Green Party of Switzerland
Encyclopedia
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland
, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council
.
as the first Green MP on the national level. Local and regional Green parties and organisations were founded in many different towns and cantons
in the following years.
In 1983, two different national green party federations were created: in May, diverse local green groups came together in Fribourg to form the Federation of Green Parties of Switzerland, and in June, some left-alternative groups formed the Green Alternative Party of Switzerland in Bern. In 1990, an attempt to combine these organisations failed. Afterwards, some of the member groups from the Green Alternative Party joined the Federation of Green Parties which has become the de facto national Green party. In 1993, the Federation of Green Parties changed its name to the Green Party of Switzerland.
In 1986 the first two Green members of a cantonal government become members of the Regierungsrat of Bern.
In 1987, the Green Party of Switzerland joined the European Federation of Green Parties.
In the 1990s, members of the Green Party became town mayors, members of the high court and even president of a cantonal government (Verena Diener
in 1999).
and green means of transportation. In terms of foreign policy, the greens set out on the course of openness and pacifism
. In economic policy, the greens are center-left. The majority of greens support an accession of Switzerland
to the European Union
. In immigration policy, the greens support further integration initiatives for immigrants. The greens support measures to increase energy efficiency, oppose nuclear power, and support raising energy and fuel prices. According to their policy, the resulting revenues should be allocated to social security
spending.
On the national level, in 2003 the Green Party was not represented in the
Council of States
or Federal Council
. In 2007, two Green Party members were elected to the Council of States.
By 2005, the party held 3.8 percent of the seats in the Swiss cantonal executive governments
and 6.9 percent in the Swiss cantonal parliaments (index "BADAC", weighted with the population and number of seats). In 2007, the Green Party was represented in the governments of the cantons Bern, Basel-City
, Geneva
(two ministers), Neuchâtel, Nidwalden
, Vaud
, Zug (two ministers) and Zurich
.
National Council of Switzerland
The National Council of Switzerland is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. With 200 seats, it is the larger of the two houses....
, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
.
History
The first Green party in Switzerland was founded as a local party in 1971 in the town of Neuchâtel. In 1979 Daniel Brélaz was elected to the National CouncilNational Council of Switzerland
The National Council of Switzerland is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. With 200 seats, it is the larger of the two houses....
as the first Green MP on the national level. Local and regional Green parties and organisations were founded in many different towns and cantons
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
in the following years.
In 1983, two different national green party federations were created: in May, diverse local green groups came together in Fribourg to form the Federation of Green Parties of Switzerland, and in June, some left-alternative groups formed the Green Alternative Party of Switzerland in Bern. In 1990, an attempt to combine these organisations failed. Afterwards, some of the member groups from the Green Alternative Party joined the Federation of Green Parties which has become the de facto national Green party. In 1993, the Federation of Green Parties changed its name to the Green Party of Switzerland.
In 1986 the first two Green members of a cantonal government become members of the Regierungsrat of Bern.
In 1987, the Green Party of Switzerland joined the European Federation of Green Parties.
In the 1990s, members of the Green Party became town mayors, members of the high court and even president of a cantonal government (Verena Diener
Verena Diener
Verena Diener is a Swiss politician, member of the Green Liberal Party of Switzerland, representing the canton of Zürich in the Swiss Council of States....
in 1999).
Policies
The traditional emphases of the party's policies lie in environmentalismEnvironmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
and green means of transportation. In terms of foreign policy, the greens set out on the course of openness and pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
. In economic policy, the greens are center-left. The majority of greens support an accession of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. In immigration policy, the greens support further integration initiatives for immigrants. The greens support measures to increase energy efficiency, oppose nuclear power, and support raising energy and fuel prices. According to their policy, the resulting revenues should be allocated to social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
spending.
Popular support
Green Members of the National Council (200 seats)- 1979 - 1 member
- 1983 - 4 members
- 1987 - 11 members, forming the fifth-largest faction
- 1991 - 14 members
- 1995 - 9 members (+ 2 other councilors joining the green faction)
- 1999 - 9 members (+ 1 other councilor)
- 2003 - 14 members (+ 1 other councilor)
- 2007 - 20 members (+ 1 other councilor)
On the national level, in 2003 the Green Party was not represented in the
Council of States
Swiss Council of States
The Council of States of Switzerland is the smaller chamber of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, and is considered the Assembly's upper house. There are 46 Councillors....
or Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
. In 2007, two Green Party members were elected to the Council of States.
By 2005, the party held 3.8 percent of the seats in the Swiss cantonal executive governments
Conseil d'Etat (Switzerland)
In Switzerland, Conseil d'Etat is the name of the council constituting the cantonal government of French-speaking cantons. It is not to be confused with the Conseil des États which is a chamber of the Swiss parliament....
and 6.9 percent in the Swiss cantonal parliaments (index "BADAC", weighted with the population and number of seats). In 2007, the Green Party was represented in the governments of the cantons Bern, Basel-City
Basel-City
Basel-Stadt is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The city of Basel and the municipalities of Bettingen and Riehen form its territory.-History:...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
(two ministers), Neuchâtel, Nidwalden
Nidwalden
Nidwalden is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population is 40,287 of which 4,046 are foreigners. The capital is Stans.-History:...
, Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
, Zug (two ministers) and Zurich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
.
See also
- Green party
- Green politicsGreen politicsGreen politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
- List of environmental organizations
External links
- Green Party of Switzerland (official site)
- Swiss Greens International