The voice from the printed prospectus

If you film the first of twelve pages of the brochure with the app "x-tend", the image suddenly moves - and a voice sounds from off-screen. "Switzerland. A nation of will. A nation that wants," she says. "Home to people who want. Who think, say, do what they want."

Three pages later, the app lets you film a picture of FDP President Petra Gössi. She then suddenly moves, strides towards the viewer and explains the liberal vision of Switzerland.

"Dear Swiss people, we are the party that believes in you. You should be able to make your decisions freely and independently," Petra Gössi says in the video. "We fight for your freedom every day. We are the party for all Swiss people. We don't pit city against country, poor against rich or young against old. Instead, we live public spirit."

The FDP also uses augmented reality on posters and flyers. The Free Democratic Party is relying on AR and virtual reality in the election campaign "because we also represent innovation and progress as a party and want to seize the opportunities of the future", as Matthias Leitner, the head of the party organisation, says.

A virtual reality film with Petra Gössi

The party has also made a virtual reality film with President Petra Gössi. "And we send VR cardboard goggles to all local parties, which they can use at stand campaigns, for example," says Leitner. Unlike augmented reality, with virtual reality the viewer enters a new world: The virtual world visually and acoustically takes the place of the real world.

The FDP also uses a small robot in its election campaign. "It is a very simple robot that guides us through the registration process for the Facebook application FDPush," Leitner says.

Other parties dispense with AR and VR

The FDP is the only party to use augmented reality and virtual reality in its election campaign. The SP, CVP, Greens and GLP state that they are not planning anything of the sort. The only thing that is unclear is what the SVP is doing. "The SVP uses many channels in the election campaign to mobilise voters," says spokesperson Andrea Sommer. "However, the SVP does not provide information on the channels or the financing of the election campaign.

However, the FDP does not rely entirely on AR and VR. It also uses more conventional elements. It has purchased an exhibition stand that local and cantonal parties can borrow for stand campaigns.

But above all, the party has bought a hot-air balloon from a balloonist for 30,000 francs. The balloonist will use it to advertise the FDP in the air for the next five years. And he will take Free Democrats on free flights.

Source: aargauerzeitung / FDP