The cantonal councilor from Küsnacht, who resigned from the SVP in the dispute, apparently wants to stay in politics. At least that’s what the poster campaign he recently launched suggests.
The not-so-mysterious poster on Stadelhoferstrasse in Zurich.
«Zurich needs Hans-Peter!» Is it a coincidence that the demand appeared shortly before Donald Trump’s “big announcement” in distant Mar-a-Lago on Stadelhoferstrasse? The huge lettering “Who is Hans-Peter?” is of course not difficult to interpret for those familiar with cantonal politics. The figure on the poster does not show such a recognizable profile as that of the former American president. But the outlines are clearly assigned to Canton Councilor Hans-Peter Amrein.
The QR code leads to a page where you can find out that Hans-Peter supports the trade, fights against higher health insurance premiums and against more and more bans. A hand with an outstretched index finger like in the famous poster with Uncle Sam (“I want you”) tells the viewer that Hans-Peter needs him. The associated domain “hans-peter.online” was registered in mid-October by the agency Goal of SVP advertiser Alexander Segert.
Bar for election to government very high
The blue Hans Peter posters have appeared in various districts of the canton, not just in Amrein’s district of Meilen. The Tamedia newspapers, which reported on the campaign on Wednesday, are also speculating that the politician can run for the Zurich government council.
This fits with Amrein’s announcement that more can be learned at a press conference on November 25th. Only three days later, on November 28 at 5 p.m., is the deadline for submitting proposals for the election of the Zurich cantonal government on February 12, 2023.
However, the hurdles for the 64-year-old Amrein would be very high, since all seven members of the executive board are up for re-election. That’s why even large parties like the SP and the FDP will find it difficult to win an additional seat.
It would also be questionable whether the former banker and current business detective could fit into an executive. To describe Amrein as argumentative would be an understatement. He doesn’t mince his words in Parliament, usually attacks the government head-on, and years ago he talked himself into such a fire that the Council President turned off his microphone.
In the meantime he has calmed down a bit. Amrein’s ego is undoubtedly well formed. He hits hard against political opponents, and that includes almost everyone. But unlike Trump, for example, without personal insults.
He also found it difficult to fit into the SVP, for which he was first elected to the cantonal council in 2011. He resigned from the parliamentary group twice, and then left the party completely last May. So it’s possible that Amrein is looking for a way to continue being a member of parliament. That will also be difficult. Twenty years ago there might still have been a chance of winning a seat in a constituency with your own list.
“Hans-Peter” list?
Since the change in 2007 to the double-proportional method according to Pukelsheim, you not only have to achieve a share of 5 percent in at least one constituency. Because the mandates are initially distributed among the parties based on the results throughout the canton, a seat requires a total of around half a percent of the voters.
Amrein could only achieve this if a “Hans-Peter list” was submitted in several or even all constituencies. Nothing is known about this until now. This would have political consequences, since such an offer would primarily cost the SVP votes, because list connections are not permitted. Maybe he’ll find shelter on another list.
The majority of Parliament would probably be relieved if Amrein were rid of it. He is an uncomfortable member, resisted stubbornly, albeit unsuccessfully, against increases in attendance fees and even with advertisements for his right to speak when more reduced debates were introduced; Non-affiliated parties cannot have a say in that. But Amrein is happy to speak up on almost any topic. After all: He is a talker, but not a long talker.