The conservative right emerged as a big winner from Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Switzerland. The Alpine country’s voters, called upon to renew the two chambers of parliament, rewarded the right-wing Democratic Union of the Center (UDC) party, which espouses anti-European, anti-immigrant and anti-neutrality positions. According to late evening forecasts, the UDC is consolidating its position as the country’s leading party by gaining 3.4% of the vote at the National Council (lower house) level to 29%.
On the contrary: the green wave that partially characterized the Swiss Parliament in 2019 has stopped and the Greens fall below the 10 percent hurdle to 9.2 percent (minus 4 points). The Liberal Greens also fell by 0.7.
As the second political force in the Confederation, the Socialists (PS) would achieve a slight increase (+0.6%) to 17.4% compared to the 2019 parliamentary elections. However, this was “the second worst result ever for the former Labor Party”. “, analyzes the Swiss news agency Keystone-Ats. On the contrary: the UDC’s 29%, if confirmed by the final results, would be the second best result for the political formation, close to the record of 29.4% from 2015 .
The president of the UDC, Marco Chiesa, is satisfied that the themes of his party’s election campaign have taken hold: “People are fed up with excessive immigration and the asylum chaos.”
Green Party President Blathasar Glättli was disappointed: “This is a bad sign for climate protection, equality, but also for relations with Europe.” The forecasts showed a neck-and-neck race for the position of the other parties third political force in the country between the Radical Liberal Party (PLR/right) and the Center (former Christian Democratic Party), both at around 14.6%.
In some cantons, a second round must instead be awaited for the 46 seats in the Council of States (upper house). In a country focused on stability, the final outcome of the votes, and in particular the duel between the FDP and the Center, could have an impact on the future composition of the government, whose seven seats are traditionally divided between the major parties. The current board consists of two UDCs, two Ps, two Plr and only one Center Party member. The members of the Swiss government are elected by the Federal Assembly (Parliament) in assembled chambers, usually every four years in December, during the session following the renewal of the chambers.
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