Armin Hartmann – the networker behind the scenes I central plus

Politics is in his blood and he gets to work: Armin Hartmann, candidate for the SVP government council, leader of the parliamentary group in the cantonal council and recognized financial expert, has been helping to shape it for 20 years. In Schlierbach and also in the canton.

editorial staff

Michael Flückiger

A stiff bise is blowing over the crest of the hill near Schlierbach – the locals swallow the “a”, they say “Schlierbch” – it is too hazy for a distant view. On nice days, a panorama opens up from here with Lake Sempach in the foreground and the Alps in the background. But government council candidate Armin Hartmann (SVP) did not invite the Rochus chapel to a photo session for that reason. No sooner has the man with a PhD in economics pulled up in his Tesla on time than the heat is on. What follows inside the chapel, however, is not a Bible lesson, but a lesson in politics lived with joy right on your own doorstep.

“The knowledge of human nature and the understanding of the political context that I have gained as a result are priceless.”

Armin Hartmann about his time as mayor

The place fits in two respects. First, Hartmann’s father, a contractor, built this place of worship in 1971-1973. On the other hand, the building also serves as a multi-purpose hall and hall for the community meetings of the village. The altar can be separated with an extendable wall.

Grown with the task as the youngest Lucerne mayor

“This is where I was born and grew up, this is where I earned my political spurs,” says Armin Hartmann. The unmarried 45-year-old, who grew up with three siblings, is completely absorbed in politics and his work as a financial advisor.

It all started in 2004. At that time, the people of Schlierbach elected him Lucerne’s youngest mayor. Hartmann says he can recommend anyone to get into politics at such a young age. “If you like people, it’s the best job.” In this work you get to know your fellow human beings with all their strengths and weaknesses. With great benefit, as he says: “The knowledge of human nature and the understanding of the political context that I have gained as a result are priceless.”

His joy and contentment is palpable. This is not a matter of course: as a young politician and doctoral student, he did not have an easy time in the village at first. When he took office, Schlierbach, which has 594 inhabitants, was suffering from tight municipal finances and a high tax rate of 2.4 percentage points. During Armin Hartmann’s almost 16-year tenure, the community has managed to put the crooked finances back on track and lower the tax rate to 1.65 percentage points today. It was also able to create favorable conditions for new living space. Schlierbach was able to prosper and grow to almost 1000 inhabitants.

Work and politics are very close to each other for him

Schlierbach, Hartmann emphasizes, “maintains a very lively political culture, the community meetings are very well attended in contrast to many other communities in Switzerland.” The sometimes heated discussions – he was often properly dismantled at the community meetings – would have brought him a lot for his personal development.

“If my job and my politics weren’t so closely linked, I could never hold all these offices.”

He learned that “it only works together”. Hartmann experienced this again and again from the start. Schlierbach’s success, it is attested to him, is largely due to him. He involved the whole community in the further development of Schlierbach and won them over with his conciliatory thoroughness.

He also proves this professionally. Nota bene as financial advisors to municipalities looking for solutions to put their financial budget back on solid ground. This is also the answer to why he brings so much under one roof. “If my job and my politics weren’t so closely linked, I could never hold all of these offices,” he freely admits. Among the numerous offices that he once held or still holds, the following should be singled out: President of the Homeowners’ Association (HEV) Lucerne with 17,000 members and the Board of Directors for Economics, Labor and Social Affairs (WAS).

Recognized financial competence in fundamental political issues

Armin Hartmann has been politicizing for the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) in the cantonal council since 2007. He has suspended his position as parliamentary group president, which he obtained in 2020, in view of the government council elections. In the cantonal council, he has made a name for himself as a cross-party financial expert. Among other things, because he speaks up in connection with financial transactions and clarifies a situation calmly and objectively.

Armin Hartmann is known to be lightning fast. He is characterized by a systematic approach. What could prove this better than the fact that, as the cantonal councilor and then finance chief of the Association of Lucerne Municipalities (VLG), he was commissioned to work out the complicated task and financial reform 2018 (AFR18) (zentralplus reported)?

His passion for chess is significant for his patience and foresight. Although he cultivated it more intensively when he was younger than he does today. “I find it appealing to strategically plan ahead,” he says, “there is always full transparency about the situation on the board, unlike with Jass.” However, he couldn’t do anything with the dictum that one should hate one’s opponent, which one ascribes alternately to the chess legends Garri Kasparov or Bobby Fischer.

Clarifying the basics, avoiding bureaucracy

Hartmann works too constructively for that. Maybe too constructive for his party? His friendly, solution-oriented way of convincing his interest with the better argument may not really suit the SVP. Because they like it loud and confrontational.

However, what connects him very much with the SVP is down-to-earthness and a sense of tradition. For example, Hartmann would never move away from Schlierbach. why?

“With this new regulation, we will have more time for viable solutions in the future and can prevent us from alienating the people of Lucerne with hasty savings such as an additional week of school holidays.”

The government council candidate also has a cozy side to him. He has a healthy dose of humor and likes to laugh, preferably at subtle things. He wrote a thesis on the Hermann Burger novel “Schilten” – a pitch-black satire on Swiss bureaucracy and complexity. The model for the school building in the “Report to the Inspectors’ Conference” is the school in Schiltwald (AG), two kilometers from Schlierbach. The bureaucracy satirically attacked in this novel is repugnant to Armin Hartmann. He likes to clarify things in principle. But with the aim of achieving simplifications and – in the spirit of a liberal attitude – to allow enough leeway for those involved.

Creating the basis for important decisions

A successful initiative by Armin Hartmann means that the government and parliament now have a year and a half instead of just half a year to react with appropriate savings measures to national bank subsidies that have been budgeted but then, at most, fail to materialise. “With this new regulation, we will have more time for viable solutions in the future and can prevent us from alienating the people of Lucerne with hasty savings such as an additional week of school holidays,” says Hartmann.

“Some things can be settled quickly and easily in personal encounters. Without regular exchange, people quickly get a thick neck and then react more violently than they really intend.”

It is important to him to start talking to people too early rather than too late. He appreciates the low-threshold contact. “Some things can be settled quickly and easily in personal encounters. That was not possible in the context of the corona pandemic. Without regular exchange, people quickly get a thick neck and then react more violently than they really intend.”

Preference for the Justice and Security Department

Which department would Hartmann take over if he were elected? “The finance department will not be free, I accept that,” he says. But with reference to the fact that he got to know all areas of politics in the course of his work, Armin Hartmann says: “I can very well imagine taking over the Justice and Security Department from Paul Winiker.”

He finds the organizational development of the police with the reduction of police stations and an increase in the corps “attractive”. “The construction of the new security center in Rothenburg and the new civil protection center in Sempach are also challenges that I would like to tackle.”

These are all projects in which Armin Hartmann’s mediation and consensus skills could come into their own. The question now is how the Lucerne voters will react to his candidacy. Until now, Hartmann has always been the capable problem solver in the background. He has never sought the spotlight of the public until now.

In In a short video, the government council candidates tell what motivates them and why they should be elected.

Is the undisputed expert enough showman?

In view of his 20 years of professional and political experience, there are probably not many who know the entire political spectrum of the canton of Lucerne as well as he does. With his undisputed specialist skills, he could also be considered as a chief official in the background or as a shadow minister. As someone you can always ask if you don’t know what to do anymore.

As soon as he was on the government council, Armin Hartmann would have to represent a lot. As head of department, he would not do the basic work himself, but would have to commission and monitor it from others. He would have to inspire the population, his colleagues and his department with visions. He is extroverted enough to seek conversation at any time. But is he also the showman that he should sometimes be as a government councillor?

The question must remain open, because he can also prove this. Armin Hartmann is the only government council candidate of the SVP and enjoys strong support, also from outside the party. And the following old adage should always be taken into account as a humanistic commandment: When someone takes on a new task, they often gain the ability to cope with it.