Patrick Walder

Patrick Walder is a Swiss politician and former president of the Zürcher SVP (Swiss People’s Party) who is currently facing legal challenges related to allegations of racial discrimination. He became a prominent figure during a crisis in the party in 2019, when he was appointed as interim president to lead the party through critical national elections. His involvement in a controversial media statement that criticized Eritrean asylum seekers, following a tragic incident in Germany, has led to accusations of inciting racial discrimination. Walder maintains that he is not legally culpable for the published statements, asserting that they were intended to critique Swiss asylum policy rather than to incite hatred against a specific group. His case has garnered significant public attention and raises questions about the limits of political speech in Switzerland.