Summary
After 15 years as city president of Freiburg, Thierry Steiert is not running again. The 63-year-old SP politician takes stock: successes such as the conversion of industrial operations into a private-law corporation and the redesign of the old town district are countered by failures such as the failed merger with agglomeration municipalities. Controversial measures such as speed limit 30 and parking policy divide the Freiburg city government internally and externally, while the urban-rural divide is becoming increasingly significant.
People
- Thierry Steiert
- Helmut Schmidt
- Willy Brandt
Topics
- Urban development Freiburg
- Traffic policy
- Failed merger plans
- Political career
- Handover of office
Clarus Lead
Thierry Steiert is saying goodbye after one and a half decades at the head of Freiburg's city government. In an interview, the SP politician takes stock of both achievements and unfinished projects – thereby revealing the limits of progressive urban politics in an increasingly divided agglomeration. The election of his successor is scheduled for March 8, 2026, while Steiert is deliberately withdrawing early enough to still shape new phases of life.
Clarus Value-Added Analysis
Clarus Research: Steiert governed through three complete legislative periods (approximately 5 years each) and systematically built his career: court clerk (legal foundation), finance commissioner (key to greater visibility), then city council member, finally city president. This sequencing shows the classic career path in Swiss cantonal governments.
Classification: The failed merger vote (2021) is a symptom of a structural problem that Steiert himself correctly diagnoses: the urban-rural divide is not local but European and is intensifying. His analysis – that agglomerations reject speed limit 30, while city dwellers demand parking fees – reveals conflicting mobility demands without a solution path.
Consequence: The old town redesign and the SINEF founding demonstrate that Steiert achieved operational successes where design flexibility existed (municipal infrastructure). On systemic questions (merger, regional cohesion, traffic) he reached limits. Successors must decide: densification inward (Freiburg remains ~40,000 inhabitants) or new merger attempt with clearer incentives for agglomeration municipalities.
Detailed Summary
Career Path and Political Socialization
Steiert came to politics as a teenager – through reading German Der Spiegel and admiration for Helmut Schmidt and Willy Brandt. Later he also became interested in Swiss social democracy. Joining the Juso youth organization at 17/18 years old marked the beginning, but Steiert describes himself as a "moderate social democrat" and was never entirely at home in the more radical Juso culture.
His legal training to become a lawyer was originally the planned main path. He worked as a court clerk and greatly enjoyed this work. The jump into full-time politics happened rather pragmatically: in 2011, city council member Maradon left her seat, Steiert was a logical successor and was elected with good results.
Family Entanglement in the Cantonal Government
Steiert's brother is or was a National Councilor and now sits in the cantonal government. This facilitates file management through direct channels. Both emphasize, however, that they see themselves bound to their respective offices and the interests of the state and city of Freiburg, not to family interests. In private meetings, they try not to get too bogged down in "file flooding" to avoid overloading the rest of the family.
Successes: Industrial Operations and Old Town Redesign
Steiert is proud of the 2015 conversion of the city's industrial operations into a private-law corporation (together with Freiburg's water company to form SINEF). This solution passed unanimously in the General Assembly and remains his best decision to this day – a success story that made operations more modern and efficient.
The second major achievement is the complete redesign of the old town district around the cathedral. The first phase was inaugurated in the last legislative period: traffic-free zone, new paving, complete redesign of the perimeter. The project corresponded to visualizations from ten years ago, is now reality, and Steiert observes that new restaurants and shops are emerging, terraces are opening – an "almost Mediterranean life" is spreading.
Defeats: The Failed Merger
The centerpiece of an unfinished legacy is the proposed merger between the city of Freiburg and its agglomeration municipalities. The goal was ambitious: Freiburg should double from ~40,000 to ~80,000 inhabitants and become a stronger cantonal center. However, the consultative vote in 2021 failed – contrary to Steiert's expectations, since at that time both the state council and the large council had taken clear merger positions.
Steiert mourns this defeat. He sees a deeper rift behind it: the urban-rural divide that affects not only Freiburg but splits society and politics across Europe. His response remains rather appellative: talk to each other, listen to each other, practice mutual understanding. He does not name concrete solution mechanisms.
Traffic Policy and the Speed Limit 30 Debate
One of the most controversial chapters is speed limit 30, which has applied almost everywhere in Freiburg for about two years. Steiert emphasizes that he and the city are not alone in this – the cities' association demands it on a cross-party basis, city presidents from FDP, CVP, and SVP face the same reality in other Swiss cities. Speed limit 30 improves quality of life and traffic safety; there was only "uproar" because Freiburg was first.
On parking policy: in a vote about a year and a half ago, the population voted against the city council that the first parking hour should be free. Steiert sees this as a small "side aspect" of mobility policy – the "free" element appealed more than ideological rejection. Critics of speed limit 30 live largely outside Freiburg; city dwellers benefit and mostly support it.
Freiburg's topography (hills), medieval building stock, and density of the urban perimeter significantly complicate traffic management. Steiert sees himself in constraints, not in ideological choices.
Reasons for Withdrawal
At 63 years old, after 15 years as a full-time city council member, Steiert takes stock: age approaches retirement age; the job is "demanding" if you invest 100%; private life and family deserve time; bicycle tours and other activities are still possible without being limited to school holidays. Steiert emphasizes multiple times that this withdrawal was planned – no moment of doubt.
The last weeks are not stressful but intense – many matters continue, it's about handing over files, transition, format decisions for successors.
Psychological Dimension and Projection
Steiert notes that he has become a "projection surface" for criticism – he has gotten used to that. At the beginning of his career, he took attacks personally; later he understood that this "comes with the job." Both the good and less good sides of the job must be accepted.
A welcome aspect of withdrawal is no longer being constantly attacked. But this did not drive him away – it is a bonus, not a reason.
The Cantonal Level Remains Open
Whether Steiert will run again in the cantonal parliament (fall elections) will be discussed only after the municipal elections (March 8). The city of Freiburg is losing one seat, so the remaining spots will be "hotly contested."
Future Wish and Symbolic Message
Steiert looks forward most to bicycle tours in seasons when he couldn't go before – not just during school holidays. Enjoying family again more. On the question of what message he would leave on a poster in front of the train station: It would have to be short, concise, and bilingual. A message that symbolizes Freiburg's bridge function – both metaphorically and literally through the city's real bridges.
Key Statements
- Stepping down after 15 years (three legislative periods) at age 63 is planned for Steiert; no moment of doubt marks this decision.
- Operational successes: SINEF founding (2015, industrial operations), old town redesign (traffic-free zone, new paving) – both considered realizations of planning.
- Structural defeats: merger vote 2021 fails despite state council and large council support; symptom of a European urban-rural divide, not a local problem.
- Speed limit 30 and parking policy divide but are Swiss standard; criticism comes disproportionately from outside the city.
- Steiert diagnoses problems (urban-rural divide) but offers rather appellative than institutional solutions (talk to each other, listen to each other).
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Group | Position | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Inner-city Freiburg residents | Support speed limit 30, old town redesign | Benefit from quality of life, new restaurants, safety |
| Agglomeration residents | Reject merger, criticize speed limit 30 | Remain excluded; city loses strategic growth |
| SINEF/Industrial operations | Use private-law corporation structure | Efficiency gains, modern governance |
| Steiert's successor | Must defend traffic policy, address merger question anew | High expectations, difficult starting position |
| Cantonal governments | Steiert's brother in cantonal government | Family network advantages, but also maintained distance |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Old town redesign as model for other districts | Traffic policy remains polarizing, can put next government under pressure |
| SINEF model proves itself long-term and is adopted | Merger fails permanently → Freiburg remains medium-sized city without growth potential |
| Young successors bring new energy, different perspectives | Urban-rural divide intensifies further → regional fragmentation |
| Steiert remains active as experienced councilor at cantonal level | Cantonal elections influence Freiburg city politics; loss of seat has effects |
Action Relevance
For decision-makers in Freiburg and the region:
Revisit merger question: Not with doubling (80,000), but start with smaller, incentive-based mergers (e.g., individual agglomeration municipalities with targeted traffic/infrastructure packages).
Institutionalize urban-rural dialogue: Regular rounds between city council and agglomeration presidents to deepen mutual understanding – not just appeals.
Evaluate traffic policy: After two years of speed limit 30 – collect data on accident reduction, air quality, economic impacts; communicate transparently.
Accompany handover: New city president needs clear file briefings (construction projects, ongoing processes, priorities).
Indicator: Number of city restaurants/shops, visitor numbers to old town, traffic accident statistics, merger willingness of agglomeration municipalities (survey 2027).