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BernePaul Rechsteiner will retire in December
After 36 years under the Dome, the St. Gallen Socialist States Councilor has announced the end of his political career.
Paul Rechsteiner has announced his resignation for December.
Adrian Moser
After 36 years of politics, St. Gallen States Councilor Paul Rechsteiner is about to bow out. “I think it is now allowed. It’s not too big of a surprise: I will no longer be a candidate,” the socialist politician, now 70, said in an interview with the “St. Gallen daily newspaper» (subscribed article). “What is probably more surprising is that I will be resigning already in December, that is to say at the end of the winter session,” he added.
During his career, Paul Rechsteiner has been a municipal councilor in his hometown of St. Gallen, union boss, national councilor and councilors to the States. On social networks, the Swiss PS hailed “a socialist parliamentarian and a particularly experienced, influential and successful trade unionist”.
Revered by the left, Paul Rechsteiner is also respected by his political adversaries who recognize his fair play and imperturbable attitude.
In resignation before the federal elections of 2023, the socialist hopes that this will allow the left to keep his seat in the Council of States. “I chose this December date because it leads to a single vacancy and a separate replacement election in St. Gallen. In autumn 2023, the National Council elections will be in the foreground. They are marked by party politics. The vacancy of a position allows the population to decide before that on the future of the representation of Saint-Gall in the Council of States”, he explained.
The «Tages-Anzeigeris already thinking about the succession of Paul Rechsteiner. The German-speaking newspaper draws up a list of potential successors among St. Gallen politicians and these are mostly women. On the PS side, national councilors Barbara Gysi and Claudia Friedl could apply. According to a press release, the management of the PS Saint-Gallois will decide on October 24 which candidate it will launch in the race to succeed Paul Rechsteiner.
But the right also covets the seat on the Council of States. It is the name of the national councilor, Susanne Vincenz-Stauffacher, which is given for the PLR. Finally, National Councilor Esther Friedli is described as a ‘top’ choice for the SVP.
(fos/aze)