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Alban Rudaj (38) was sure he had no chance. That his name would be a problem. But on April 25, 2021, 387 ballots with his name ended up in the ballot box. The Egerkings had elected Alban Rudaj to the city council. He, who had only received the Swiss passport five years earlier.
Today Rudaj says: “The elections have also reduced the prejudices on my side: most of the Swiss want us to be part of this society.”
Almost nothing but rejections
Alban Rudaj is a member of the FDP, City Council, Swiss and Kosovo. He came to Switzerland at the age of nine, did not speak a word of German and had to repeat the lesson. When looking for an internship, he sent 50 applications and received 49 rejections. But Rudaj worked his way up, is now a development engineer and as a city councilor helps plan the construction of the new school his son will one day attend.
Alban Rudaj is in good company in Egerkingen SO. Nowhere else is the share of Kosovars in the total population higher: 9.3 percent of all residents of Egerkingen have a Kosovar passport, according to figures from the Federal Bureau of Statistics.
One of them is Lulzim Krasniqi (38). He came to Switzerland as a child, now runs his own insurance company and says: “I feel at home here, even though I don’t feel Swiss.” Or Hana Demiri (41), who had to look for a job at the age of 17 with virtually no knowledge of German. Today she runs a daycare center.
Invisible dual citizens
In reality, the proportion of people with Kosovar roots in Egerkingen is probably even higher. Like Rudaj, many residents have dual Kosovo-Swiss nationality and only appear in the statistics as Swiss.
The fact that Rudaj is now a municipal councilor is partly due to municipal chairman Johanna Bartholdi (72). When Rudaj naturalized at age 30, she asked if he could imagine becoming involved in the community. Like she always does. “Of course I said yes,” says Rudaj with a laugh, “I wanted to be naturalized.”
integrate foreigners
But Bartholdi did not forget the promise. Before the next municipal elections, she contacted Rudaj: does he not want to run? “We have a share of foreigners of 36 percent and many naturalized people,” the mayor explains her approach. “It is important that these people are also represented.” In addition, role models are needed to get the foreign communities on board, says the FDP politician. “That promotes integration.”
Switzerland and its Kosovars: it’s a turbulent history. In the 1970s and 1980s, the then inhabitants of Yugoslavia were welcome as guest workers – but only if that was the case. When in the 1990s some seasonal workers took their families to catch up and others left their homeland due to mounting tensions, they were not exactly welcomed in Switzerland with open arms.
SVP advertising against Kosovars
The “Jugos” are violent, running through the streets and preying on local women, according to the tenor. In 2008, the SVP submitted their deportation initiative, which was later accepted by the people. After the violent crime of a Kosovar, the party ran an advertisement in 2011 with the line “Kosovars slash Swiss”.
Against this background, it seems almost ironic that Egerkingen is so popular with Kosovars. After all, it was the Egerking Commission led by SVP land council member Walter Wobmann (65) that launched the minaret initiative – yet another bill aimed at foreigners.
Origin no problem
“The campaigns have led to a bad image of the Kosovars,” says Rudaj. “But we personally did not feel attracted to such initiatives. We don’t identify with criminals.” Rudaj prefers to talk about what has happened since then. A Kosovar origin is no longer a problem when looking for an internship: “The young people write a few applications – and get a job.”
In general, the negative coverage of the Kosovars has decreased, says Rudaj. “It’s like with the Italians: you don’t see them as strangers anymore.” 15 years ago he was often asked about his origins. “Today it’s often not a problem.” Kosovars are now active in all sectors and professions: “As an entrepreneur, doctor, engineer.”
New competition
However, sometimes this success causes envy. Because the same Kosovars whose parents used to build houses for Switzerland are now having houses built themselves.
“Some Swiss complain that their children are not getting enough: they no longer have the opportunity to buy a house,” said Mayor Bartholdi. But the Kosovars are also more willing to buy an old house in which they still have to invest a lot. Or they do it like Alban Rudaj and his brother – and join forces.
Rudaj and his brother bought a piece of land together and had their two houses built there. Very Swiss, on the balcony hangs a sign with the name of his youngest son.
Only German on the playground
According to Johanna Bartholdi, there are no problems integrating the many foreigners. And when she finds one, she quickly grabs it. In 2016, for example, an ordinance from the municipality of Egerking caused a stir, according to which children must also speak German on the playground.
“The teachers were shocked, but the parents liked it,” says Bartholdi. Previously, Swiss children had felt left out because they did not speak Albanian. “Of course you can’t.”
“Swiss values apply here”
Alban Rudaj has no problem with that. On the contrary, he thinks: “Everyone who comes here must integrate.” That does not mean that you should renounce your traditions. “But Swiss values apply in Switzerland.” He sees his election to the city council as proof that the Kosovars have arrived in Switzerland. As a child, he went with his parents to the community center to collect his residence permit. “Now I’m on the city council myself.”
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
