From City Hall to Bern: Zürich's Greens Send a New Face to Parliament
A generational handover is underway in Zürich's Green party, with one of its most prominent figures stepping up to the national stage.
Anna-Béatrice Schmaltz, 33, took over Balthasar Glättli's seat in the Nationalrat on 27 April 2026, after Glättli was elected to the Zürich Stadtrat in the city elections held on 8 March. The succession was a direct consequence of the Greens' historic result that day: for the first time, the party now holds three seats in the city executive, with Glättli joining incumbents Daniel Leupi and Karin Rykart.
Schmaltz has worked since 2018 as a project director in the prevention of gender-based violence, leading the national 16 Days Against Violence Against Women campaign. Her political focus is markedly different from Glättli's, less climate, more social policy. Even politicians from opposing parties have noted her reputation as a well-prepared, substantive operator. She has been quick to flag the distinction herself, telling the Tages-Anzeiger she and Glättli share values but have different priorities — and that she is, in her own words, not Glättli in a younger version.
She was sworn in at the start of the special session in Bern, joining five other new members of parliament, four from the SP and one other Green. Her first session included debate on the democracy initiative, which would simplify naturalisation rules, an appropriate debut for a politician whose agenda centres on inclusion, equality, and representation.
