Young Political Novice Pult Runs for Swiss Federal Council
Published: Monday, Oct 2nd 2023, 10:01
Updated At: Friday, Oct 13th 2023, 14:12
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Jon Pult, a National Councillor from Graubünden for the Swiss People's Party, holds a key position in the Swiss Federal Parliament as President of the National Council's Transport Commission. The 38-year-old historian, who holds a degree in history, has extensive political experience, though he has never held an executive office. Pult was born in Scuol GR in the Lower Engadin in 1984. He holds both Swiss and Italian citizenship. Before he came to kindergarten, he spoke Romansh and Italian, but not a word of German, he writes on his website. This experience has shaped him: "Talking to each other means listening, understanding - and being understandable yourself. This is how bridges are built between each other." After graduating from high school in Chur, Pult studied history, economic and social history, and philosophy at the University of Zurich. Subsequently, he worked as a communications consultant for several years. The Social Democrat's journey into politics began with the Young Socialists: Already in 2004 he was elected to the Chur City Parliament, and in 2010 to the Great Council of the Canton of Graubünden. In 2009 he took over the presidency of the SP Graubünden. The 38-year-old has been a member of the National Council since 2019. In the lower house, he presides over the Commission for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF-N). The commission is responsible for transport and media policy, among other things. As President of the Alpen-Initiative, President Pult is committed to shifting freight transport to rail. In the referendum campaign against the media package rejected by the people in February 2022, he supported the proposal. In recent months, he has clearly positioned himself against the reduction of radio and television fees to 200 Swiss francs, as demanded by the popular initiative "200 Swiss francs are enough! (SRG Initiative)". The Bündner Nationalrat has called for the consistent implementation of sanctions against Russia in relation to the Ukraine War - and for allowing third countries to pass on Swiss weapons to Kiev: "We must interpret our neutrality correctly so that it serves international law and does not protect the aggressor," he wrote in a guest contribution for the "Südostschweiz" in mid-August.
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