Election posters are up, names are on the lists – but who are the people behind them? The International Men’s Club Walchwil set out to find the answer to this question and invited the candidates for the local council to a hearing at Restaurant Aesch.

Around 30 members accepted the invitation. What made it particularly exciting was that a change in personnel is imminent on the municipal council. No fewer than three of the current municipal councillors are not standing for re-election. For voters, this means new faces – and for the Men’s Club, a good opportunity to get to know the candidates in person.

Following a brief introduction of each candidate, a lively dialogue quickly developed. The members wanted to know what drives the candidates, what their vision is for Walchwil’s future, and how they would like to see the municipality develop further. The opportunity to ask questions directly was eagerly taken up.

The focus of the evening was not on the wider political arena. Rather, the spotlight was on the people behind the candidacies. Through direct conversation, it was possible to get to know their personalities, motivations and attitudes far better than any election poster ever could.

The event is therefore perfectly in line with the ethos of the International Men’s Club Walchwil. The club aims to support people who are new to Walchwil in settling into village life, making contacts and becoming part of the community.

Many members have had this experience themselves. They moved here from elsewhere and have found a home in Walchwil. Today, they not only want to live here, but also to understand the village better, get involved and contribute to community life.

This also involves knowing who would like to help shape Walchwil’s political future. And so the hearing became more than just an election event: it was an evening of personal exchange – open, direct and free from campaign clichés.

After all, anyone who wants to help shape a village should first get to know the people who want to shape it. kh.