Interview with Green Party Councilor Markus Kunz
interview
Green Group President Markus Kunz on the city’s net zero goal: “It would quickly be the fulfillment of a green longing”
Before the Zurich municipal council elections on February 13, the “Limmattaler Zeitung” feels the pulse of the parliamentary group and party presidents. In the fourth part of this eight-part series: Greens parliamentary group leader Markus Kunz.
This year’s renewal elections are upon us. What is the mood like in the Green Group at the moment?
Markus Kunz: The mood is excellent. On the one hand, because all the signs regarding the elections since 2018 are generally very positive. Since the National Council elections in 2019, we have even been the second largest party in the city of Zurich. Since then there hasn’t been any sign that we’ve deteriorated massively, so we’re optimistic. Above all, we think that we have done a good job over the last four years.
In the 2018 renewal elections, the Greens will increase their number of seats in the municipal council by two to 16. What are the goals for these elections and how do the Zurich Greens intend to convince voters?
We don’t have quantified goals. But of course we hope to grow. There may also be more than two additional seats. More important, however, is increasing the proportion of voters. We had 12 percent in the last renewal elections, 20 percent in the National Council elections – something in between would be the goal. Our campaign is aimed at issues that have been in motion for years and that have now become even more acute, above all the climate crisis. The Council has decided net zero by 2040, not least thanks to the Greens. We want to be convincing, because we take a clear stance on such issues and stand up for them. We also have a clear stance on how the city, traffic and housing should develop. These issues are slowly but surely getting down to business, because the situation is getting worse.
The Green parties benefited greatly from the climate issue in 2018. The pandemic has pushed this somewhat into the background. Do you think this could hurt your party’s chances of success?
I don’t think Corona has that effect at all. On the one hand, it affects all parties equally. Corona has also accentuated certain things. For example, people realized that the world can survive without flying and that video conferencing is also a good thing. In my opinion, it’s not like the climate issue has gone away, even if there were fewer demonstrations on Fridays. That’s why we don’t believe that Corona will reduce our chances of success.
For years, the SP has formed the core of the left-green majority. The greens are more in the shade. Do you want to remain a junior partner forever?
Partner, gladly but maybe no longer junior. At the moment, however, a look at the seat allocation in the Council shows a clear picture: the SP has 43 members, we have 16, so not even half. In the National Council elections, the SP had 25 percent of voters in the city of Zurich, the Greens 20 percent and the GLP 15 percent. We are also getting closer and closer to the SP. Ultimately, however, the voters decide what the relative strengths are.
how to beDo you judge the past legislature from the point of view of the Greens?
We draw a very positive conclusion, especially because it was the first legislature with a left-green majority. That gave us the leeway to push different ones. In fact, we were able to achieve a great deal. For example in structural planning, which is very important for further urban development. Net zero, i.e. the exit from the fossil fuel economy, was a very central topic on which we made great strides. This requires an expansion of district heating and photovoltaics. But we have also made progress in building housing and expanding the cycle routes.
In your opinion, it was the greatest success of the Green Group in the last four years?
The biggest success was certainly net zero. If that were to be confirmed in the referendum in May, it would be sensational. It would quickly be the fulfillment of a green longing, and that in Switzerland’s largest city! This has been a goal since the Greens were founded around 40 years ago.
What major defeat do you remember?
A significant defeat was the superstructure on Thurgauerstrasse. It didn’t come out the way we wanted at all. In our opinion, this is simply a run-of-the-mill development with many apartments. We would have liked to have had a participatory, more experimental form with new forms of living, more greenery and more inclusion of the quarter. This is an example that we probably have differences within the Council links as well.
What issues do the Greens want to tackle in the next legislature?
Net zero will certainly remain an issue. If the referendum is accepted, concrete implementation will begin. Public space is also still an issue, because in a growing city there are more and more struggles over distribution. In the health sector we have two major issues: the stabilization of nursing care and the future of the city hospitals, specifically the question of outsourcing. We are also busy with the implementation of the day schools and that concerns more housing for the elderly.
Why should the people of Zurich vote for the Greens on February 13th?
If YOU want dedicated, clear climate protection, & YOU choose green. Related: If you want to have a transformation in the energy or transport sector and want solutions that really make a difference, are socially responsible and have a sustainable impact, whenever you choose green. We have a clear stance, which IS often described as extreme, but which has turned out to be correct over the years – see climate.
To person
Markus Künz has been a member of the Zurich municipal council for the Greens since 2012 and has been the parliamentary group leader since 2017. For the 62-year-old, it is the last legislature in the municipal council, as he will no longer stand in the renewal elections. Kunz is a lecturer at the School of Engineering at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). He is also a board member of the Pestalozzi Library in Zurich. He is a father of two and a grandfather of two and lives with his partner in Zurich Hottingen. (Already)