Valérie Dittli seeks re-election to Vaud government despite party resistance

Valérie Dittli will seek re-election to the Vaud cantonal government next February despite opposition from her party leadership, SRF reported on Sunday. The Centre politician has not ruled out running as an independent if her party refuses to support her.

Dittli announced her candidacy in an interview with Le Matin Dimanche, saying: “I am running to win.” She said she would seek to persuade delegates of Centre Vaud to back her at their meeting on September 2.

The party leadership had previously recommended that Dittli not stand for re-election. If the party membership does not support her candidacy, she said, “everything remains possible”. She added that she hoped to campaign with the party, saying: “The Centre is my family.”

Dittli, who is originally from Zug, was unexpectedly elected to the Vaud cantonal government in April 2022 at the age of 29. Her election was made possible in part by an alliance between the Centre, FDP and Swiss People’s Party.

She later came under pressure over several controversies, including the handling of the tax shield, leadership problems and a secret agreement. Dittli acknowledged that she had made mistakes, “undoubtedly, especially at the beginning”, but defended her record by saying: “I have a real record that I can defend.”

During the campaign, she plans to focus on the purchasing power of the middle class and the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises. She also wants to continue her work in agriculture and food.