2015 Swiss federal election

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2015 Swiss federal election
Switzerland
← 2011 18 October 2015 2019 →
All 200 seats in the National Council (101 seats needed for a majority)
All 46 seats in the Council of States (24 seats needed for a majority)
Turnout48.4%
Party Leader % Seats ±
National Council
Swiss People's Toni Brunner 29.4% 65 +11
Social Democrats Christian Levrat 18.8% 43 -3
FDP.The Liberals Philipp Müller 16.4% 33 +3
Christian Democrats Christophe Darbellay 11.6% 27 -1
Greens Adèle Thorens
Regula Rytz 		7.1% 11 -4
Green Liberals Martin Bäumle 4.6% 7 -5
BDP Martin Landolt 4.1% 7 -2
Evangelical People's Marianne Streiff 1.9% 2 0
Lega Attilio Bignasca 1.0% 2 0
Labour Gavriel Pinson 0.4% 1 +1
CSP Obwalden Sepp Stalder 0.4% 1 0
Geneva Citizens' Roger Golay 0.3% 1 0
Council of States
Christian Democrats 13 0
FDP.The Liberals 13 +2
Social Democrats 12 +1
Swiss People's 5 0
Greens 1 -1
BDP 1 0
Independent 1 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
National Council of Switzerland 2015 election winner by canton.svg
Map of Swiss cantons shaded by the party that won the most votes in elections to the National Council

■ – SVP/UDC ■ – CVP/PDC ■ – FDP/PLR
■ – SPS/PSS ■ – BDP/PBD

■ – CSP OW

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 18 October 2015 for the National Council and the first round of elections to the Council of States, with runoff elections to the Council of States being held in various cantons until 22 November.[1][2]

Results showed a shift, due to voter concerns regarding refugee immigration, to the right and increased support for the three largest parties, with the strong showing of Swiss People's Party and FDP.The Liberals possibly affecting future reforms of energy, social security and tax issues, as well as the make-up of the seven-member government.[3][4][5]

The Swiss People's Party won a record number of seats, taking a third of the 200-seat lower house. The SVP received the highest proportion of votes of any Swiss political party since 1919, when proportional representation was first introduced,[6] and it received more seats in the National Council than any other political party since 1963, when the number of seats was set at 200.[7]

The federal election was followed by the 2015 Swiss Federal Council election on 9 December 2015, where the SVP won a second seat on the Federal Council.[8]

Electoral system[]

The 200 members of the National Council were elected by plurality in six single-member constituencies, and by proportional representation in 20 multi-member constituencies, with the 26 constituencies being the 26 cantons.[9] The elections were held using the open list system where voters could cross out names on party lists, with voters also able to split their vote between parties (a system known as panachage) or draw up their own list on a blank ballot. Seats are allocated using the Hagenbach-Bischoff system.[10]

The 46 members of the Council of States were elected in 20 two-seat constituencies (representing the 20 full cantons) and six single-member constituencies (representing the six half-cantons). In Jura and Neuchâtel the elections were held using proportional representation, whilst the other 24 use the majority system.[11]

Compulsory voting was in force in the canton of Schaffhausen for both elections.[12]

Campaign[]

The parties contesting the elections were:

Political party Leader Political spectrum
Swiss People's Party (SVP) Toni Brunner Right-wing
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SP) Christian Levrat Centre-left to left-wing
FDP.The Liberals (FDP) Philipp Müller Centre-right
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland (CVP/PDC) Christophe Darbellay Centre to centre-right
Green Party of Switzerland (GPS) Adèle Thorens, Regula Rytz Left-wing
Green Liberal Party of Switzerland (glp) Martin Bäumle Centre
Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland (BDP) Martin Landolt Centre to centre-right
Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland (EVP) Marianne Streiff Centre
Ticino League (TL) Attilio Bignasca Right-wing
Alternative Left (AL) Frédéric Charpié Left-wing
Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (EDU) Hans Moser Right-wing
Christian Social Party (Switzerland) (CSP) Marius Achermann Centre-left
Geneva Citizens' Movement (MCG) Roger Golay Right-wing

Opinion polls[]

Date Institution SVP SPS FDP CVP GPS BDP GLP EVP AL EDU LEGA CSP MCG Other Lead
18 October 2015 2015 Elections 29.4% 18.8% 16.4% 11.6% 7.1% 4.1% 4.6% 1.9% 1.2% 1.2% 1.0% 0.2% 0.3% – 10.6%
2 October 2015 Sotomo/20min[permanent dead link] 29.0% 18.4% 15.8% 11.4% 7.4% 4.9% 5.2% – – – – – – 7.9% 10.6%
16 September 2015 Sotomo/20min[permanent dead link] 29.0% 17.6% 16.8% 11.2% 6.9% 4.9% 5.1% – – – – – – – 11.4%
21–28 August 15 GfS Berne/SSR[permanent dead link] 28.0% 19.3% 16.9% 11.1% 7.4% 4.2% 4.3% 1.7% – – – – – 7.1% 8.7%
24 June 2015 20min/Somoto[permanent dead link] 27.6% 18.2% 16.4% 12.0% 6.8% 4.9% 5.0% – – – – – – 13.0% 9.4%
24 June 2015 GfS Berne/SSR 26.1% 19.3% 17.1% 11.5% 7.4% 4.4% 4.8% 1.9% – 1.1% 0.9% – – 5.5% 6.8%
31 March 2015 GfS Berne/SSR 26.2% 19.6% 16.3% 11.8% 7.5% 4.6% 5.6% 1.9% – 1.0% 0.8% – – 4.7% 6.5%
21 December 2014 Léger Marketing/Le Matin 23.8% 19.8% 15.7% 12.4% 8.2% 7.2% 7.4% – – – – – – – 6.0%
3 October 2014 GfS Berne/Le Temps 24.6% 20.1% 15.8% 11.2% 7.3% 4.8% 7.3% 1.8% – 1.4% 1% – – 4.7% 4.5%
30 March 2014 Léger Marketing/Le Matin 25% 19.4% 15.2% 12.2% 7.4% 6.9% 6.6% – – – – – – – 5.6%
27 September 2013 GfS Berne/SSR[permanent dead link] 25.8% 18.7% 14.7% 11.7% 8.3% 7.5% 5.8% 1.8% 1.2% 1.0% 1.0% – – 2.5% 7.1%
15 September 2013 Isopublic/Le Matin 24.3% 19.6% 14.1% 13.1% 7.3% 6.1% 6.6% – – – – – – – 4.7%
21 October 2012 Isopublic/Blick[permanent dead link] 23.7% 19.5% 15.9% 12.9% 8.2% 6.9% 7.0% – – – – – – – 4.2%
16 September 2012 Isopublic/Le Matin 23.9% 19.3% 16.3% 13% 8.2% 6.2% 7.7% – – – – – – – 4.6%
25 March 2012 Isopublic/Le Matin 23.7% 19.9% 15.8% 12.1% 8.2% 7.0% 7.5% – – – – – – – 3.8%
23 October 2011 2011 Elections 26.6% 18.7% 15.1% 12.3% 8.4% 5.4% 5.4% 2% 0.9% 1.3% 0.8% 0.3% 0.4% – 7.9%

Results[]

Global media commented on the gains of the Swiss People's Party, linking it to concerns of the electorate on the European migrant crisis.[7][13][14][15] Combined, right-of-centre parties received a slim 101-seat majority in the National Council.[5][6] While the right-of-centre SVP and FDP made gains, centrist and left-of-centre parties lost seats in the National Council.[16][17] The FDP increased its share of the popular vote for the first time since the 1979 federal election.[17]

In the Swiss capital Bern, a group of activists in favour of settling refugees held a demonstration on the day of the election, which is prohibited by law. A total of 110 were arrested.[18]

The election results elicited various responses from the Swiss media, such as that the election represented "a return to normality" after a period when the legislative makeup was not as clear, or that it represented "a divided country."[19][20] Newspapers, both in Switzerland and in other countries, also noted the SVP's historic gains.[20]

National Council[]

See also: National Council (Switzerland)
Swiss Federal Apportionment Diagram.svg
Party Votes % +/– Seats % +/–
Swiss People's Party 740,967 29.4 +2.8 65 32.5 +11
Social Democratic Party 475,071 18.8 +0.1 43 21.5 −3
FDP.The Liberals 413,444 16.4 +1.3 33 16.5 +3
Christian Democratic People's Party 293,653 11.6 −0.7 27 13.5 −1
Green Party 177,944 7.1 −1.3 11 5.5 −4
Green Liberal Party 116,641 4.6 −0.8 7 3.5 −5
Conservative Democratic Party 103,476 4.1 −1.3 7 3.5 −2
Evangelical People's Party 47,355 1.9 −0.1 2 1.0 0
Federal Democratic Union 29,701 1.2 −0.1 0 – 0
Alternative Left 1.2 +0.3 0 – 0
Ticino League 24,713 1.0 +0.2 2 1.0 0
Solidarity 0.5 +0.2 0 – 0
Swiss Party of Labour 0.4 –0.1 1 0.5 +1
Geneva Citizens' Movement 8,069 0.3 −0.1 1 0.5 0
Christian Social Party 5,207 0.2 −0.1 0 – 0
Swiss Democrats 3,052 0.1 –0.1 0 – 0
Others 2.4 +0.2 1 0.5 0
Total 2,521,502 100 0 200 100 0
Registered voters/turnout 5,295,506 48.4 – – – –
Source: Statistics Switzerland, Elections 2015, IFES

Council of States[]

See also: Council of States (Switzerland)
Council of States (Switzerland) Nov 2015.svg
Party Seats
2011 2015 +/–
Christian Democratic People's Party 13 13 0
FDP.The Liberals 11 13 +2
Social Democratic Party 11 12 +1
Swiss People's Party 5 5 0
Green Party 2 1 −1
Conservative Democratic Party 1 1 0
Green Liberal Party 2 0 −2
Independent 1 1 0
Total 46 46 0
Source: Statistics Switzerland
Canton Seat 1 Party Seat 2 Party
ZHWappen Zürich matt.svg Zurich Daniel Jositsch Social Democratic Party Ruedi Noser FDP.The Liberals
BEWappen Bern matt.svg Berne * Conservative Democratic Party Hans Stöckli* Social Democratic Party
LUWappen Luzern matt.svg Lucerne * Christian Democratic People's Party FDP.The Liberals
URWappen Uri matt.svg Uri * Christian Democratic People's Party FDP.The Liberals
SZWappen Schwyz matt.svg Schwyz * Swiss People's Party Alex Kuprecht* Swiss People's Party
OWWappen Obwalden matt.svg Obwald FDP.The Liberals N/A
NWWappen Nidwalden matt.svg Nidwald Christian Democratic People's Party N/A
GLWappen Glarus matt.svg Glaris FDP.The Liberals Swiss People's Party
ZGWappen Zug matt.svg Zoug * FDP.The Liberals Christian Democratic People's Party
FRWappen Freiburg matt.svg Friburg Christian Levrat* Social Democratic Party Christian Democratic People's Party
SOWappen Solothurn matt.svg Soleure * Christian Democratic People's Party * Social Democratic Party
BSWappen Basel-Stadt matt.svg Basle-City Anita Fetz* Social Democratic Party N/A
BLWappen Basel-Landschaft matt.svg Basle-Country Claude Janiak* Social Democratic Party N/A
SHWappen Schaffhausen matt.svg Schaffhouse Hannes Germann* Swiss People's Party Thomas Minder* Independent
ARWappen Appenzell Ausserrhoden matt.svg Appenzell Outer-Rhodes FDP.The Liberals N/A
AIWappen Appenzell Innerrhoden matt.svg Appenzell Inner-Rhodes Ivo Bischofberger* Christian Democratic People's Party N/A
SGWappen St. Gallen matt.svg St Gall Karin Keller-Sutter* FDP.The Liberals * Social Democratic Party
GRWappen Graubünden matt.svg Grisons * Christian Democratic People's Party * FDP.The Liberals
AGWappen Aargau matt.svg Argovia Pascale Bruderer* Social Democratic Party Philipp Müller FDP.The Liberals
TGWappen Thurgau matt.svg Thurgovia * Swiss People's Party * Christian Democratic People's Party
TIWappen Tessin matt.svg Tessin * FDP.The Liberals Filippo Lombardi* Christian Democratic People's Party
VDWappen Waadt matt.svg Vaud FDP.The Liberals Géraldine Savary* Social Democratic Party
VSWappen Wallis matt.svg Valais Jean-René Fournier* Christian Democratic People's Party Christian Democratic People's Party
NEWappen Neuenburg matt.svg Neuchâtel * Social Democratic Party Raphaël Comte* FDP.The Liberals
GEWappen Genf matt.svg Geneva Robert Cramer* Green Party Liliane Maury Pasquier* Social Democratic Party
JUWappen Jura matt.svg Jura Claude Hêche* Social Democratic Party * Christian Democratic People's Party
* indicates a candidate that was re-elected. Source: Statistics Switzerland

Aftermath[]

The 2015 federal election was followed by the 2015 Swiss Federal Council election on 9 December 2015.[8]

Owing to the results of the federal election, Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, a member of the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP), announced she would not run for re-election, as the Swiss People's Party (SVP) won a record percentage of the vote, while her own party decreased its share.[21] The SVP was widely expected to fill her seat in the election, and it chose (Zug), Guy Parmelin (Vaud) and (Ticino) as candidates for the seat, with Aeschi being the favorite at the time.[22][23]

Guy Parmelin, of the SVP, was ultimately elected on 9 December.[8] Parmelin, a farmer and winegrower from Bursins in canton Vaud, was the first member of the Federal Council who is also a member of the Swiss People's Party from the French-speaking part of Switzerland.[8][24]

There was a minor cabinet reshuffle after the election, as newly elected Parmelin was selected to become head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, replacing fellow SVP-member Ueli Maurer, who became head of the Federal Department of Finance.[25] The SVP gained its second seat in the Federal Council, which it had lost in 2008, when the newly created BDP split from the SVP.

References[]

  1. ^ "Parties Manoeuvre for Seats in Swiss Senate". The Local. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Final Composition of Swiss Parliament Emerges". Swissinfo. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Homepage Elections 2015". Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  4. ^ Duc-Nguyen, Quang (22 October 2015). "Parliament's Shift to the Right, in Figures". Swissinfo. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Geiser, Urs. "Parliament shifts to the right". Swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Gerber, Marlène; Mueller, Sean (23 October 2015). "4 Cool Graphs that Explain Sunday's Swiss Elections". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Anti-immigration party wins Swiss election in 'slide to the Right'". The Daily Telegraph. Reuters. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Mombelli, Armando (December 10, 2015). "People's Party Gains Second Seat in Cabinet". Swissinfo. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  9. ^ Swiss Confederation seat allocations are for the 2019 election, but the page also provides the seat changes from the 2015 election
  10. ^ Electoral system IPU
  11. ^ Electoral system IPU
  12. ^ Compulsory voting around the world Archived 2015-04-04 at the Wayback Machine. The Electoral Commission
  13. ^ "Anti-immigration SVP wins Swiss election in big swing to right". BBC News. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  14. ^ Larson, Nina (19 October 2015). "Swiss parliament shifts to right in vote dominated by migrant fears". Yahoo!. AFP. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Amid rising fears over refugees, far-right party gains ground in Swiss election". Deutsche Welle. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  16. ^ Revill, John (October 19, 2015). "Swiss Right Makes Gains in Election". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nationalratswahlen 2015: Analyse". bfs.admin.ch (in German). Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  18. ^ "Polizei nimmt 110 Personen auf die Wache" [Police take 110 people to the police station]. Blick (in German). 18 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Swiss National Elections: 'Return to Normality'?". The Local. October 19, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b Stephens, Thomas (October 19, 2016). "Fear and Isolation in a 'Divided Land'". Swissinfo. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  21. ^ Jaberg, Samuel; Stephens, Thomas (October 28, 2015). "Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf to Stand Down". Swissinfo. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  22. ^ "People's Party Posts Candidates for Cabinet Seat". Swissinfo. November 20, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  23. ^ "People's Party Tightens Grip on Second Cabinet Seat". Swissinfo. October 28, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  24. ^ Bradley, Simon (December 10, 2015). "Wary Press Split Over Farmer Parmelin". Swissinfo. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  25. ^ "People's Party finally nails finance minister job". Swissinfo. December 11, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.

External links[]

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