Propaganda and "international observers": how a Swiss far-right politician praises the Belarusian elections*
Propagandists continue to publish statements by "independent international observers" who call the Belarusian elections transparent, free, and in line with international standards. At the same time, an OSCE observer will not attend the elections again due to the untimely invitation by the Belarusian side. On January 26, SB wrote about another international observer who approved the electoral process in Belarus. Propagandists reported that "an independent observer from Switzerland, a member of parliament" Eric Weber, after starting work at polling station No. 37 in Minsk, said that "the elections in Belarus are organized even better than in Switzerland."
"Everything is well organized at the polling stations for the presidential elections in Belarus. People are inspired by today's event. I am also impressed by the fact that music is playing at polling stations, and voters come in a good mood with their families. This is a vivid example of Belarusians being patriots of their homeland."
SB added that Weber noted that "today the European Union and the European Commission are criminal structures that report false information and engage in outright propaganda."
Eric Weber said: "I really like that Belarus pays much attention to family and family values. The situation in Switzerland is completely different. When I speak in parliament against national minorities, they turn off my microphone. Everything is different here. And that makes me happy."
Wikipedia defines Weber as a populist, journalist, and right-wing politician:
"He is currently serving a third term as a member of the Grand Council of Basel-Stadt for his independent party, which is his own political movement with no other members."
Weber was a member of the far-right party and a member of the Grand Council of Basel-Stadt from 1984 to 1992 and again from 2012 to 2016. After attempting to run as a candidate for the Swiss Democrats or the Swiss People's Party in 2002, Weber formed his own group. In 2006, he ran for a seat in the executive body, gaining 7% of the vote. In the 2011 federal elections, Weber's movement received 810 votes or 1.5% of the popular vote in Basel-Stadt. In the 2012 elections in Basel, the party won two seats in the Grand Council.
It is noted that during his life he was repeatedly arrested and convicted in cases related to his political activities.
So, in 2014, he was fined for attempting to rig parliamentary elections. The court found that during one of the campaigns, he urged voters to upload a second set of ballots and vote for him. In addition, in 2024, he was arrested on fraud charges.
In Switzerland, 61-year-old Weber has a reputation as a prominent far-right politician who has created his party to oppose the excessive number of foreigners who seek asylum in Switzerland.