My Commitment to Montreux

In 2011, I was elected to the Montreux Communal Council, determined to play an active role in decisions shaping the daily life and future of my municipality.

Over eleven years, this commitment gave me an in-depth understanding of how local institutions operate, the challenges of public administration and the mechanisms of democratic decision-making.

I notably served as a parliamentary group leader, coordinating political positions, preparing debates and seeking solutions among representatives with sometimes very different perspectives.

My work on the Finance Committee also deepened my understanding of public budgets, municipal resource management and the difficult choices required to balance political ambitions with financial realities.

Throughout successive council terms, I participated in numerous debates and committee proceedings, guided by the conviction that local public policy must combine long-term vision, pragmatism and responsibility.

This experience represents an important dimension of my journey. It taught me to stand by my convictions, listen to differing viewpoints and seek constructive compromises in an environment where every decision has consequences for the community.

Beyond my role on the Communal Council, I gradually became involved in election campaign strategy and organisation, an area that brought together several aspects of my professional experience: marketing, communication, team coordination and project development.

In 2015, I served as campaign manager for Jean-Baptiste Piemontesi, a candidate in the by-election for the Montreux municipal executive. The campaign resulted in his election and proved to be a particularly valuable experience in strategy, communication and mobilisation.

That same year, I also contributed to Laurent Wehrli's successful campaign for election to the Swiss National Council, gaining insight into the challenges of campaigning on a broader political stage.

In 2016, I became involved in the PLR Montreux-Veytaux local elections, particularly through the concept “Être Montreusien, c'est…” (“Being from Montreux means…”), designed to highlight local identity and residents' connection to their municipality.

These experiences helped me develop an approach combining strategic vision, audience understanding, communication and collective mobilisation.

Above all, they confirmed my belief that a successful campaign depends not only on a message or an individual, but on the ability to build shared momentum, bring people together and give meaning to a common project.

After eleven years on the Montreux Communal Council and involvement in several election campaigns, I decided in 2026 to take a new step by founding Tellement Montreux, an independent civic movement created to offer a different approach to shaping the future of my municipality.

Guided by the motto “The movement for those who live in Montreux”, we developed a project built around six core values: courage, conviction, humility, honesty, inspiration and impartiality.

From creating the movement's identity and developing its political programme to assembling a team of candidates, I assumed responsibility for leading the movement as its president and managing its first election campaign.

Our programme was structured around ten commitments addressing key local issues, including municipal finances, economic attractiveness, mobility, public services and quality of life in Montreux.

In the municipal elections of 8 March 2026, Tellement Montreux did not secure a seat on the Communal Council, and my candidacy for the municipal executive was unsuccessful. Although these results fell short of our ambitions, they were also part of the experience and lessons learned from our first campaign.

Beyond the electoral outcome, this initiative was an especially valuable experience in project creation, leadership, strategic communication and collective mobilisation.

Above all, it reminded me that taking initiative also means accepting risks, standing publicly by one's convictions and taking full responsibility for the outcomes of one's commitments.

My connection to Montreux has always extended well beyond my political involvement. Since my earliest volunteering experiences in gymnastics, I have had the opportunity to contribute to numerous community, sporting and cultural initiatives that enrich life in my municipality.

Through the Arthur Gander Memorial, followed by events I helped create or organise, I discovered the strength of the local community network and the essential role of volunteering in bringing collective projects to life.

My involvement with Montreux Gymnastique, the creation of Montreux Acrobaties and the organisation of international sporting competitions enabled me to work alongside volunteers, businesses, public institutions and sports federations, united by a common ambition: to bring Montreux to life and strengthen its international profile.

In 2016, I also joined the Board of Trustees of the Montreux Comedy Festival, gaining insight into another dimension of cultural development, organisational governance and relationships between events, partners and public authorities.

These commitments have convinced me that the vitality of a town depends as much on the initiatives of its residents as on the decisions of its institutions.

They have also reinforced a conviction that runs throughout my career: sport, culture and community life provide exceptional opportunities for connection, sharing knowledge and strengthening social cohesion.

For me, contributing to Montreux has always meant putting my experience, professional network and energy at the service of projects that go beyond individual interests.