Wir müssen reden

Islam Alijaj has a severe, clearly visible and audible disability due to cerebral palsy. He is a second-generation immigrant with roots in Kosovo and bears the name Islam. These are traits that a successful politician is not expected to have. Nevertheless, he aims to become a member of the Swiss National Council. It’s essentially a mission impossible—if Islam Alijaj were not Islam Alijaj and if the time were not ripe for someone like him.

In 2022, Alijaj was unexpectedly elected to the Zurich municipal council. The 36-year-old politician not only demonstrates intelligence and charm, but he is also remarkably persistent, ambitious, power-conscious, and sometimes even megalomaniacal. His goal: to revolutionize the disability sector in Switzerland, to take the lead as a disabled person, so that those who truly understand the issues can have a voice. “Nothing about us without us” should be the guiding principle for future political discourse in society.

On October 22, 2023, the elections for the Swiss Parliament will take place. Will Islam Alijaj make it to the Federal Palace? This book is a biography, a manifesto, and a contribution to the discussion.