Menus with meat should be taboo for the Green MPs from the canton of Geneva when they take office. On Saturday, the Geneva section allows more representatives to participate in assemblies, meetings, official meals and events give up meat, provided that they visit them in the capacity of their office. It’s not about playing police, says Delphine Klopfenstein Broggini, President of the Greens in Geneva “Leman bleu”. “Member of Parliament should feel consistent with their beliefs.”

However, the application has now turned out to be too strong, says Klopfenstein Broggini when asked by 20 minutes. The Geneva Greens are therefore working out a less widespread version. “But it is clear that the Greens must have a debate across Switzerland about meat consumption and its effects on the environment.”

The meat report fails the Swiss Green Party. “Personally, I believe that the choice of menu is also a matter of personal responsibility for Green MPs,” says Green President Balthasar Glättli. In most cases, he himself chooses a vegetarian menu. “If there’s more than just vegetables on offer, I usually choose the vegetarian menu.” If he organizes an aperitif with his party, of course there will only be vegetarian food.

His parliamentary colleague Meret Schneider is a convinced vegan. Nevertheless, she speaks out against a renunciation of meat. “We Green MPs almost always order vegetarian anyway,” said the National Councilor. The party is also not entitled to set menu rules for its representatives. “It would be like banning Green MPs from flying overseas or driving.” In addition, such regulations damage the image. “That stirs up resentment and leads to negative reactions.” The officials would have to decide for themselves whether they could combine their consumption with the party program.

The renunciation of meat is well received in policy and strategy consulting circles. The Greens have wanted to save the world since they were founded, says Niklaus Vary, policy and strategy consultant at NVV Consulting. “Assuring that the Greens are still authentic and using all available means to implement this level.” For a successful image, he advises the Green parties to drive in one line. “An agreed strategy is always better than cantonal spirit.” On the other hand, he finds it wrong to hang a politician on meat consumption. “Politicians should also be a bit human.”

Bettina Mutter, owner of Mutter & Partner Consulting AG, also considers the debate important for the Greens. “The debate has been launched as to whether and to what extent we can contribute to improving the climate and combating food shortages and hunger with our consumption and eating behavior.” But she doesn’t think anything of food regulations for MPs. “Like all of us, parliamentarians should and can probably decide for themselves what they want to eat.” Those who are elected and, above all, those who refer to ideological principles are constantly faced with the challenge of consistently living out their position. “Looked at soberly: Anyone who expresses trouble with this will certainly have a hard time in politics in the medium term.”