Jon Pult explains why he wants to run for the Federal Council: “I want to represent the younger generation”

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Now there are four SP men who have officially entered the race to succeed Alain Berset (51). On Monday, national councilor Jon Pult (38) announced his interest in the Federal Council office. In the Blick interview, the Graubünden resident explains why he wants to join the Swiss government.

Blick: What makes you ideal as a federal councilor, Mr. Pult?
Jon Pult: I want to be the representative of a younger generation. I bring political and professional experience. I am the representative of diversity, I carry three languages ​​within me. I believe I can do it, I believe I can do something good for the country, and that’s why I’m running for office now. If it doesn’t work, that’s okay too.

Do you see yourself as German-Swiss or Latin?
I spoke Italian with my mother and Romansh with my father. At school almost exclusively German. My main working language today is German, but I dream of being trilingual.

You have only been in parliament for four years. So you don’t have much experience in Federal Bern.
I can’t explain that away. I advocate giving myself a chance. I want to represent the younger generation in government. It’s the right time to run for office. Ultimately, it’s a pretty scary idea for me to be a politician who isn’t running for office right now, but might still want office. I would then have to hope for years that another chance would come. I could no longer be free from this kind of politics.

They want to rejuvenate the Federal Council. Youthfulness in itself is not a sign of quality. What can you do better than the experienced SP politicians who make themselves available?
I don’t know if I can do anything better. But I have a different view on life. It’s just different whether you’re 40 years old or 60 years old. You live in a different reality. It is in Switzerland’s interest to have someone from a younger generation in the Federal Council.

You have little leadership experience. Why do you think you can handle this task?
What is more important is the type of leadership insight you bring with you. In my smaller management roles I have always demonstrated a participative leadership style. I believe that you should give your employees freedom, trust and leave room for innovation. But when the going gets tough, you have to be fully present and take responsibility, that’s my idea of ​​leadership.

The Federal Council currently lacks representation of the urban population. But you come from a mountain canton.
I’m a city person, I want to remind everyone that Chur is a city. But I have my roots in the mountain areas, yes. Precisely because I know both worlds well and have them within me, I have the confidence to represent the connection between these worlds and many other realities in our country. I have already tried to explain why the wolf is good for the ecosystem and the forest at the tribal table in the Lower Engadine. And at the same time I explained to District 4 in the city of Zurich why too many wolves are also a problem for agriculture. I can make this translation between the different realities of life.

It is striking that so far no woman has officially registered as Alain Berset’s successor. How do you feel about this?
I would appreciate it if another woman would contact me. But it’s not up to me to decide. But it would certainly be good for the SP if there was another woman.

Would you describe yourself as a feminist?
Yes.

You are a dual national. As a Federal Councilor, would you like to keep your Italian passport?
I was born with dual citizenship and plan to die that way. As a Federal Councilor, I would still be 100 percent committed to Switzerland.

Source:Blick