in a serious state of imbalance. The IG Wild beim Wild finds this entirely unsurprising. Lorenz Hess is also President of the Bernese Hunters’ Association.
It is reassuring that there are not only hunting critics who, with their own resources, keep a close eye on this hobby hunter.
