Werner Nussbaumer launches the "Viva Ticino" party for the cantonal elections

A new party is preparing to enter the race for the cantonal elections in April. It is called "Viva Ticino" and was presented on Thursday at a press conference, with the aim of fielding a complete list for the election of the Council of State.

Behind the project are Werner Nussbaumer and other figures who left HelvEthica Ticino, after the national party stripped the cantonal section of the right to use its name and symbol. For the doctor from Gravesano, however, that chapter is not yet closed: Nussbaumer remains on HelvEthica's committee, keeping a foot in both camps.

The programme of "Viva Ticino" takes up that of the group which won two seats in the Grand Council in 2023. It is based on respect for human dignity and the fundamental rights of all citizens.

"Idee un po' rivoluzionarie" (somewhat revolutionary ideas)

Speaking to RSI, Nussbaumer, who is no stranger to switching political colours, said he remains «sempre uguale» (always the same), even though he has repeatedly changed the name of the parties under which he has run, with his «idee un po' rivoluzionarie» (somewhat revolutionary ideas). He added: «Spero che la gente abbia aperto gli occhi e abbia capito che quello che dico da 20 o 30 anni ora si avvera: sempre meno libertà e più costrizioni, uno Stato che va malissimo e la gente che fa sempre più fatica a vivere» (I hope people have opened their eyes and understood that what I have been saying for 20 or 30 years is now coming true: less and less freedom and more constraints, a state that is doing very badly, and people finding it increasingly hard to live).

For April, the ambition is to win a seat in government, with the aim of taking over the Department of Health and Social Affairs. Nussbaumer proposes cutting health insurance premiums by 30%, by focusing on preventive medicine, which he calls the most important lever, and by fighting waste. «Oggi la medicina è diventata purtroppo un'industria dove ognuno fa i propri interessi sulle spalle dei pazienti» (Today medicine has unfortunately become an industry where everyone pursues their own interests at the expense of patients), he said.

In parliament, "Viva Ticino" aims to form its own group, which requires five members.