Topics: legal journey, political engagement, PDC Vaud, Valérie Dittli, State Council, agriculture, taxation, digitalization, public sector, perseverance, political advice
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In June 2024, Valérie Dittli, State Councilor and former lawyer, shared her journey and experiences in the legal and political fields. Her presentation offered valuable insights and practical advice, especially for professionals and aspiring politicians in Switzerland.
Could you describe your educational background, particularly how you transitioned from a lawyer to a State Councilor?
Originally from Zug, I studied law at the University of Lucerne. During my master's degree, I spent a semester at the University of Lausanne. I then decided to continue my university studies in Lausanne, where I held a position as an assistant at the Faculty of Law. There, I wrote a doctoral thesis on inheritance law, which I defended in 2021. In 2021, I also began my legal internship to obtain my bar exam, first at the Cantonal Tax Administration of the Canton of Bern and then at a Bernese law firm.
In parallel to my university studies in Lausanne, I joined the PDC Vaud. Initially, I chaired the youth section and was then elected president of the Vaud section starting in September 2020. As the 2022 cantonal elections approached, I made myself available to my party to be a candidate for the State Council. As a candidate for the State Council on the Vaud Alliance list (The Center – FDP – SVP), which I helped shape, I was elected, to everyone's surprise, in the second round on April 10, 2022.
What were your motivations for transitioning from a lawyer to a State Councilor, and how did you adapt to this new environment?
I have always had this drive for collective engagement, starting in secondary school and then in high school in the Canton of Zug, where I was a member and president of the Student Council. Politics is primarily a civic engagement, a desire to improve the future for coming generations.
If you had to make a comparison, what skills acquired as a lawyer have been particularly useful?
Having a legal education helps to understand the issues and risks. But also to have a very general, yet specialized vision. It is important for me to have a global overview of all my files, where synergies are possible, even if they are very different (finance, taxation, agriculture, climate), but also a more specific perspective, as each field has its own particularities.
Politics is primarily a civic engagement, a desire to improve the future for coming generations - Valérie Dittli
What achievement in your current career are you particularly proud of?
That the population has given its trust to the new generation by electing me and that I can be their voice. More concretely, being able to move things forward for our canton. For example, in the agricultural field, some of the decisions I make have a direct impact on the agricultural world (e.g., reducing inspections). This is also true for taxation and the tax reforms planned by the government.
How do you perceive the impacts of technological change in your current field?
Just like in the private sector, the public sector must adapt. We sometimes tend to fear change (technological or otherwise), but we must learn to live with it, while also being aware of the limits and risks. Because ultimately, all technological advancements make our daily lives easier and more efficient.
What advice would you give to others who are considering a similar career?
First of all, it is difficult to plan a political career, unlike a professional career. But if you are sure of your convictions, get involved and never give up in the face of obstacles.
Thank you for the fascinating insights into your career and political engagement. We wish you all the best!
This article has been translated by AI.
