Martin Candinas | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Member of the National Council | |
| Assumed office 5 December 2011 | |
| Constituency | Grisons |
| President of the National Council | |
| In office 28 November 2022 –3 December 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Irène Kälin |
| Succeeded by | Eric Nussbaumer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 August 1980 Ilanz,Switzerland |
| Party | The Centre (until 2020 CVP) |
Martin Candinas (born 20 August 1980 [1] ) is a politician of The Center (DM) a member of the National Council of Switzerland.
Candidas was born in Ilanz and graduated with a Matura from high school in Chur. [2] [1]
He worked for health insurance Helsana. [2] In 2006 he was promoted to branch director in Chur. [2] After he was elected to the National Council in 2011,he decreased his pensum to 50%. [3] Until 2017 he was in charge of the sales department at the Helsana branches in Samedan,Chur and Glarus. [3] In 2017 he became a specialist in Partner- and Key account management. [3] In 2016 he assumed the presidencies of the Swiss Helicopter Association and Litra,which provides information on public transport. [3]
At age 26,the youngest at the time,Candinas entered the Grand Council of Grisons [4] in 2006. [1] In the Federal Elections of 2011,he was elected to the National Council. [4] He was subsequently re-elected in 2015 and 2019. [4] He was considered as an Executive Councilor in Grisons for the elections in 2018,but he declined. [3] In 2021,he assumed the Vice-Presidency of the National Council and elected [5] to the rotating Presidency in November 2022. [4] The Canton of Grisons had not had a President of the National Council for thirty-seven years [6] and his election was celebrated in attendance of the Federal Councilor Viola Amherd in the Disentis Abbey and later Chur. [7]
Candinas defended the interests of the mountainous cantons. He supported the farmers in their aim to be allowed to hunt wolves and suggested that municipalities with over 20% of vacation homes should be allowed to provide inhabitants with options to enlarge their homes. [4] He opposed gay marriage, [4] because he believes that the possibility to adopt a child should only be possible for a man and a woman. [8] He is one of only three members in the National Council who speak Romansh and as the National Council's Vice-President,he used to begin sessions with a phrase in his native language,which he has stated,he will do as its president. [4]
Candinas is married [1] and is the father of three children. He speaks Romansh,Switzerland's fourth official language. [4]