Family man puts faith above politics

Brönnimann has a reputation as a rather quiet and discreet politician Keystone

Andreas Brönnimann is a member of a conservative party widely labelled religious and fundamentalist - and he is proud of it.

The only representative of the Federal Democratic Union in the 246-seat parliament Brönnimann explicitly refers to the Bible in his political activities.

You might be disappointed if you expect to meet a man in traditional Amish garments and a long beard.

Instead the man on the sofa in the parliament lobby looks hardly different from many of the other parliamentarians around him with his business suit and his groomed moustache.

In the House of Representatives he sits with members of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party – the group he feels politically most at home with.

“We share a lot a common values,” Brönnimann says. “We are both committed to our country.”

Brönnimann fought for a ban on new minarets in Switzerland last year and involuntarily made the newspaper pages this summer over his allged criticism of techno-music events.

The 55-year-old does not mind his reputation as a “rather quiet” parliamentarian. In fact, he is not too keen on the media spotlight and prefers to pursue his activities without causing a public uproar.

“Barking dogs do not bite,” he says with a straight face. Brönnimann, who entered the national political arena just over 12 months ago, believes he is still heard by those who want to hear him, including Swiss voters who live abroad.

Achievements

Education, in particular opposition against certain reforms of the federalist school system, finance issues as well as good relations between Switzerland and Israel are Brönnimann’s main interests in parliament.

More than 15 years in politics at the local and cantonal level taught him that “it takes more than a year to change the course of the world” as he puts it.

Brönnimann’s political credo is to fight for traditional virtues. But he dismisses allegations that he is not open to new ideas.

“There is no point in making changes if they don’t improve things.”

He wants to remain true to himself, even if the political climate is noticeably rougher at a national level than in local politics. No wonder he thinks highly of politicians like the rightwing strongman Christoph Blocher known for speaking his mind.

Career and goals

Politics must not be a means in itself says Brönnimann. “There is more to life.” He says he is grateful to have made it to the national level but he has no further ambitions.

His life is primarily his family. He has five chrildren and lives with his wife in the village of Belp outside the capital, Bern. Then there is the business in which he makes a living – selling car parts – and politics as a commitment to society.

Brönnimann says these priorities have always proved just right for him.

He says he had in interest in politics as a citizen before he was asked by a colleague to become active in a local council. Then he moved up a step to the cantonal parliament.

“Getting to learn the ropes at a local level is an ideal preparation for the cantonal level and further. Politics is always politics after all.”

Cars

There is one other defining feature of this politician who has chosen Jesus Christ as his guiding principle in life. Brönnimann, who sells tyres, has a fascination for cars. He describes himself as a ‘petrol head’.

“But I was never into high speed. Of course I prefer powerful vehicles, but more importantly I like the look of a car, nice rims, wide tyres….”

Brönnimann still indulges in watching motoring races or at least the best clips – if time allows.

But for now duty calls; Brönnimann walks through the door of the lobby back to the chamber to take his seat.

Seen from the journalists’ bench he’s just another business suit, chin propped up in his left hand, laptop computer on his desk, reading or writing. He is seemingly oblivious to what is going on around him, but presses the appropriate button when the speaker calls for a vote.

Brönnimann and the Swiss Abroad

Brönnimann says it is important to hear the voice of the Swiss Abroad and take their concerns seriously.

However, he is against a guaranteed seat in parliament for the Swiss expatriate community.

Brönnimann is wary of introducing electronic voting – as requested by the Swiss Abroad to facilitate participation in votes and elections. He says the system is too prone to attacks by hackers.

Vote by traditional mail is a reasonable way of letting the Swiss Abroad use their democratic rights in their country of origin, he argues.

Brönnimann lives in Belp where he was born and grew up.

Federal Democratic Union

The party bases its political programme explicitly on the Bible and Jesus. It is therefore described as religious and fundamentalist.

Its supporters are primarily members of the Protestant free churches and Evangelical communities.

The party was founded in 1975, and has chapters in nearly 20 of the country’s 26 cantons.

Beside the Federal Democratic Union, the Christian Democratic Party, the Protestant Party and the Christian Social Party refer to religion in their names. But they are all considered more liberal.

Brönnimann, presently the sole representative of his party in the Swiss parliament, is only the fourth representative in the history of his group.

He joined parliament in September 2009 and sits with the rightwing Swiss People’s Party in the House of Representatives.