Mayor of Uster Barbara Thalmann: “Local politics don't exist in isolation”
At the Council of Europe, Uster's mayor, Barbara Thalmann, provides a municipal perspective: pragmatic, close to the people and rooted in federalism. In this interview, she talks about local democracy, social cohesion and why towns like Uster can provide a major boost to European dialogue.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe provides a forum for addressing the needs, challenges and experiences of local and regional authorities – both within and outside Switzerland – at European level. The Swiss delegation makes an active contribution to building strong and inclusive local democracies.
The Congress was established in 1994 as an advisory body to the Council of Europe and is tasked with promoting local and regional democracy. It monitors implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, carries out local and regional election observation and organises thematic activities, focusing in particular on youth and local governance. Switzerland joined the Council of Europe in 1963 and ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government on 17 February 2005.
The division of responsibilities between the federal government, cantons and cities is an important aspect of Swiss politics. What does the Congress mean for you and for your town as a whole?
The Congress is a good reflection of how politics works at grassroots level – where people live, reside and work. It brings together mayors as well as local and regional politicians from across Europe who know from their own experience the impact political decisions have on daily life.
Focus is placed on discussing a wide range of specific issues. When it comes to what most affects people's lives, it is often we, as the local authorities, who have to come up with solutions quickly. But at the same time, being part of the Congress helps me realise that local politics don't exist in isolation; they're part of a wider democratic framework in which municipalities and towns play a central, indispensable role.
Personally, I find these exchanges very important. Nobody else in my own town is in the same position as I am as mayor.
You are a member of the district of Uster's association for mayors and regularly meet other mayors from all over Switzerland as part of the Swiss Association of Cities. How important is it to maintain this dialogue between towns and communes within a region?
Personally, I find these exchanges very important. Nobody else in my own town is in the same position as I am as mayor. So it's always good to see what my colleagues in other towns are dealing with – their successes and challenges, the issues and projects they're working on. I'm also amazed at how similar our roles are at their core – and how differently they're shaped by the specific circumstances in each case.
For Uster, your remit brings greater visibility, new networks and the chance to channel ideas from Europe directly into local politics. How does this work in practice?
I haven't been a member of the Congress long enough yet to be able to pinpoint any tangible effects. In the long term, however, it could lead to concrete exchanges or partnerships with other European cities. This is an opportunity for Uster to learn from the successful experiences of other towns while also bringing its own strengths and ideas to the European stage.
You are like the ‘neighbourhood godmother’ for Nänikon and Werrikon. Are the realities of these smaller places also a factor in your work at the Congress?
Absolutely. Smaller communities like Nänikon and Werrikon in particular play a major role in shaping my political outlook. Both places used to be independent Citizens' Communes and still have a strong local identity as well as an active community life today. Although they now belong to the town of Uster, we can see first-hand just how important it is to have a sense of community, a say in local affairs and personal commitment if you want to have a vibrant community.
This reveals something fundamental: democracy and social cohesion don't just happen on a large scale in some abstract way, but where people actually live together, get involved and take responsibility.
A well-designed model of federalism can work anywhere. However, structures alone are not enough; what matters most are the local people.
Essentially, the questions being asked at European level are similar to those we've been asking here in Switzerland for centuries: which tasks should be tackled together, and where should decisions be kept as close to the people as possible? Our federal system shows that both are possible – cooperation and local autonomy.
My experiences in Nänikon and Werrikon always remind me that democracy truly thrives when people can get involved and feel connected to their local environment. And it is precisely these insights that I bring to my work in the Congress.
You are also a member of the Congress' Social Inclusion Committee. Urban poverty and affordable housing are growing challenges in Swiss agglomerations. Is Uster a suitable testing ground for solutions that could be replicated at European level?
It's precisely because our town is a manageable size – with a population of around 38,000 – and everything is within easy reach that we have plenty of opportunities to deliver projects that promote social inclusion.
This also provides a valuable insight for Europe as a whole: many local authorities basically have the potential to act as their own problem-solving laboratories – provided they are given the right decision-making tools, sufficient scope for action and the proper financial capacity.
In my view, a well-designed model of federalism can work anywhere. However, structures alone are not enough; what matters most are the local people: committed individuals who are dedicated to their community, are willing to shape its future and are trusted by the people.
This wealth of experience makes the work of local authorities highly valuable when it comes to the exchange of ideas across Europe.
What other ideas can a town like Uster bring to the Congress?
The things we work on every day in Uster touch on all aspects of daily life: housing, work, schools, leisure activities such as sport and culture, and a wide range of services for children, families and older people.In short, community spaces that are used and valued by a broad section of the population.
Equally important are support services for people who are dependent on help – whether for financial, health or social reasons.
For the Congress, a town like Uster adds a practical perspective: how are policy goals actually put into practice in everyday life – with limited resources, diverse needs and high expectations in terms of quality and reliability. Towns and cities also illustrate very clearly how major social issues such as integration, demographic shifts and climate change adaptation affect local communities and what can be done to address them. In my view, this wealth of experience makes the work of local authorities highly valuable when it comes to the exchange of ideas across Europe.
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