Martin Chevallaz

Born in Lausanne on 9 August 1948, Chevallaz was the son of former Federal Council member Georges-André Chevallaz and the brother of former National Council member Olivier Chevallaz [fr].^[2] He spent the early part of his career in the Swiss Armed Forces, receiving a promotion to major in 1985^[3] and later to lieutenant-colonel.^[4] However, his campaigning against the accession of Switzerland into the European Economic Area slowed down his military career, finally being promoted to brigadier in 1999.^[5][6] In 1987, he was named Vice-President of the Lausanne section of the Swiss Officers Association [fr], then to President the following year.^[7][8] He co-authored a French-language manifesto opposed to the reform of Army 95 [de] titled Manifeste pour une armée digne de ce nom.^[9]

In 1992, during the campaigning for the Referendum on Switzerland's accession to the European Economic Area [fr], Chevallaz was one of the most vocal French-language advocates against the measure.^[5] He opposed the Maastricht Treaty, criticizing its "socialist-inspired" ideals despite the fact that he "felt European".^[10] At the end of 1991, he led the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (ASIN), which employed him until the end of the referendum campaign.^[11] To support the campaign, he resigned from his post as a drill instructor.^[12] Throughout the campaign, he found himself at odds with the PRD, of which he was a member.^[5] The referendum narrowly failed on 6 December 1992, though more than 60% of votes in Romandy were in favor.^[13]

Following the campaign, Chevallaz was not reinstated as a drill instructor despite his disputed claims of a promised return.^[14] He continued to do temporary work for ASIN before obtaining an administrative position with the Armed Forces in 1993, finally receiving his promotion to brigadier in 1999.^[6] In 1993, he decided to leave the PRD.^[5] In 1994, he resigned as vice-president of ASIN over the association's opposition to the creation of a Swiss corps of United Nations peacekeeping forces, which he supported.^[15] He later left ASIN altogether over the tone it used in campaigns.^[16]

In 2002, Chevallaz joined the UDC despite disagreeing with its communication style. In that year's election [fr] to the Grand Council of Vaud, he won a mandate to represent the district of Pully.^[17][18] He held his seat until 31 December 2005.^[19][20] In 2004, following the resignation of Socialist Party member Pierre Chiffelle [fr], he named himself a candidate for the Council of State of Vaud without receiving approval from his party.^[6] However, he was still supported by the UDC, the PRD, and the Liberal Party.^[21] He was handily defeated by Socialist Party member Pierre-Yves Maillard, receiving 30% of the vote to Maillard's 63%.^[22] In 2005, he announced his retirement from politics after his promotion to Infantry Brigadier II.^[23]

In 2011, Chevallaz changed parties again due to the UDC's alleged "radicalization".^[24] That April, he was a founding member of the Vaud section of the PBD and became its first president.^[24] In 2012, he again ran for a seat on the Vaud Council of State but received 6% of the vote.^[25][26] He resigned as Vaud section president in 2012 following its "rapprochement" with the Christian Democratic Party.^[24] He then rejoined the UDC in 2016 and unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Épalinges.^[27] He was also a member of several environmental organizations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, Pro Alps [fr], and Écologie libérale [fr], which was committed to phasing out nuclear power.^[5][6]

Martin Chevallaz died on 5 December 2024, at the age of 76.^[28]