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An appreciation of Joachim Eder

As previously reported, Joachim Eder (on the left in the photograph) will be handing over the keys to his office in the city's Neugasse to Urs Hürlimann (on the right in the photograph) on Tuesday as he takes up his new responsibilities representing Zug in the Council of States, the smaller of the two parliamentary chambers at the Federal Assembly in Bern.
 
Over recent days, Eder has been busy packing up documents and looking back over his time as director of health over the past few years.
 
Judging by the praise of his colleagues, Eder, 61, will be sorely missed for the way in which he has undertaken the duties of his high offices. Mayor of Unterägeri and fellow cantonal parliamentarian Josef Ribary was just one of many who said how hard-working and efficient Eder was. "I sometimes ask myself how he manages to do everything, making speeches, active on this committee and that committee, ever-present at sporting and cultural events as well as looking after his family. Then he answers e-mails within a few minutes and can be seen walking with his wife at 5.30 in the morning."
 
Former member of both the Swiss parliament the cantonal government Georg Stucky agreed. "I just do not know how he does it all. Eder has not just been influential in Zug but across the country. His efficiency is legendary."
 
Then there was the passion Eder brought to whatever the task was. Indeed, he himself said there was something dynamic about politics. "If you enter public service in this way," said Eder on one occasion, "you have to have a certain passion about what you are doing, face up to the problems of the day with courage and accept them as challenges. Somehow I feel a strong urge to want to shape the future and to bring about reasonable solutions."
 
Fears that, as a teacher, Eder would focus on educational issues were soon proved to be groundless, surprising some people in the way he reacted to hardliners with regard to the National Equalisation Fund. Eder brought with him some of the tactics he used as a handball player, and later as a trainer and referee, into politics, such as always being well prepared and on the ball.
 
Then Eder always tried to ensure issues in the cantonal government and parliament were dealt with in as transparent a way as possible, cutting through red tape and aiming to be as close to the "man on the Zug omnibus" as possible. He made himself available to attend a wide variety of functions on 360 days a year, and always ensured he had the concerns of the locals close to his heart. "He was always prepared to listen to people," said former member of both the Council of States and the cantonal government Andreas Iten of Unterägeri. It had been suggested that Iten was in some way Eder's political godfather, but he has always been more of an independent person with no need for such an adviser.
 
Eder enjoyed the respect of people of differing political views in the canton, having a social conscience which prevented him from looking at issues in a purely financial way. Ribary added that Eder's success was in part due to his ability to take on responsibilities, listen to people, enjoy their company and not be afraid to show feelings.
 
Not that he has not been criticised in his role as director of health over the past 10 years. Though a pipe-smoker himself, Eder supported the introduction of smoke-free restaurants, which, at the time, was a very contentious issue, not least in the catering community.
 
Eder's philosophy, which has guided him through 19 years as a cantonal parliamentarian and 10 years as a member of the cantonal government, could be summed up by what he once said, "Concentrate on the matter-in-hand, do not allow yourself to be sidetracked by marginal or unimportant issues nor influenced by the superficial." Indeed, it seems that Eder is more than well-prepared for the new duties he will assume on Wednesday as he represents Zug in the Council of States in Bern.


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