Covid turned new Swiss parliamentarian Farah Rumy into a fighter

The entry into the Swiss parliament of Farah Rumy, a Social Democrat, was one of the surprises of the federal elections last October. Rumy was clearly in the right place at the right time with the right issue – healthcare, which continues to occupy policy-makers. We met Rumy on the Grenchenberg in the Jura mountains of western Switzerland, which offers spectacular views at an altitude of almost 1,400 metres. Rumy chose this location for our meeting as it has a special significance for her, a Grenchen native. We stop off at the Untergrenchenberg restaurant, famous for its Crèmeschnitten, or vanilla slices, which actually play a role in Rumy's political work. Rumy's election to the House of Representatives last October came as a surprise, largely because she ran for the national parliament after just three years as a member of the Solothurn cantonal assembly and the Grenchen municipal council. For those setting out on a political career, this is part of what is known as the ...