Young Socialist and agricultural scientist to stand for election to National Council

The main concern of Anna Spescha, a cantonal parliamentarian of the Young Socialist Party who is hoping for seat in National Council, is climate change.

“The effects of climate change are becoming more noticeable and at all levels,” she said, mentioning how not enough was being done at local, cantonal, national and international levels to achieve the 2°C target and stem the consequences of climate change.

In addition to this topic she was also concerned about the unequal distribution of wealth, and agriculture, this latter subject one she knows much about having obtained a master’s degree in it. “The current way the economy works means that it is not only destroying the environment, it also provides the wealthy few with additional wealth, while many have to cope with nothing. Even in Switzerland, poverty is also an issue, with social benefits being continually reduced. It is difficult for many people, families, the young and old to make ends meet, hence the social safety net needs to be strengthened,” she said, adding how climate change would lead to big problems for Switzerland, not least with regard to agriculture, mentioning, too, how different types of pests had been arriving in the country. Indeed, this is another area where the 24-year-old has specialist knowledge as she is a member of a research team investigating biological pest control at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. “It is essential we find sustainable solutions,” she insisted, “so that yield can be improved while endeavouring to protect the environment at the same time.”

As to how she regarded her chances of being elected, she felt that overall, the left could well gain a seat. She was doing her bit even though she herself realised her chances were minimal, being only on an ancillary list.

Summing up, she said she was a young woman who was standing for social justice, for sustainable means of agriculture and for preventing further climate change and, if elected, would do her best to fight for these issues in Bern, not least on behalf of a group of people whose voice she felt was hardly heard.