Two men still have a realistic chance of running for the FDP alongside incumbent Carmen Walker Späh. Another has surprisingly withdrawn.
The Liberals are the first party to present possible candidates for the elections in the canton of Zurich in just over a year.
Earlier than all other parties, the FDP is looking for candidates for the upcoming government council elections, in which it is determined to get back the second seat that was lost in 2019. Carmen Walker Späh is set and competes again. A man will run next to her – two candidates are still in the running after the party executive made its recommendation on Wednesday.
Peter Grünenfelder is a career changer.
The FDP delegates have the choice between a “community muni” and a career changer. The latter refers to Peter Grünenfelder. Before his time as Avenir Suisse boss, he was state clerk for the canton of Aargau. Before that he worked in the Zurich administration, among other things as a personal assistant to CVP government councilor Ernst Buschor.
Outside of his home parish Küsnacht, of which he is president, relatively little is known about Markus Ernst. He says: “Government councilor is one of the most exciting jobs there is in the canton of Zurich.” You can move a lot, and a lot has to be moved. Among other things, the Corona crisis has shown that there is “clear room for improvement” in the canton of Zurich when it comes to overcoming the crisis.
Important topics are, for example, the energy supply or digitization, which must be promoted in the sense of being close to the citizen. Ernst sees his qualities as the fact that he has been exercising managerial responsibility for years, has a lot of executive experience thanks to four legislatures as a councilor and mayor, that he is familiar with cantonal issues and that he can find solutions that are suitable for a majority.
Markus Ernst is Küsnacht mayor, he is standing for re-election despite being a candidate for government council.
One problem remains: Ernst is running again this year for the office of Küsnacht mayor. “The timing is not the happiest,” he says, but the problem can be solved: If he is elected, there will be a substitute election. And if not, he will stand up as mayor with the same strength and enthusiasm as before.
The FDP board had actually wanted to recommend three candidates. But Jörg Kündig, mayor of Gossau, has withdrawn voluntarily. This benefits Ernst, who has a similar profile. He says: “I am very aware that my chances of being elected have increased significantly as a result of his withdrawal.”
The decision on the FDP ticket will be made by the delegates on February 8th. Before that, the candidates present themselves to the sections at an internal party roadshow. The government council elections are on February 12, 2023.