Bad election result for Green Council President

Matthias Probst catches the eye. While other members of parliament from the city of Zurich sometimes come to the council meetings in a suit and tie or with a blouse and jacket, the green man remains true to his style: T-shirt, hoodie, baggy jeans. He often caused shaking heads among his colleagues. But he himself says: “I see myself as a representative of the people, and that’s exactly how I sit in parliament.”

In this year of office, Probst is not only sitting on the council as a representative of the people. He has been Zurich’s highest since Wednesday. When Parliament was re-established, he was elected President of the Municipal Council. However, with the worst result in decades.

He received only 73 yes votes from 121 ballot papers. The last time an elected Council President received so little encouragement was 70 years ago. This is shown by a look at the election results since 1881. If you ask around in the council, you will see that Probst is particularly opposed to the FDP and the SVP. Both parties have voted against the longtime Green MP. Since the election is secret, no one wants to be quoted by name. However, it can be learned on the quiet that the poor election result has mainly to do with Probst’s personality, which is judged to be unworthy of the high office.

“I’m probably a bit overdressed”

Despite everything, the newly elected leader of Zurich is beaming when – for once – he appears in front of the lectern wearing a black shirt and a red bow tie. He says: “With a view to the city council, I’m probably a bit overdressed.” His new style of clothing is an attempt to build bridges – also on the right side. After all, he wanted to represent everyone in the city of Zurich as president of the municipal council.

Recently, Probst saw things differently. Compared to the “Daily newspaper of the city of Zurich» he said: «No, I will not disguise myself for this office. I need to know how the democratic constitutional state works, not how to tie a tie.”

Matthias Probst should know how local politics works in the largest city in Switzerland. He has been a member of this Parliament since 2006. Elected to the council as a young green man, he attracted attention with striking votes. His best-known statement has almost made it into a dictum within the city of Zurich: “Only a dead parking space is a good parking space.” Today, Probst would no longer put it as drastically as he says. Rather, the 39-year-old sees himself as someone who would rather seek consensus than provocation.

During his acceptance speech for the election, Probst says: “Twenty years ago I would have laughed out loud if someone had told me that I would one day be president of the municipal council.” In these uncertain times, however, he is aware of the importance of the task. “Democracies are threatened in rows. And I’m no longer sure if everything I thought as a convinced pacifist is correct.” Nevertheless, Probst insisted on attaching a pace flag to the lectern with adhesive tape.

Despite all the bridge-building rhetoric, little has changed in Probst’s political stance. This also applies to his attitude towards urban traffic. In the run-up to this year’s elections he said so: “I think it’s time that we leave the streets to the bikes and build small lanes for the cars on the sidelines.”

Passionate cyclist and cooperative member

Another political hobbyhorse of the independent environmental consultant is housing policy. Probst, who lives in a large shared flat in the “More than Living” cooperative housing estate on the Hunziker site in Zurich 11, wants to help people who can no longer afford Zurich. A social mix is ​​extremely important for urban development – and the balance in society.

Probst is not a monothematic politician. He is available for different votes. Whether it’s cannabis legalization, flight shame or Schwamendinger shooting ranges, the Greens always have something to say. Or he takes the commuter newspaper “20 Minuten” with him on a bike tour to report on the dangers of tram tracks.

But he never wears a helmet himself. He also doesn’t think much of campaigns that call for this. The reason: cyclists with helmets would often ride more carelessly and would have a higher probability of getting into an accident.

It is uncertain whether the highest city of Zurich will regain the favor of the right side of the council during his term of office. On the other hand, Probst’s attitude towards the municipal council is clear: “This parliament is not a puppet show,” says the newly elected president. “Even if it sometimes seems so.”