Obituary for Alfred Heer (1961–2025)

Alfred “Fredi” Heer passed away in Zurich on September 18/19, 2025. With his passing, Switzerland has lost a prominent figure in political life who shaped the Federal Parliament for many years, but also a person who lived his heritage and family history with palpable pride.

Alfred Heer was born in Zurich in 1961 and grew up there, but his original home town was Glarus. Over the years, this connection to the Glarus mountains and his family history became a matter close to his heart. He contacted me via the State Archives in Glarus to find out more about his roots. I was able to help him fill in the gaps in his family tree and explain genealogical connections. This was a key experience for him: he was thrilled to suddenly discover lines and connections that had previously remained hidden from him.

From then on, he began to specifically approach council colleagues and friends with Glarus family names and often asked me if a connection to their families could be established. It was always a pleasure for me to be able to show him these connections – and for him, it was always a great moment when he was able to discover new facets of his ancestry. His pride in his Glarus heritage was deep and sincere, and he was visibly moved to be part of a long, living history.

His political involvement began at the local level. From 1994 to 1998, he was a member of the Zurich City Council, then from 1995 to 2008 a member of the Zurich Cantonal Council. Early on, he made a name for himself as a straightforward, combative politician who vigorously represented the concerns of his party and constituents. In 2007, he made the move to the national stage: in the federal elections, Alfred Heer was elected to the National Council, where he has served without interruption ever since.

His work was not limited to his role as a National Council member. From 2009 to 2016, he was president of the Zurich SVP and led the cantonal party through turbulent years. In the Federal Parliament, he was involved in the Control Committee and the Control Delegation, where he also took over the chairmanship. In addition, he represented Switzerland in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 2011, where he served as vice-president and president of the Swiss delegation for a time. His main areas of focus were state independence, migration, direct democracy, and critical oversight of the federal administration.

Alfred Heer was known for his clear, often pointed language. He did not shy away from confrontation and sought debate—always driven by the conviction that politics requires clear positions and a consistent stance. At the same time, however, he also had a very personal side: his joy in his ancestors, discovering connections and talking about his origins and identity were a counterbalance to his everyday political life.

With his death, Switzerland has lost a politician who left his mark not only through his commitment in the Federal Parliament, but also through his passion for history and his origins. Alfred Heer was a Zurich native through and through, who at the same time carried and cherished his Glarus roots with pride. His memory lives on – as a combative National Council member, as a committed representative of his party, and as a person who found meaning, joy, and perhaps also a measure of peace in exploring his family history.