Valérie Dittli quits "Le Centre" party, launches new liberal movement for re-election

Valérie Dittli, a Vaud cantonal government minister responsible for Agriculture and Digitalization, has announced her departure from the "Le Centre" party, a move that comes just six months before the cantonal elections. Dittli stated that the recent experiences within the party had become "too hard" and that she felt she had "no other choice" but to leave.

Dittli's decision to leave "Le Centre" is significant, as she is taking a third of the party's executive committee members with her. Among those departing are Jaqueline Bottlang-Pittet, the cantonal party's vice-president, who described the day as "a day of mourning," and Laurent Chaubert, president of "La Terre au Centre," along with Yannick Escher, the mayor of Henniez.

Looking ahead, Dittli plans to run for re-election to the Vaud cantonal government in 2027. She will do so under the banner of a newly formed political group, the "Mouvement libéral" (Liberal Movement). This move signals a clear break from her previous party affiliation and the establishment of a new political platform.

The departure raises questions about the internal dynamics and future direction of "Le Centre" in the Vaud region, particularly as cantonal elections approach. Dittli's decision to form a new movement suggests a strategic effort to build a distinct political identity and potentially attract voters seeking a liberal alternative.