Jump to content

2010 Swiss Federal Council election: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Party positions: Past tense.
→External links: link to Commons is now defined on wikidata
 
(24 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|none}}
⚫
{{Infobox Election
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
⚫
| election_name = Swiss Federal Council election, 2010
⚫
{{Infobox election
⚫
| election_name = 2010 Swiss Federal Council election
| country = Switzerland
| country = Switzerland
| type = presidential
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = Swiss Federal Council election, 2009
| previous_election = 2009 Swiss Federal Council election
| previous_year = 2009
| previous_year = 2009
| next_election = Swiss Federal Council election, 2011
| next_election = 2011 Swiss Federal Council election
| next_year = 2011
| next_year = 2011
| election_date = 22 September 2010
| election_date = 22 September 2010
Line 26: Line 28:
| after_party = Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
| after_party = Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
}}
}}
{{Infobox Election
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Swiss Federal Council election, 2010
| election_name = 2010 Swiss Federal Council election
| country = Switzerland
| country = Switzerland
| type = presidential
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = Swiss Federal Council election, 2009
| previous_election = 2009 Swiss Federal Council election
| previous_year = 2009
| previous_year = 2009
| next_election = Swiss Federal Council election, 2011
| next_election = 2011 Swiss Federal Council election
| next_year = 2011
| next_year = 2011
| election_date = 22 September 2010
| election_date = 22 September 2010
Line 54: Line 56:
}}
}}


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. {{de icon}}</ref> after Federal Councillor [[Moritz Leuenberger]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]) announced 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> and Federal Councillor [[Hans-Rudolf Merz]] ([[FDP.The Liberals]]) 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. {{de icon}}</ref> Elected were [[Simonetta Sommaruga]] and [[Johann Schneider-Ammann]].
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]].


==Party positions==
== Background ==
⚫
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) had previously announced his intention to retire in early July 2010, but effective late December 2010; the election to his seat was initially to be held on 8 December 2010,<ref>http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/kandidatenkarussell_kommt_in_schwung_1.7116875.html</ref> but Leuenberger then predated his resignation so that only one electoral session would have to be held.


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]].
⚫
Possible candidates by the FDP for Merz' seat include [[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. {{de icon}}</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. {{de icon}}</ref> Noser, Keller-Sutter and Cassis were also nominated.


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>
⚫
The Green Party and the [[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. {{de icon}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/rime_steht_abrufbereit_1.7345071.html Rime steht abrufbereit]. NZZ Online. {{de icon}}</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. {{de icon}}</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.
⚫
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. {{de icon}}</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. {{de icon}}</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. {{de icon}}</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. {{de icon}}</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. {{de icon}}</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. {{de icon}}</ref>


=== Electoral system ===
⚫
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. {{de icon}}</ref>
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.


⚫
==Official Candidates==
The following were nominated as official candidates for Leuenberger's seat:
The following were nominated as official candidates for Leuenberger's seat:
*SP: [[Simonetta Sommaruga]] and [[Jacqueline Fehr]]<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/die_sp_nominiert_zwei_brueckenbauerinnen_1.7440446.html Die SP nominiert zwei Brückenbauerinnen]. NZZ Online. {{de icon}}</ref>
* [[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–)
*SVP: [[Jean-François Rime]]
* [[Jean-François Rime]] ([[Swiss People's Party|SVP]]-[[Canton of Freiburg|FR]]), National Councillor for Fribourg (2003–)


{{Gallery
⚫
The following candidates will stand for Merz' seat:
| title =
⚫
*FDP.Liberals: [[Karin Keller-Sutter]] and [[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]<ref>[http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/die_freisinnigen_setzen_auf_ihre_favoriten_1.7440340.html Die Freisinnigen setzen auf ihre Favoriten]. NZZ Online. {{de icon}}</ref>
| align = center
*SVP: [[Jean-François Rime]]
| footer =
*GPS: [[Brigit Wyss]]
| 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==
==Results==
{{unreferenced|section|date=November 2016}}
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2016}}


===Seat vacated by Moritz Leuenberger===
===Seat vacated by Moritz Leuenberger===
Line 91: Line 139:
! Round 4
! Round 4
|-
|-
| width=5px style="background-color: {{Social Democratic Party of Switzerland/meta/color}}" |
| width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" |
| style="width:200px; background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Simonetta Sommaruga]]'''
| style="width:200px; background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Simonetta Sommaruga]]'''
| style="width:80px;"| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
| style="width:80px;"| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
Line 100: Line 148:
| style="width:60px;"| '''159'''
| style="width:60px;"| '''159'''
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Swiss People's Party/meta/color}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Swiss People's Party}}" |
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jean-François Rime]]'''
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jean-François Rime]]'''
| [[Swiss People’s Party|SVP]]
| [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]]
| [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
| [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
| 80
| 80
Line 109: Line 157:
| 81
| 81
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{ Social Democratic Party of Switzerland/meta/color}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color| Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" |
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jacqueline Fehr]]'''
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jacqueline Fehr]]'''
| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
Line 118: Line 166:
| –
| –
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{ Social Democratic Party of Switzerland/meta/color}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color| Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" |
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Hildegard Fässler]]'''
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Hildegard Fässler]]'''
| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
| [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]]
Line 135: Line 183:
| –
| –
|-
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Votes Cast'''
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Votes cast'''
| 245
| 245
| 245
| 245
Line 159: Line 207:
| 240
| 240
|-
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Absolute Majority'''
| colspan="4" style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''Absolute majority'''
| 123
| 123
| 123
| 123
Line 178: Line 226:
! Round 5
! Round 5
|-
|-
| width=5px style="background-color: {{Free Democratic Party of Switzerland/meta/color}}" |
| width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Free Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" |
| style="width:200px; background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]'''
| style="width:200px; background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]'''
| style="width:80px;"| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
| style="width:80px;"| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
Line 188: Line 236:
| style="width:60px;"| '''144'''
| style="width:60px;"| '''144'''
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Swiss People's Party/meta/color}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Swiss People's Party}}" |
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jean-François Rime]]'''
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Jean-François Rime]]'''
| [[Swiss People’s Party|SVP]]
| [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]]
| [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
| [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
| 72
| 72
Line 198: Line 246:
| 93
| 93
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland/meta/color}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color| Free Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" |
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Karin Keller-Sutter]]'''
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Karin Keller-Sutter]]'''
| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
Line 208: Line 256:
| –
| –
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{ Green Party of Switzerland/meta/color}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color| Green Party of Switzerland}}" |
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Brigit Wyss]]'''
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Brigit Wyss]]'''
| [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green]]
| [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green]]
Line 218: Line 266:
| –
| –
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland/meta/color}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color| Free Democratic Party of Switzerland}}" |
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Ignazio Cassis]]'''
| style="background:#f2f2f2;"| '''[[Ignazio Cassis]]'''
| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
| [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|FDP]]
Line 274: Line 322:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Bundesratswahl 2010}}
*{{Commons category-inline}}


{{Swiss Federal Council elections}}
{{Swiss Federal Council elections}}
Line 283: Line 331:
{{Portal bar|Politics|Switzerland}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Switzerland}}


⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swiss Federal Council Election, 2010}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swiss Federal Council Election, 2010}}
[[Category:2010 elections in Switzerland|Federal Council election]]
[[Category:2010 elections in Switzerland|Federal Council election]]

Latest revision as of 22:55, 3 November 2024

2010 Swiss Federal Council election
← 2009 22 September 2010 2011 →
 
Nominee Simonetta Sommaruga Jean-François Rime
Party Social Democrats Swiss People's
Electoral vote 159 81
Federal Councillor before election

Moritz Leuenberger
Social Democrats

Elected Federal Councillor

Simonetta Sommaruga
Social Democrats

2010 Swiss Federal Council election
← 2009 22 September 2010 2011 →
 
Nominee Johann Schneider-Ammann Jean-François Rime
Party FDP.The Liberals Swiss People's
Electoral vote 144 93
Federal Councillor before election

Hans-Rudolf Merz
FDP.The Liberals

Elected Federal Councillor

Johann Schneider-Ammann
FDP.The Liberals

Two by-elections to the Swiss Federal Council were held in Switzerland on 22 September 2010,[1] after federal councillors Moritz Leuenberger (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

[edit]

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

Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger (SP) announced in July 2010 he would leave the Federal Council effective 31 December 2010,[3] 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.[4] Leuenberger advanced the date of his effective resignation to coincide in a single voting session.

Electoral system

[edit]

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.[5]

Candidates

[edit]

Merz's seat

[edit]

Both the 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, 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).[6]

Possible candidates by the FDP for Merz's seat included Karin Keller-Sutter, Gabi Huber, Johann Schneider-Ammann, Philipp Müller, Felix Gutzwiller, Ruedi Noser, Christa Markwalder, Fulvio Pelli, Laura Sadis, Ignazio Cassis and Peter Malama.[1][7] Malama officially announced his candidacy on 20 August 2010,[8] and Schneider-Ammann was nominated on 2 September 2010.[9] Noser, Keller-Sutter and Cassis were also nominated.

The following were nominated as official candidates for Merz's seat:

Leuenberger's seat

[edit]

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).[11][12] Rime was selected as their nominee on 3 September 2010. The 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.[13]

The SP's favoured candidates appeared to be Simonetta Sommaruga and Jacqueline Fehr, with Pascale Bruderer and Claude Janiak also considered possible candidates.[14] Bruderer declined to seek the seat[15] and Sommaruga officially announced her candidacy on 11 August 2010.[16] Eva Herzog also announced her intention to stand,[17] as did Hildegard Fässler.[18] 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,[19] 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.[20] Wyss ultimately became the Green candidate for the seat.

The following were nominated as official candidates for Leuenberger's seat:

Results

[edit]

Seat vacated by Moritz Leuenberger

[edit]
Candidate Party Canton Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4
Simonetta Sommaruga SP Bern 86 96 98 159
Jean-François Rime SVP Fribourg 80 78 77 81
Jacqueline Fehr SP Zurich 61 64 70 –
Hildegard Fässler SP St. Gallen 10 0 – –
Votes received by other persons 7 7 – –
Votes cast 245 245 245 245
Invalid votes 1 0 0 2
Blank votes 0 0 0 3
Valid votes 244 245 245 240
Absolute majority 123 123 123 121

Seat vacated by Hans-Rudolf Merz

[edit]
Candidate Party Canton Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5
Johann Schneider-Ammann FDP Bern 52 75 78 84 144
Jean-François Rime SVP Fribourg 72 72 72 76 93
Karin Keller-Sutter FDP St. Gallen 44 55 66 74 –
Brigit Wyss Green Solothurn 57 40 28 – –
Ignazio Cassis FDP Ticino 12 0 – – –
Votes received by other persons 7 7 – – –
Votes cast 245 245 245 243 245
Invalid votes 0 0 1 5 2
Blank votes 1 0 0 4 6
Valid votes 244 245 244 234 237
Absolute majority 123 123 123 118 119

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Ein heisser Herbst steht bevor. 20 Minuten Online. (in German)
  2. ^ Longchamp, Claude (20 December 2018). "L'élection du Conseil fédéral a-t-elle été vraiment normale?" [Has the Federal Council election really been normal?]. Swissinfo.ch (in French).
  3. ^ "Long-serving Swiss cabinet minister resigns". Swissinfo. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  4. ^ «Das wäre ein Spiel mit dem Feuer». NZZ Online. (in German)
  5. ^ Talos, Christine (3 December 2018). "Élection au Conseil fédéral: le mode d'emploi" [Election to the Federal Council: the manual]. Lematin.ch (in French). Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Kandidatenkarussell kommt in Schwung (Schweiz, NZZ Online)". Archived from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  7. ^ 20 Minuten Online Bildstrecke – Wer erbt den Sitz von Merz?. 20min.ch. Retrieved on 2012-05-20.
  8. ^ Auch Peter Malama kandidiert für die Merz-Nachfolge. NZZ Online. (in German)
  9. ^ Berner Freisinnige nominieren Schneider-Ammann. NZZ Online. (in German)
  10. ^ a b Die Freisinnigen setzen auf ihre Favoriten. NZZ Online. (in German)
  11. ^ Die FDP könnte von einer Doppelvakanz profitieren. NZZ Online. (in German)
  12. ^ Rime steht abrufbereit. NZZ Online. (in German)
  13. ^ «Wir dürfen SVP-Kandidat Rime nicht wählen». NZZ Online. (in German)
  14. ^ Rauer Wind gegen Favoritin Sommaruga. NZZ Online. (in German)
  15. ^ Bruderer will nicht Bundesrätin werden. NZZ Online. (in German)
  16. ^ Eine Brückenbauerin für den Bundesrat. NZZ Online. (in German)
  17. ^ Eine Basler Kandidatur für den Bundesrat. NZZ Online. (in German)
  18. ^ Hildegard Fässler für Leuenberger-Nachfolge nominiert. NZZ Online. (in German)
  19. ^ Die SP taktiert selbstbewusst. NZZ Online. (in German)
  20. ^ Grüne Einladung Richtung CVP mit Seitenhieb. NZZ Online. (in German)
  21. ^ a b Die SP nominiert zwei Brückenbauerinnen. NZZ Online. (in German)
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=2010_Swiss_Federal_Council_election&oldid=1255249826"