Center President Gerhard Pfister will leave office next summer, he announced on Monday in Bern during the party’s traditional Epiphany meeting. His successor will be designated in June at the delegates’ assembly in Bienne.
It is the right time for the party and for myself to hand over the baton next summer, Gerhard Pfister told the media. 2025 is a year of transition, according to the Zug national councilor. Only in the fall will preparations for the next elections begin.
In addition, the Center will also complete work on the new 2033 strategy this summer. The current one is focused on 2025. That is why it was clear to the 62-year-old that he had to decide this year whether to wanted to remain president of the party or not. He made his decision during fall break.
Reto Nause maybe interested
The party will elect Gerhard Pfister’s successor on June 28, during a meeting of delegates in Biel. Bernese national councilor Reto Nause, 53, has already expressed an interest in taking over the role.
However, he added that he still needed a little time before making a decision. As a Bernese, Reto Nause believes that it could be a link between German-speaking Switzerland and French-speaking Switzerland.
Also questioned, Geneva national councilor Vincent Maitre indicated that he had not yet thought about it.
President for almost 9 years
Gerhard Pfister has been president of the Center since spring 2016. He succeeded the current Valais state councilor and former national councilor Christophe Darbellay.
In a press release addressed Monday to the party base, the Zougois writes that the Center’s result in the 2023 elections, with 14.1% electoral share and for the first time more seats in the National Council than the PLR, is “a important step which shows that our course is the right one”.
Gerhard Pfister said he was “particularly proud” of “the clear positioning of his party at the center of the political spectrum: with themes such as curbing health costs, initiatives for equity and a constructive European policy, we we have shown what a policy aimed at solutions looks like,” he said.
With its 2025 strategy, the Center has “achieved something historic”, affirms the Zougois in his letter to the party base: “the successful merger of the PDC and the PBD, the stabilization and extension of our structures as well as than the conquest of new layers of voters”. “It’s the right time to make way for the new generation,” he said.
Future plans
Asked about his future plans, Gerhard Pfister said he would continue to focus on the party presidency over the next six months. He will then remain Zug national councilor. He wants to stay in politics and will look for new tasks, he said.
Asked whether a candidacy for the Federal Council was possible for him, he replied that he was used to answering questions when they arose. For the moment, it is not posed.
response
