Guitarist turned history teacher, Stéphane Ganzer will be the new PLR State Councilor in Valais

Published on January 21, 2025 at 07:01. / Modified on January 21, 2025 at 07:03.

4 mins. reading

Behind him, the bunches of grapes and the sun which make up the new flag of Noble-Contrée, on the heights of Sierre. After campaigning for the merger, Stéphane Ganzer chairs this new commune of 5,000 inhabitants scattered between Miège, Venthône and Veyras. Victorious in a primary against the leader of his party’s group in parliament, the liberal-radical should soon enter the Valais Council of State. He will replace Frédéric Favre, who will now work on Swiss Olympic ambitions. The candidate announces a budget of just over 150,000 francs and insists: “I am going to put resources and all my energy into a real campaign, because the election has not been done, and the final ranking counts.”

Since the 1990s, Valais government elections have rarely been so closely contested. Six candidates will share five seats. The green Emmanuel Revaz will have great difficulty shaking up the established order. In 2021, the PDC, which became The Center, lost its absolute majority for the first time. From now on, all the major parties in the canton are represented. Elected to the Grand Council in 2009, and a long-time member of the management commission, Stéphane Ganzer has closely observed the affairs that have torn Valais apart in recent years. For him, “this more stable and peaceful political life seems preferable to me for the common interest”.

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