“It’s a Great Satisfaction”

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Pierre Maudet (45) was celebrated last night. In Sunday’s cantonal elections in Geneva, his newly compiled list “Libertés et Justice Sociale” (“Freedom and Social Justice”) immediately gained ten seats. Hardly anyone expected that.

Maudet herself – convicted of corruption by the Federal Court, exiled by the FDP for lying and forced to resign – is about to make a political comeback. He finished sixth in the State Council elections. A very good starting position for the second ballot. Since none of the candidates obtained an absolute majority on the first ballot, it will not be decided until April 30 which seven politicians will govern Geneva in the future.

Blick was able to talk to Maudet briefly during the turbulent election Sunday before proceeding with his supporters to headquarters at an undisclosed location.

Blick: How does it feel to have brought a new party into parliament?
Pierre Maudet: It is a great satisfaction, because it is the result of months of hard work. We’ve proposed projects and knocked on people’s doors to understand what they really want from those they represent. The Libertés et Justice social list was often belittled by the other parties, who said we were a bunch of newcomers. But our choice shows that newcomers can also convince.

What will be your first big fight?
We have a list of 24 large, very concrete projects. For example, we advocate for a cantonal and public health fund, because we believe this is fundamental to reduce the cost of health insurance. Another major project close to our hearts is the construction of a dam to secure the electricity supply for 90,000 households in the canton of Geneva. We are also calling for a tax cut for everyone given the incredible budget surplus of the state of Geneva.

Will the MPs on your list tend to vote left or right?
I don’t think we can be reduced to this classic left-right grid.

What can the traditional parties expect from your list?
The major parties know about our plans. We have a whole range of ambitions to defend a thriving economy. We don’t necessarily want to increase state resources, we want to redistribute them. We also want an agile state with fewer administrative procedures. More facilities for those who want to start a business. Ultimately, we are relatively easy to see through.

Are you personally afraid of your return to the Council of State? If the old ones are re-elected, as it seems, in 2020 you will meet those who kicked you out…
I’m not that far yet (laughs)! I would have to win the second ballot for that. But if I can do that, I’m not afraid at all. On the contrary, I look forward to it. Because this is not a club of friends, but the place where the most important matters in our canton are decided. And confrontation is part of that decision-making process. Unlike in the previous legislature, I hope that vigorous debates will take place here.

Given your election result and the equally good result of the Mouvement Citoyens Genevois (MCG), this is a “protest election”. Do you agree?
I don’t like the term protest vote because it implies a logic of destruction. We, on the other hand, want to build. And the voters of the MCG are not the same as our voters. We want to turn the potential disillusionment of our supporters with the government into a positive force.

Source:Blick