5. Gestion de la COVID-19 en Suisse :
expertise scientifique et démocratie
de consensus en temps de crise
Céline Mavrot
Abstract
This contribution analyses the place of experts during the
COVID-19 crisis management in Switzerland. In this situation,
political authorities strongly emphasised that their decision
relied on the scientific expertise, to an unprecedented extend in
Switzerland. The government set up a double system of expertise:
an independent and consultative scientific task force on the one
hand, and experts from national public agencies on the other hand.
This chapter has three focuses. First, it examines the function of this
system of expertise for the political authorities (responsibility-
sharing and blame avoidance mechanisms). By displaying its col-
laboration with scientific experts, the government gains some
leeway to adopt potentially unpopular measures, and asserts the
need to stand united in the crisis. Second, the chapter analyses
the composition of these two expert panels, as well as their inde-
pendence from political authorities. It shows that while external
experts voiced public criticism against some political decisions,
the administrative experts remained subordinated to the political
hierarchy. Third, the chapter highlights the role of counter-power
that scientific expertise can temporarily play in such a situation.
The executive branch gained substantial power during the crisis,
while legislative and judicial activities were partly suspended. Thus, the chapter highlights the role of expertise in crisis situations
as well as, more generally, its function in democratic systems.