New President of the Cantonal Government

SVP cantonal councillor Moritz Schmid was yesterday elected as the new President of the Cantonal Government by 73 votes. Before being officially sworn in at the St. Oswald church in Zug, he re-affirmed his belief in democracy, and expressed his thanks for the cross-party support that he had received. He thereby quoted the deceased Socialist Party (SP) federal minister Willi Ritschard, who stated: ”Home is where you need not be afraid”, and added “Democracy is the rule of the majority. It's not hard to be a democrat when you're part of that majority. But you need to prove your democratic convictions if you’re one of the minority. The only people who do not recognise this democratic principle are those for whom freedom is always only their own freedom."
 
Despite the rain, the new president later greeted residents and invited guests in the new town square of his home town of Walchwil.  In his eulogy in the community centre, the mayor of Walchwil, Tobias Hürlimann, proudly welcomed the third Walchwil cantonal president in the history of the Canton Zug. “Walchwilers are cosmopolitan. People from 62 countries live here”, he emphasised, adding: "Moritz has shaped and supported policies in Walchwil. Proximity to the public is welcome, and Moritz has this proximity. This is also the reason why Moritz is one of us."
 
Schmid’s party colleague Heinz Tännler jokingly referred to an apparent SVP conspiracy (SVP = Swiss People’s Party). Moritz Schmid’s motion was responsible for the City Tunnel, which Tännler, as Landamann and Construction Director, would now have to build. The Canton of Zug would thereby be firmly in the hands of the Swiss People’s Party over the next 2 years.
"But joking aside," concluded Landammann Tännler: "Everything remains the same and that’s a good thing" There ae no kings in Swiss democracy, emphasizes Tännler. He was sure that Schmid will lead the Cantonal parliament in an impartial and collegial manner, with the well-proven continuity. "You're the Parliamentary conscience per se," says Tännler to Schmid, adding: "You, Moritz, are truly a representative of the people."