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Benjamin Giezendanner

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Benjamin Giezendanner
Official portrait, 2019
Member of the National Council (Switzerland)
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 December 2019
ConstituencyCanton of Aargau
Member of the Grand Council of Aargau
In office
8 May 2001 – 5 November 2019
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Giezendanner

(1982-04-22) 22 April 1982 (age 42)
Langenthal, Bern, Switzerland
Political partySwiss People's Party
Spouse
Jasmine Litschi
​
​
(m. 2013)​
RelationsStefan Giezendanner (brother)
Children3
ParentUlrich Giezendanner
Residence(s)Rothrist, Switzerland
Alma materUniversity of St. Gallen (Licentiate I)
ProfessionBusinessman, politician
WebsiteOfficial website
Parliament website
Military service
Allegiance Switzerland
Branch/service Swiss Armed Forces
Years of service2001 - present
Rank Captain

Benjamin Giezendanner (German pronunciation: [bɛnjaˈmiːn ˈɡiːzəndaˌnɛr]; born 22 April 1982) is a Swiss businessman and politician who currently serves as a member of the National Council (Switzerland) for the Swiss People's Party (SVP) since 2019.[1] He previously served on the Grand Council of Aargau being elected as the youngest member only aged 18 in 2001.[2][3] In the 2023 Swiss federal election he was a candidate for Council of States (Switzerland), but lost election against Marianne Binder-Keller.[4][5][6] Giezendanner is the youngest son of former National Councillor Ulrich Giezendanner (b. 1953) and brother of incumbent Grand Councillor Stefan Giezendanner (b. 1978).

Early life and education

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Giezendanner was born 22 April 1982 in Langenthal, Switzerland, the youngest of three children to Ulrich Giezendanner, businessman and former politician, and his first wife Helene Giezendanner (née Rüegger; d. 1997).[7] His oldest brother, Oliver, died in early childhood.[8]

His paternal family originally hailed from Wattwil, St. Gallen, Switzerland. His grandfather Johann Ulrich Giezendanner formed Giezendanner Group in 1934, which specializes in transportation and logistics. A maternal great-grandfather was among the founders of Stahlrohr A.-G. (which would later be integrated into Benteler International).[9]

Giezendanner was raised in Rothrist, Switzerland, where he attended the local schools. He completed a banking apprenticeship at UBS in Aarau.[10] After spending nine months in San Diego, California, he returned to Switzerland, where he studied Economics at the University of St. Gallen (Licentiate I).[11] However, he did not graduate.[12][13]

Career

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After several years in banking, he took-over management of the family business in 2008 alongside his elder brother Stefan. He has been a controlling shareholder of the group since 2017 after his father Ulrich Giezendanner officially retired but remained on the board of directors. In the same year it became public, that the brothers will not continue to work together, and Stefan will step back from management by the end of 2018, due to internal discrepancies.[14]

Since 2018, Giezendanner has served as Chief executive officer of the Giezendanner companies headquartered in Rothrist, Switzerland with foreign subsidiaries in Cologne, Germany and Busto-Arsizio, Italy.[15] Handelszeitung estimated the annual turnover at CHF 60-70m ($65m to 75m in 2023).[16] Additionally he serves as the president of the Argovian Commercial Fund Association (German: Aargauischer Gewerbefonds).[17]

Politics

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In 2001, Giezendanner was elected to the Grand Council of Aargau. At the age of 18 he was the youngest elected councillor of all time. On October 23, 2016, he achieved the best result with 6049 votes in the elections for the Grand Council in the Zofingen District. In 2017, he was elected Speaker of Parliament with 134 out of 135 votes.[18][19] In October 2019, Giezendanner ran in the elections to the National Council[20] and was elected, subsequently he resigned from his position in the Grand Council which he held for over 16 years.[21]

Benjamin Giezendanner's political focus is on trade and economic policy, transport and security policy as well as family policy. He has been a board member of the Aargau Trade Association since 2016 and President since 2020.[22][23] He has been a member of the board of trustees of the Aargau Foundation for Freedom and Responsibility in Politics and Business since 2015.[24]

In 2022, Giezendanner made public, that he intents to campaign for a seat on the Council of States.[25][26][27] During the 2023 Swiss federal election which was held on 23 October 2023, Giezendanner missed direct election and was ultimately selected for second ballot elections which was held in November.[28][29] He ultimately lost the election against Marianne Binder-Keller, who was elected with 84,431 votes, missing roughly 5,000 votes.[30]

Personal life

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He is married to Jasmine (née Litschi[31]) Giezendanner, who also grew-up in Rothrist, and has three daughters. They reside in Rothrist, Switzerland.[32]

In the Swiss Armed Forces he holds the rank as captain.

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References

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  1. ^ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". Federal Assembly. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. ^ Schweizer, Oliver (2022-11-04). "Benjamin Giezendanner über seine Ständeratskandidatur, die bevorstehenden Bundesratswahlen und den Fall Naveen Hofstetter". Zofinger Tagblatt (in German). Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  3. ^ "Benjamin Giezendanner (SVP) ist 2017 höchster Aargauer". TagesWoche (in Swiss High German). 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  4. ^ "Ständeratswahl 2023 – Benjamin Giezendanner" (in German). Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  5. ^ Cavalli, Rolf (2023-09-16). "Charmant, laut und mit Diesel im Blut: So tickt SVP-Kandidat Benjamin Giezendanner". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  6. ^ Schäfer, Fabian (2023-11-19). "Wahlen: Fährt die SVP im Ständerat Verluste ein?". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). ISSN 0376-6829. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  7. ^ "Benjamin Giezendanner spricht zum Muttertag über seine verstorbene Mutter". Schweizer Illustrierte (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  8. ^ Ulrich Giezendanner über Gott und Laster - Fenster zum Sonntag, retrieved 2023-09-18
  9. ^ Min. 00:48 https://www.argoviatoday.ch/aargau-solothurn/wir-wurden-von-dieser-nachricht-sehr-ueberrascht-150227509
  10. ^ Rundschau - Erd-Rutsch - Play SRF (in German), retrieved 2023-01-25
  11. ^ Freiämter Nr. 67, August 2017 https://www.facebook.com/benjamingiezendannerofficial/photos/artikel-von-dieser-woche-im-frei%C3%A4mter-ein-wiedersehen-nach-19-jahren-mit-meinem-/1188761137936626/?paipv=0&eav=AfYYO0ceYeGSrRGkHRmyu9JM2hOlnsy20yF-LUv2QNc2qCQAUoA-Tsqe_6ia-8wQ-A4&_rdr
  12. ^ Salvisberg, Emiliana (2018-01-21). "Grosses Interview - Benjamin Giezendanner: «Nur einmal habe ich die Limousine ‹missbraucht›»". Luzerner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  13. ^ "Erfolg in der Nische". Die Weltwoche (in German). 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  14. ^ "Familienzoff bei Ulrich Giezendanner (in German)". Blick. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  15. ^ ag, alogis; Zofingen, ADi AG Agentur für Digitales. "Giezendanner Transport AG". www.giezendanner-rothrist.ch (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  16. ^ "SVP-Nationalrat Benjamin Giezendanner im Kurzporträt". Handelszeitung (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  17. ^ Karpf, Raphael (2021-01-13). "Aargauer Gewerbeverbands-Präsident - Benjamin Giezendanner: «Wenn ich daran denke, wie viel das kosten wird, wird mir übel»". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  18. ^ "Grosser Rat - Benjamin Giezendanner (SVP) ist 2017 höchster Aargauer". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  19. ^ "Grosser Rat Aargau - Benjamin Giezendanner (SVP) ist neu höchster Aargauer". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  20. ^ admin (2022-10-28). "SVP-Giezendanner wants to become a member of the Council of States". Switzerland Times. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  21. ^ Regional, S. D. A. "Benjamin Giezendanner (SVP) tritt als Aargauer Grossrat zurück". Nau (in German). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  22. ^ Küng, Mathias. "Aargauer Gewerbepräsident Giezendanner zu hohen Energiepreisen". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  23. ^ agv.ch. "Organe". agv.ch (in German). Retrieved 2023-01-25.[permanent dead link‍]
  24. ^ "Aargauische Stiftung für Freiheit und Verantwortung in Politik und Wirtschaft". Moneyhouse. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  25. ^ Hägler, Fabian. "Benjamin Giezendanner will in den Ständerat – Bircher verzichtet". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  26. ^ Schweizer, Oliver (2022-11-04). "Benjamin Giezendanner über seine Ständeratskandidatur, die bevorstehenden Bundesratswahlen und den Fall Naveen Hofstetter". Zofinger Tagblatt (in German). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  27. ^ Cavalli, Rolf. "Ständeratswahlen: Benjamin Giezendanner ist Favorit in der SVP". Luzerner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  28. ^ "2. Wahlgang: SVP Aargau nominert Benjamin Giezendanner einstimmig - Regionaljournal Aargau Solothurn - SRF". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  29. ^ "Es bleibt spannend: Das ist der Stand bei den Ständeratswahlen in den Kantonen". Watson (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  30. ^ "Ständerat Kanton Aargau - Überraschung: Marianne Binder (Mitte) ist Ständerätin". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  31. ^ "Todesanzeigenportal.ch - die grösste Plattform für Traueranzeigen in der Schweiz". www.todesanzeigenportal.ch. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  32. ^ "Benjamin Giezendanner in Rothrist". Moneyhouse (in German). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
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