Hansjörg Walter

Who is Hansjörg Walter?

Hansjörg Walter is a Swiss politician of the Swiss People's Party, a member of the Swiss National Council for the canton of Thurgau and the president of the Swiss Farmers' Union.

Walter graduated from the Agricultural School Strickhof and underwent advanced agricultural and commercial training. In 1983, he graduated as a master farmer and took over the Greuthof farm near Wängi from his parents.

His career in politics began with the vice presidency of the Wängi elementary school in 1985. He served in the municipal government of Wängi from 1993 to 2002 and in the cantonal parliament of Thurgau from 1992 to 1999, at which time he was elected to the National Council. He was reelected in 2003 and 2007 with the second highest number of votes on the People's Party list. In 2000, he was also elected president of the Farmers' Union.

In the Swiss Federal Council election, 2008, Walter came close to being elected Federal Councillor despite his prior declaration that he would not accept an election. Supported by the parties left of center, he obtained one vote less than the eventual victor and official People's Party candidate Ueli Maurer.