Government elections in Zurich: Hans-Peter Amrein wants transparency

The cantonal council from Küsnacht, which definitely turned its back on the SVP in the spring, wants to go into government and create more transparency there.

Hans-Peter Amrein (right) in March 2019 in the cantonal election center next to the then SVP President Konrad Langhart, who later switched to the center. In the background FDP party president Jakob Bösch.

Christoph Ruckstuhl / NZZ

Now the cat, whose color could no longer surprise, is out of the bag: Hans-Peter Amrein, who announced his ambitions with “Hans-Peter posters”, is running for election to the Zurich government council. The eccentric politician chose a fairly conventional slogan: “Independent – open – honest – direct”.

Amrein was first elected to the cantonal council in the district of Meilen for the SVP in 2011. The 64-year-old owner of an agency for “investigations into suspected economic crimes” fell out with his parliamentary group several times and left the party last May.

According to Amrein, the canton of Zurich has come through the past crises well. But he fears that the current international crises are jeopardizing the canton’s finances and job security. In addition, the red-green majority in the cantonal council is increasingly intervening in people’s everyday lives. He wanted to stop the rampant prohibition policy.

50 percent chance of election?

At a media conference in Zurich, Amrein mentioned the capping of healthcare costs, a climate strategy based on research and development and the acceleration of digitization as further priorities. The consumption of electricity and water should not be rationed, the growth of the administration should not be greater than that of the population.

Amrein spoke in detail about the strong population growth in the canton of Zurich and the consequences: traffic jams on the streets, lack of space in public transport, skyrocketing rental costs. However, the demand for curbing immigration is missing in his catalogue. He does not do national politics, but wants to make transparent politics in the canton of Zurich, he said when asked.

How does Amrein rate his chances? He put it at 50 percent. With all seven of the previous members of the government standing again, that’s a tall order. Does he want to team up with security director Mario Fehr, who is also non-party? He offered his support to Fehr months ago. Now he waits. It probably won’t come to that: Amrein would benefit far more from such an alliance than Fehr.

When asked how much he was investing in his campaign, Amrein said it was CHF 250,000 so far. A high six-digit sum is needed for a successful election campaign. He also hopes for modest donations.

Social Democratic role models

Amrein is yet to form a support committee. He did not want to explain who is eligible. Bruno Sauter, the former head of the cantonal office for economy and labor and liberal mayor of Maur, who followed the press conference, did not want to reveal whether he supported Amrein.

With Peter Grünenfelder, a liberal is already running, who almost inevitably has to mend the stuff of the incumbent government. Another critic from their own camp provides more potential for disruption and is certainly not helpful for the commoners. At best, he brings a little spice to an election campaign that promises little excitement.

Perhaps the categories left and right are outdated. Hans-Peter Amrein named three deceased social democrats as role models: Federal Councilor Otto Stich, Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and the Geneva philosopher Jeanne Hersch. And how does he see SP government councilor Jacqueline Fehr? Amrein replied that she was not a role model, but the most effective politician because she was one hundred percent committed to her party. He wants to do 100 percent for the citizens.

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