Green shoots: to continue our look at new faces in high places, Swiss News speaks with Green Party senator Robert Cramer. He explains the significance of his own election success and what his party hopes to achieve as a result of their parliamentary gains.

AuteurLedsom, Mark
Fonction POLITICS

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While the People's Party's impressive gain of seven new seats grabbed most of the attention immediately after October's national election, their rivals in the environmentally-minded Green Party also had plenty to celebrate, gaining six new seats to secure their best ever showing of 20 members in the House of Representatives.

The organic cherry on the cake came when Geneva's Robert Cramer was named the party's first ever representative in the 46-member Senate. They didn't have to wait long for their second, with Cramer's colleague Luc Recordon following him after a run-off vote.

Swiss News: Monsieur Cramer, what is the significance of your election to the Senate, both for you personally and for your party?

Robert Cramer: For the party, it is a continuation of our logical development. When we first founded the Swiss Green Party, the goal was to defend green ideas, not only by opposing governments but also by making propositions. That is why we worked so hard to get representatives into the cantonal governments and why we are now looking to become more active at the national level. As for me personally, it's hugely satisfying as one of the founder members of the Swiss Greens to play a part in the party's evolution to both the cantonal and federal level.

The party celebrated unprecedented success in the national elections but fell just short of the number of votes needed to plausibly press for a seat in cabinet, the Swiss government. But are parties like the Greens actually better served by staying in opposition rather than having to make compromises in a Swiss-style coalition government?

My experience from ten years in Geneva's cantonal government has proven to me that if you want to progress politically it is far better to be involved in government. Our goal is not only to launch ideas but to actually see them carried out. It is only by directing an administration and having control over the necessary budgets that you can really change the attitudes of citizens towards the environment. Otherwise you have to rely on voluntary actions to help safeguard public transport and protect the landscape and the environment.

How did you first become involved in 'green politics'? What have you done as an individual to protect the environment and how much impact do you think individuals can really have?

I first got involved as a militant campaigning against nuclear power stations. That led me naturally to take care of my own personal...

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