Wiedikon Neighbourhood Association Rejects City Subsidy Deal and Elects New President
The 110th Annual General Meeting of the Quartierverein Wiedikon drew record attendance and produced two major decisions that will shape the association's future.
The Quartierverein Wiedikon held its 110th General Assembly on 26 March 2026 at the Johanneum on Aemtlerstrasse — and it turned out to be one of the most eventful in recent memory. With 189 voting members in attendance, a new record, the evening covered everything from a leadership handover to a heated debate over the association's relationship with the city.
A New Face at the Top
After years of steady leadership under Urs Rauber, the association has a new president: Josef "Sepp" Widler, a doctor, cantonal councillor, and familiar face from Zürich's local television coverage during the pandemic years. Widler, who has served on the board for around eight years, was elected with a strong mandate. His stated goal is straightforward — develop the association further and attract younger members.
Rauber's departure was marked by a warm send-off. Treasurer Flurin Capaul delivered a 15-minute tribute, recounting among other things how Rauber helped organise the 500th anniversary celebrations of Orell Füssli — a story that reportedly even made it into the gossip column Inside Paradeplatz. The room gave him a standing ovation.
The broader board also saw a notable generational shift, with four new members elected unanimously, including Anton Auer, just 21 years old, who takes on the lead for IT and Youth.
No to the City's Subsidy Contract
The evening's most contentious moment came over a subsidy agreement proposed by the City of Zürich for the period 2025–2028. The board itself was divided on whether to sign, and two members formally requested that the full assembly decide.
What followed was a lively debate — even as dinner sat waiting. Critics argued the contract threatened the association's independence, imposed excessive bureaucracy, required one-sided reporting obligations, and effectively banned cash transactions. One member with a legal background noted there was no new legal basis for the subsidy at all.
When the votes were counted: 88 against signing, 76 in favour, 23 abstentions. Wiedikon joins the neighbouring Altstetten association in rejecting the contract, with similar debates now underway in Wipkingen and Kreis 5.
To partially offset the lost city funding, members voted to raise annual membership fees from CHF 20 to CHF 30 starting in 2027.
By the Numbers
Membership has grown to 1,391 — up 118 from the previous year. The 2025 accounts came in close to break-even, with a small loss of CHF 5,878 largely attributable to the Brupbimärt event.
The Evening Closes on a Lighter Note
The assembly ended with a spoken word performance by Stefanie Grob, described as the fastest-talking person in Bern, who brought the crowd to laughter with reflections on what happiness means in everyday life — from a working washing machine to keeping crisps intact in a backpack.
The Quartierverein Wiedikon represents residents of one of Zürich's most active and engaged neighbourhoods. Its next general assembly will be held in spring 2027.
