Ems boss Magdalena Martullo-Blocher (52) shows her human side in the face of the Ukraine war. The SVP politician says in an interview with the “Tages-Anzeiger»: «We have to take in the refugees.» There is no upper limit for those in need of protection in Switzerland. Even if 300,000 refugees come. “There are no borders in the humanitarian field. As long as the life and limb of the refugees from Ukraine are in danger, we must take them in. We can do that too. We don’t know when and how they can go back,” she says.
It would be more difficult if the refugees stayed longer than a year. “If the return is safe and reasonable, we can offer support and also participate in the reconstruction with development aid. Until then, we shouldn’t underestimate it: we’ve never had so many women and children flocking to us,” says the SVP politician.
“People in need of protection must be protected”
You have to be unconventional. Specifically: “We cannot treat these children and young people in the same way as previous economic refugees, who are mostly young men. Those in need of protection must also be protected,” continued Martullo-Blocher. Ems-Chemie has rented apartments in the Czech Republic that are being made available to Ukrainian families.
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Is it going out of business in Russia like hundreds of other companies are doing? “We only have two small companies in Russia, each with 30 employees – we have no activities in Belarus and Ukraine. Business in Russia has collapsed, »says Martullo-Blocher to the «Tages-Anzeiger». One thing is clear: you will not leave your companies to the Russian state.
“The killing must stop”
She has hope that Switzerland will act as a mediator in the armed conflict. “The most important thing is that the bombing, the killing, the suffering stops,” she says. It is crucial that both sides can save face in peace talks. “Switzerland is not mediating because of the sanctions, Turkey and Israel are trying to do that. Switzerland would probably be the better mediator.” (pbe)