Having finished first in the first round of the Geneva City Council elections and now preparing for the second round, Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste, PS) mayor Christina Kitsos emphasized the importance of maintaining a left-wing majority in the city administration and called on all eligible voters to go to the polls.

The second round of the Geneva cantonal municipal elections will take place on April 13. Candidates who were unable to secure an absolute majority in the first round on March 26 will now compete once again. Voters will return to the polls to elect representatives for the municipal governing bodies. In the Geneva City Council, voters will elect the five-member Executive Council (Conseil administratif). The left-wing parties in the city, which are participating under a unified platform, aim to maintain their majority within the council. In the first round, no candidate received the required absolute majority of 20,100 votes. In these elections, which will determine the leadership of a city home to over 190 nationalities and of great significance on the international stage, the votes of migrants play a decisive role. In Geneva, migrants who are Swiss citizens, as well as those who have resided in the city for at least eight years, are eligible to vote. Among the most active communities in the city are the Kurds and Turkish democrats. As the ANF, we spoke with Socialist Party candidate and current Geneva City Mayor Christina Kitsos—who received the highest number of votes in the first round with 18,697 and is widely expected to win in the second round—about the importance of migrant votes, the political participation of the Kurdish community in Geneva, and the political priorities of people from Kurdistan.

You did not reach the required majority in the first round, but you still emerged as the leading candidate. You are now widely expected to win the second round. How do you explain this success?

I believe these results reflect public recognition of a solid record during the last legislative term. We have achieved many goals aimed at promoting equality and social justice. Among the major initiatives was the strengthening—and now year-round implementation—of emergency housing measures for people experiencing homelessness. Family policies were also central. We created new spaces in childcare facilities, worked to revalue professions that are predominantly occupied by women, and focused on youth policies. We did not forget the young people who struggled during the pandemic. In the post-pandemic period, we are seeing a rise in inequalities, and these young people need specific measures to help them access the job market or, for example, find housing. We also addressed elderly care policies. In particular, we worked to combat the isolation of older people and to increase financial support for those receiving retirement (AVS) or disability (AI) benefits but still struggle to make ends meet.

How important are the votes of migrants living in Geneva in the second round of the elections on April 13?

Geneva is a multicultural city with people from over 190 different nationalities. In fact, the city’s internal dynamics are largely shaped by migratory flows. Today, we are witnessing an inverted population pyramid, and if this society still functions, it is thanks to the migrant women and men who have come to Switzerland and to Geneva. We are already experiencing labor shortages in many sectors, and we can clearly see that this will become even more severe as the population continues to age. In this context, we do not have unlimited options. Either we will make every effort to welcome and integrate migrants, or we will need to develop our family policies—for example, by expanding parental leave. Birth rates have been falling sharply in Switzerland, and particularly in Geneva. Migrant communities who have lived in Geneva for more than eight years have the right to vote—even if they are not yet Swiss citizens. Many people are not even aware of this right. So, the first step is to inform these communities and tell them: “You have the right to vote, and you can choose the people who will represent you.” At the same time, some communities are very aware and active in this regard. For example, the Kurdish community is one of the most politically engaged groups. This is rooted in the Kurdish people’s historical struggle and their ongoing fight for justice and recognition. It is therefore not surprising that the Kurdish people are politically active in Geneva, just as they are in other parts of the world.

What role can Geneva and its municipal government—given the city’s importance in international politics and human rights protection—play in response to the oppression faced by these people in their homelands?

Geneva is a global city. This is the place where the Geneva Conventions were signed. Today, we are living in a period in which multilateralism is being seriously undermined, respect for international humanitarian law is being neglected, and that law is being violated. It is our responsibility to clearly and loudly reaffirm the fundamental principles of human rights—dialogue, cooperation, freedom, justice, and the right of peoples to self-determination. These principles are what can guarantee a people’s right to self-governance. That is why, especially in these difficult and turbulent times, it is essential to strengthen Geneva’s role. The only way to achieve this is by building unity, seeking opportunities for cooperation, and strengthening ties between countries, cities, and communities that share the same values. The Geneva City Council has already addressed several motions presented by our council members concerning the situation in Kurdistan. The main purpose of addressing this issue at the municipal level is to ensure that it also reaches the cantonal and federal levels—since foreign relations are primarily shaped at those levels. Furthermore, within the Socialist Party, we have many comrades at the federal level who are deeply engaged with the Kurdish question. I am in direct contact with them.

One of the longstanding concerns of the Kurdish community in Geneva has been the conditions under which Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan has been held in captivity for over 26 years in Turkey. For more than three years, a continuous vigil has been held in front of the United Nations Office in Geneva, demanding his freedom. Given Abdullah Öcalan’s call made on February 27, and the ongoing action in Geneva, what can the city administration do to help amplify these demands?

I myself have participated in some of the demonstrations that were organized either in support of Mr. Öcalan’s freedom or in response to developments concerning his situation. I took the floor to express my solidarity with the Kurdish people and to emphasize the need to uphold fundamental rights. We are aware that there has been a long period during which no information could be obtained about Mr. Öcalan’s health or prison conditions. We also see that calls for peace and proposals made from a universal, humanitarian perspective are often not taken into consideration. This has been going on for many years. Appeals for his release and for respect for basic rights continue to be made. We have also witnessed international youth movements gathering in Geneva, especially at the Place des Nations in front of the United Nations (UN), to call for his freedom. Despite all these efforts, decisions are still made by states—and very often, those decisions are arbitrary. Nevertheless, the struggle must continue. As the municipal administration, we will continue to stand in solidarity with these demands. Mr. Öcalan has repeatedly made calls for a peaceful and democratic resolution to the Kurdish question, but unfortunately, no meaningful change has occurred due to the state's position. We do not yet know how they will respond to his most recent appeal. But it is clear that the way the government operates in Turkey affects all peoples of the country and anyone who defends human rights. Women, journalists, intellectuals, and writers—everyone is being targeted. And we see that everyone who supports these struggles pays a price.

You have previously expressed solidarity with the mayors in Kurdish provinces who were removed from office and replaced with state-appointed trustees. Recently, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem Imamoğlu, was also targeted. What would you like to say about these attacks on local governments in Turkey?

Through your platform, I would like to once again express my solidarity with the mayors who have been removed from office and imprisoned. Not long ago, we held a conference in Geneva on the Council of Europe (CoE), with the participation of the Secretary General, Alain Berset. That event confirmed, once again, that the concept of the rule of law is under serious threat—not only in Turkey, but in several other countries as well. The rule of law is only possible if the judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches. If the judiciary is not independent from political power, then the rule of law cannot exist. From that point on, anything becomes possible—even the worst outcomes. And that is exactly what we are witnessing today. One of the fundamental pillars of the rule of law is the separation of powers, but respect for human rights is just as essential. What we see in Turkey is the collapse of the rule of law. The arbitrary and unjust imprisonment of an elected official, without due legal process, is a clear sign of authoritarian rule. Beyond that, it sends a dangerous message to citizens, to democratic parties, and to all those who defend human rights, justice, equality, and freedom: that being politically active and standing up for your rights is dangerous—and could even cost you your life. When we reach such a point, it means that the rule of law and democracy have effectively come to an end.

Do you have any message for the upcoming Geneva Executive Council elections on April 13?

The second round of the elections will be held on April 13, 2025. Together with my colleague Joëlle Bertossa from the Socialist Party, and Alfonso Gomez and Marjorie de Chastonay from the Green Party, we are running as four candidates in alliance. For us, maintaining a left-wing majority in Geneva’s city administration is of great importance. Across Europe—and even here in Switzerland and Geneva—we are seeing the rise of populist movements. That is why preserving the left majority is truly a critical issue for us. With all this in mind, I call on all eligible voters living in Geneva to cast their votes—either by using the ballots that have been sent to their homes or by going to the polling stations, which will remain open until noon on April 13.

Finally, I want to express my full admiration, support, and solidarity with the Kurdish people. The Kurdish people have demonstrated extraordinary courage time and again in their struggle for self-determination, freedom, and justice. Kurdish women have shown us what courage truly means—and this is a powerful lesson for all of us. As I have stated on several occasions during different demonstrations: Abdullah Öcalan must be released, and a just and lasting solution must finally be found for the Kurdish people.