View source for 2010 Swiss Federal Council election

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2010 Swiss Federal Council election
| country = Switzerland
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2009 Swiss Federal Council election
| previous_year = 2009
| next_election = 2011 Swiss Federal Council election
| next_year = 2011
| election_date =  22 September 2010

| image1 = [[File:Simonetta Sommaruga (2007).jpg|100px]]
| nominee1 = '''[[Simonetta Sommaruga]]'''
| party1 = Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
| electoral_vote1 = '''159'''

| image2 = [[File:Jean-François Rime (2007).jpg|100px]]
| nominee2 = [[Jean-François Rime]]
| party2 = Swiss People's Party
| electoral_vote2 = 81

| title = Federal Councillor
| before_election = [[Moritz Leuenberger]]
| before_party = Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
| after_election = [[Simonetta Sommaruga]]
| after_party = Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2010 Swiss Federal Council election
| country = Switzerland
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2009 Swiss Federal Council election
| previous_year = 2009
| next_election = 2011 Swiss Federal Council election
| next_year = 2011
| election_date =  22 September 2010

| image1 = [[File:Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann (2007).jpg|100px]]
| nominee1 = '''[[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]'''
| party1 = FDP.The Liberals
| electoral_vote1 = '''144'''

| image2 = [[File:Jean-François Rime (2007).jpg|100px]]
| nominee2 = [[Jean-François Rime]]
| party2 = Swiss People's Party
| electoral_vote2 = 93

| title = Federal Councillor
| before_election = [[Hans-Rudolf Merz]]
| before_party = FDP.The Liberals
| after_election = [[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]
| after_party = FDP.The Liberals
}}

Two '''by-elections to the [[Swiss Federal Council]]''' were held in [[Switzerland]] on 22 September 2010,<ref name="min1">[http://www.20min.ch/news/dossier/brwahlzehn/story/29868355 Ein heisser Herbst steht bevor]. 20 Minuten Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> after federal councillors [[Moritz Leuenberger]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]) and [[Hans-Rudolf Merz]] ([[FDP.The Liberals]]) announced they would step down from the Federal Council towards the end of the year. The by-elections resulted in the elections of [[Simonetta Sommaruga]] from the SP and [[Johann Schneider-Ammann]] from the FDP, resulting in no change in the partisan composition of the council. It also resulted in the first (and, to date, most recent) majority of women on the Federal Council in its history, with Sommaruga joining [[Micheline Calmy-Rey]], [[Doris Leuthard]] and [[Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf]].

== Background ==

In Switzerland, the 7-seat executive Federal Council is traditionally apportioned between the parties following the unwritten agreement known as the [[Magic formula (Swiss politics)|Magic formula]] (since 2003: [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]] 2 seats, [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]] 2 seats, [[FDP.The Liberals|FDP]] 2 seats, and [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|CVP]] 1 seat. The formula was followed from 1959 until 2008 when both SVP councillors were expelled and formed the [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland|BDP]]; the SVP regained one seat [[2009 Swiss Federal Council election|in 2009]] with [[Ueli Maurer]]'s election but continued seeking ways to regain its claimed second seat. The [[Green Party of Switzerland|Greens]] also now claimed one seat to the council due to their gains in the [[2007 Swiss federal election|2007 federal election]].

Federal councillors are traditionally re-elected until they step down, only four ever lost re-election. Councillors more often stand down during their term as it allows their party to get more visibility at a moment other than shortly after a general election.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Longchamp |first=Claude |date=2018-12-20 |title=L'élection du Conseil fédéral a-t-elle été vraiment normale? |language=French |trans-title=Has the Federal Council election really been normal? |work=[[Swissinfo.ch]] |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/democratiedirecte/un-petit-regard-en-arri%C3%A8re_l-%C3%A9lection-du-conseil-f%C3%A9d%C3%A9ral-a-t-elle-%C3%A9t%C3%A9-vraiment-normale-/44632806}}</ref>

Federal Councillor [[Moritz Leuenberger]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]) announced in July 2010 he would leave the Federal Council effective 31 December 2010,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Specials/Cabinet_Election/News/Long-serving_Swiss_cabinet_minister_resigns_.html?cid=16370158|title= Long-serving Swiss cabinet minister resigns|work=Swissinfo|date=9 July 2010|accessdate=10 August 2010}}</ref> later followed by Federal Councillor [[Hans-Rudolf Merz]] ([[FDP.The Liberals]]) who on 6 August 2010 announced his intention to retire effective late October 2010.<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/das_waere_ein_spiel_mit_dem_feuer_1.7118571.html «Das wäre ein Spiel mit dem Feuer»]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> Leuenberger advanced the date of his effective resignation to coincide in a single voting session.

=== Electoral system ===
The seat is elected using an absolute majority with an exhaustive ballot, each seat being filled independently. In the first two rounds members of the Federal Assembly can vote for anyone eligible, but only those receiving at least ten votes are announced in the results; from the third round onwards only candidates who received at least ten votes in one of the first two rounds are eligible, the last-placed candidate is eliminated until someone reaches an overall majority.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Talos |first=Christine |date=2018-12-03 |title=Élection au Conseil fédéral: le mode d'emploi |language=French |trans-title=Election to the Federal Council: the manual |work=[[Lematin.ch]] |url=https://www.lematin.ch/story/election-au-conseil-federal-le-mode-d-emploi-529076221450 |access-date=2022-09-10}}</ref>

== Candidates ==

=== Merz's seat ===
Both the [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green Party]] and the [[Swiss People's Party]] laid claim to the FDP's seat. The election was complicated by the fact that Federal Councillor [[Moritz Leuenberger]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party]], SP/PS), having previously announced his intention to retire from the council effective late December 2010, predated his resignation so that only one electoral session would have to be held (the election to his seat was initially to be held on 8 December 2010).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/kandidatenkarussell_kommt_in_schwung_1.7116875.html |title=Kandidatenkarussell kommt in Schwung (Schweiz, NZZ Online) |access-date=7 August 2010 |archive-date=8 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808030710/http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/kandidatenkarussell_kommt_in_schwung_1.7116875.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Possible candidates by the FDP for Merz's seat included [[Karin Keller-Sutter]], [[Gabi Huber]], [[Johann Schneider-Ammann]], [[Philipp Müller (politician)|Philipp Müller]], [[Felix Gutzwiller]], [[Ruedi Noser]], [[Christa Markwalder]], [[Fulvio Pelli]], [[Laura Sadis]], [[Ignazio Cassis]] and [[Peter Malama]].<ref name="min1"/><ref>[http://www.20min.ch/diashow/diashow.tmpl?showid=31965 20 Minuten Online Bildstrecke – Wer erbt den Sitz von Merz?]. 20min.ch. Retrieved on 2012-05-20.</ref> Malama officially announced his candidacy on 20 August 2010,<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/auch_peter_malama_kandidiert_fuer_die_merz-nachfolge_1.7277653.html Auch Peter Malama kandidiert für die Merz-Nachfolge]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> and Schneider-Ammann was nominated on 2 September 2010.<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/bundesratswahlen_fdp_bern_schneider-ammann_1.7417666.html Berner Freisinnige nominieren Schneider-Ammann]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> Noser, Keller-Sutter and Cassis were also nominated.

The following were nominated as official candidates for Merz's seat:
* [[Karin Keller-Sutter]]<ref name=":1">[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/die_freisinnigen_setzen_auf_ihre_favoriten_1.7440340.html Die Freisinnigen setzen auf ihre Favoriten]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> ([[FDP.The Liberals|FDP]]-[[Canton of St Gallen|SG]]), member of the [[Government of St. Gallen]] (2000–2012)
* [[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]<ref name=":1" /> ([[FDP.The Liberals|FDP]]-[[Canton of Bern|BE]]), National Councillor for Bern (1999–)
* [[Jean-François Rime]] ([[Swiss People's Party|SVP]]-[[Canton of Freiburg|FR]]), National Councillor for Fribourg (2003–)
* [[Brigit Wyss]] ([[Green Party of Switzerland|GPS]]-[[Canton of Solothurn|SO]]), National Councillor for Solothurn (2007–)

{{Gallery
| title        = 
| align        = center
| footer       =
| style        =
| state        =
| mode         = packed
| height       = 200
| width        =
| captionstyle =
|File:Karin Keller-Sutter, 2013 (cropped).jpg|Government Minister<br>'''[[Karin Keller-Sutter]]'''<br>of St. Gallen
|File:Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann (2007).jpg|National Councillor<br>'''[[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]'''<br>from Bern
|File:Jean-François Rime (2007).jpg|National Councillor<br>'''[[Jean-François Rime]]'''<br>from Friburg
|File:Brigit Wyss.jpg|National Councillor<br>'''[[Brigit Wyss]]'''<br>from Solothurn
}}

=== Leuenberger's seat ===
The Green Party and [[FDP.The Liberals]] have announced they will support the SP's candidate for Leuenberger's seat, while the [[Swiss People's Party]] has announced it will put up its own candidate, likely either [[Jean-François Rime]] or [[Adrian Amstutz]] ([[Caspar Baader]] was mooted as a candidate, but declined).<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/die_fdp_koennte_von_einer_doppelvakanz_profitieren_1.6509320.html Die FDP könnte von einer Doppelvakanz profitieren]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/rime_steht_abrufbereit_1.7345071.html Rime steht abrufbereit]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> Rime was selected as their nominee on 3 September 2010. The [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|Christian Democratic People's Party]] stated it would keep its options open, but then did not nominate any candidates. The CVP later stated it would support the SP and FDP.Liberals holding their seats.<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/wir_duerfen_svp-kandidat_rime_nicht_waehlen_1.7604930.html «Wir dürfen SVP-Kandidat Rime nicht wählen»]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref>

The SP's favoured candidates appeared to be [[Simonetta Sommaruga]] and [[Jacqueline Fehr]], with [[Pascale Bruderer]] and [[Claude Janiak]] also considered possible candidates.<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/rauer_wind_gegen_favoritin_sommaruga_1.6529404.html Rauer Wind gegen Favoritin Sommaruga]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> Bruderer declined to seek the seat<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/bruderer_will_nicht_bundesraetin_werden_1.7171164.html Bruderer will nicht Bundesrätin werden]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> and Sommaruga officially announced her candidacy on 11 August 2010.<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/simonetta_sommaruga_geht_ins_rennen_1.7172803.html Eine Brückenbauerin für den Bundesrat]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> [[Eva Herzog]] also announced her intention to stand,<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/schweiz_bundesrat_kandidaten_herzog_eva_basel-stadt_1.7227637.html Eine Basler Kandidatur für den Bundesrat]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> as did [[Hildegard Fässler]].<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/hildegard_faessler_1.7308362.html Hildegard Fässler für Leuenberger-Nachfolge nominiert]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> Fehr was also a candidate, which meant the SP nominated two of four women for the seat on 3 September 2010. There was speculation that the SP would support the Greens for the other seat,<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/bundesratswahlen_sp_1.7415764.html Die SP taktiert selbstbewusst]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> and it did not contest that seat.

The Green Party contested the seat of Merz, having had with three possible candidates: [[Geri Müller]], [[Marlies Bänziger]] and [[Brigit Wyss]].<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/gruene_einladung_und_hiebe_richtung_cvp_1.7362456.html Grüne Einladung Richtung CVP mit Seitenhieb]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> Wyss ultimately became the Green candidate for the seat.

The following were nominated as official candidates for Leuenberger's seat:
* [[Simonetta Sommaruga]]<ref name=":3">[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/die_sp_nominiert_zwei_brueckenbauerinnen_1.7440446.html Die SP nominiert zwei Brückenbauerinnen]. NZZ Online. {{in lang|de}}</ref> ([[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]-[[Canton of Bern|BE]]), States Councillor for Bern (2003–)
* [[Jacqueline Fehr]]<ref name=":3" /> ([[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]-[[Canton of Zürich|ZH]]), National Councillor for Zürich (2008–)
* [[Jean-François Rime]] ([[Swiss People's Party|SVP]]-[[Canton of Freiburg|FR]]), National Councillor for Fribourg (2003–)

{{Gallery
| title        = 
| align        = center
| footer       =
| style        =
| state        =
| mode         = packed
| height       = 200
| width        =
| captionstyle =
|File:Simonetta Sommaruga (2007).jpg|States Councillor<br>'''[[Simonetta Sommaruga]]'''<br>of Bern
|File:Jacqueline Fehr (2007).jpg|National Councillor<br>'''[[Jacqueline Fehr]]'''<br>from Zhürich
|File:Jean-François Rime (2007).jpg|National Councillor<br>'''[[Jean-François Rime]]'''<br>from Friburg
}}

==Results==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2016}}

===Seat vacated by Moritz Leuenberger===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2| Candidate
! Party
! Canton
! Round 1
! Round 2
! Round 3
! Round 4
|-
| width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" | 
|  style="width:200px; background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Simonetta Sommaruga]]'''
| style="width:80px;"| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
| style="width:140px;"| [[Canton of Bern|Bern]]
| style="width:60px;"| 86
| style="width:60px;"| 96
| style="width:60px;"| 98
| style="width:60px;"| '''159'''
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Swiss People's Party}}" | 
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jean-François Rime]]'''
| [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]]
| [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
| 80
| 78
| 77
| 81
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color| Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" | 
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jacqueline Fehr]]'''
| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
| [[Canton of Zurich|Zurich]]
| 61
| 64
| 70
| –
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color| Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" | 
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Hildegard Fässler]]'''
| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
| [[Canton of St. Gallen|St. Gallen]]
| 10
| 0
| –
| –
|-
| 
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Votes received by other persons'''
| 7
| 7
| –
| –
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Votes cast'''
| 245
| 245
| 245
| 245
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Invalid votes'''
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 2
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Blank votes'''
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 3
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Valid votes'''
| 244
| 245
| 245
| 240
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Absolute majority'''
| 123
| 123
| 123
| 121
|}

===Seat vacated by Hans-Rudolf Merz===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2| Candidate
! Party
! Canton
! Round 1
! Round 2
! Round 3
! Round 4
! Round 5
|-
| width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Free Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" | 
|  style="width:200px; background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]'''
| style="width:80px;"| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
| style="width:140px;"| [[Canton of Bern|Bern]]
| style="width:60px;"| 52
| style="width:60px;"| 75
| style="width:60px;"| 78
| style="width:60px;"| 84
| style="width:60px;"| '''144'''
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Swiss People's Party}}" | 
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jean-François Rime]]'''
| [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]]
| [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
| 72
| 72
| 72
| 76
| 93
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color| Free Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" | 
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Karin Keller-Sutter]]'''
| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
| [[Canton of St. Gallen|St. Gallen]]
| 44
| 55
| 66
| 74
| –
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color| Green Party of Switzerland}}" | 
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Brigit Wyss]]'''
| [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green]]
| [[Canton of Solothurn|Solothurn]]
| 57
| 40
| 28
| –
| –
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color| Free Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" | 
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Ignazio Cassis]]'''
| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
| [[Canton of Ticino|Ticino]]
| 12
| 0
| –
| –
| –
|-
| 
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Votes received by other persons'''
| 7
| 7
| –
| –
| –
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Votes cast'''
| 245
| 245
| 245
| 243
| 245
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Invalid votes'''
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 5
| 2
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Blank votes'''
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 4
| 6
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Valid votes'''
| 244
| 245
| 244
| 234
| 237
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Absolute majority'''
| 123
| 123
| 123
| 118
| 119
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Swiss Federal Council elections}}
{{Swiss Federal Council}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Switzerland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swiss Federal Council Election, 2010}}
[[Category:2010 elections in Switzerland|Federal Council election]]
[[Category:Swiss Federal Council elections|2010 Federal Council election]]