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What does a political career have in common with orienteering through the forest? “You can’t plan everything in advance, and in the end it’s about finding a good way,” says Evi Allemann. The 45-year-old from Bern was an enthusiastic orienteer in her youth and now she is on her way through the political thicket towards the Federal Council. It’s her second attempt. “I am ready!” says Allemann.
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This is called aligning your own compass. Evi Allemann’s north star is the city of Bern. She lives here with her children Eliot, 13, and Julia, 8. Their father lives 150 meters next door. Here she served in the National Council for 15 years, here she is now a government councilor – and here she likes to go to the market on Münsterplatz on Saturdays. “Come, let’s take the Vieux Berger,” says Evi Allemann to her partner Stefan Berger (54). Allemann has a bag with her, so the blue Roquefort is double-packed in her handbag.
This article was first published in “Schweizer Illustrierte”. You can find more exciting articles at www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch.
This article was first published in “Schweizer Illustrierte”. You can find more exciting articles at www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch.
“We both love cooking,” she says. In general, the following has been true for Allemann and Berger since 2019: “Birds of a feather like to mix.” Both are members of the SP, both are executive politicians – she as a government councilor of Bern, he as mayor of Burgdorf BE –, both are not left-wing hardliners, but ‘pragmatists’, both say: ‘Politics is our life’ – and both were formerly OL-Runner. “Our paths must have crossed in the woods at some point,” says Stefan Berger, “but we didn’t know each other yet.”
As the only woman, Evi Allemann has a good chance of qualifying as an SP for the elections for the Federal Council. An early political starter, she was elected to the Grand Council of Bern between her oral and written exams in high school and moved to the National Council at the age of 25. Her daughter is now a member of the student council and her son closely followed the last election Sunday on television. Evi Allemann, who used to often be a bit “too young”, is now 45. Is the timing right this time?
“Neither age nor gender should be the determining factor in this choice,” she says. But she obviously stands for a ‘generational change’ in the Federal Council and also for a ‘strong representation of women’. “I always wanted to be involved,” she says. “I would like to bring my ideas to the Federal Council and contribute to good solutions for a social Switzerland.”
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With so much experience and the fact that she already holds a board position as a government councilor, “she has the resources to become a federal councilor,” says her partner Stefan Berger. “She also has vision and the desire to create.” What else does he like about her? “Everything!” Evi Allemann laughs – and gives the flowers back: “I like Stefan’s relaxed character, I quickly get impatient. He stays calm when things get tough.”
As a government councilor, Allemann partly exercises supervision over the Bernese communities – including Burgdorf, where her friend is mayor. But the government governors still stand between her and her partner, both emphasize.
However, in everyday family life, the two work very well together. “I also take responsibility and am part of the family,” says Berger. During the holidays, Allemann draws up a weekly plan that determines exactly who is responsible for the children and when. “We have three adults taking care of her, which is great,” says Allemann. Her own parents are rarely involved these days, but sometimes neighbors or close friends are.
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Deviate from the path
While she is warming up in the ‘Lesbar’ (they both drink latte macchiato first and then espresso), Allemann says she has learned a lot from all her years as a politician. “Of course I have observed how others lead meetings or resolve conflicts.” She has no role model, but Simonetta Sommaruga is a long-time companion. “It was fortunate that I could observe and guide them. I benefit from the experiences of the women before me.”
The common people say about Allemann that she is left-wing, but not an ideologue. She calls it ‘calm politics’. She considers it a success that the Gripen fighter jet was rejected. But also says: “I think it is right that there is an air police.” She was president of the VCS, which promotes environmentally friendly transport policies. But he also says: “I’m glad that the relationship between road users is no longer as charged as it used to be.”
FDP party chairman Thierry Burkart sat with her on the transport committee: “I found Evi Allemann to be a pleasant colleague who was always open to constructive solutions across party lines.” Does the consensus politician also have edges?
“I can be tough and can handle tough negotiations, for example with Brussels,” she says. After all, the same applies in politics as in orienteering: “The easiest way is not always the best.”
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.
