Swiss Federal Council election, 2009
Encyclopedia
A by-election to the Swiss Federal Council
was held in Switzerland
on 16 September 2009, after incumbent Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin
(Free Democratic Party
, FDP/PLR) announced his intention to retire on 31 October 2009.
Some saw the election as an important decision regarding whom the "fourth seat" in the Federal Council belonged to (the FDP or the CVP), and as an indirect political decision regarding whether the SP or the SVP would have more influence in the future.
Didier Burkhalter
(FDP/PLR) was elected to succeed Couchepin in the fourth ballot.
and the centrist Christian Democrats
, who both claim to be entitled to the free Council seat. The right-wing Swiss People's Party
and the left-wing Social Democratic Party
's support, however, will decide the outcome.
(Neuchâtel
) announced his candidacy on 8 July 2009, followed by the Genevan
representatives Christian Lüscher
on 9 July and Martine Brunschwig Graf
on 12 July, as well as Pascal Broulis
(Vaud
) on 6 August. Party president Fulvio Pelli
, while not officially putting himself forward, stated that he would stand in the election if nominated by his party.
The FDP decided on 29 August to nominate two candidates, Burkhalter and Lüscher. Lüscher was seen as a right-wing candidate and Burkhalter as a centrist; some speculated that the FDP had nominated Lüscher to appease the SVP, while wanting Burkhalter to be elected. This strategy was considered to be risky, however, as a final vote between the FDP's Lüscher and the CVP's Schwaller would likely see Schwaller's election. The FDP claimed that Lüscher was not at all meant as an appeasement, and that he was as legitimate a candidate as Burkhalter.
Shortly before the election, Dick Marty
(FDP Ticino
) announced without the support of his party that he would accept an election; it was seen as possible that some SP and Green representatives might support him.
(CVP/PDC) also stated it was entitled to a second seat. Dominique de Buman from the CVP Fribourg
announced his candidacy on 7 August 2009. Urs Schwaller
(CVP Fribourg) will also stand. Furthermore, Luigi Pedrazzini (CVP Ticino) was nominated on 31 August 2009. On 8 September 2009, the CVP unanimously nominated Schwaller.
(SVP/UDC) maintained that it was entitled to a second seat on the Federal Council, but that it had not yet decided when to try and obtain it. The SVP announced that it would only support the FDP's candidate if the FDP agreed to a fixed timetable for the election of a second SVP councillor. The SVP was strongly considering proposing their own candidate, with Jean-François Rime
(SVP Fribourg) the only likely candidate; if they do not propose their own candidate, they stated they would only vote for FDP candidates, as they do not recognise the CVP's claim to a second seat.
's seat, and that it couldn't risk alienating the FDP too strongly. The SVP almost directly threatened it might vote against the SP's second candidate and for a Green candidate in the next complete renewal of the Federal Council in 2011.
Shortly before the election, the SP declared that it was not decided that its members would prefer Schwaller; while he was closer to the SP on the issues, some members of the SP were reluctant to vote for a non-FDP candidate on institutional grounds. The SP also stated it would openly announce its voting behaviour (likely in an attempt to show that some SVP members – likely from constituencies strongly influenced by the farming community – would vote for Schwaller, who had tried to raise his profile as a critic of agricultural free trade with the EU).
with a SVP representative came to pass, the party would vote for the CVP's candidate. Furthermore, the BDP proposed giving the BDP's votes to the CVP candidate in exchange for the CVP's support for Widmer-Schlumpf's reelection in 2011.
After the first ballot, Dick Marty asked his colleagues, in a personal statement, to support his party's official candidates.
After the third ballot, Christian Lüscher asked his colleagues to support Didier Burkhalter.
Didier Burkhalter accepted his election to Federal Councillor.
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....
was held in 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....
on 16 September 2009, after incumbent Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin
Pascal Couchepin
Pascal Couchepin is a Swiss politician, former member of the Swiss Federal Council and President of the Confederation in 2003 and 2008...
(Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
, FDP/PLR) announced his intention to retire on 31 October 2009.
Some saw the election as an important decision regarding whom the "fourth seat" in the Federal Council belonged to (the FDP or the CVP), and as an indirect political decision regarding whether the SP or the SVP would have more influence in the future.
Didier Burkhalter
Didier Burkhalter
Didier Burkhalter is a Swiss politician of FDP.The Liberals. He is a member of the Swiss Federal Council who was elected on 16 September 2009, and succeeded Pascal Couchepin on 1 November 2009 when he became head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs .A native of the Canton of Neuchâtel, he...
(FDP/PLR) was elected to succeed Couchepin in the fourth ballot.
Candidates and party positions
The election is a contest between the center-right Free DemocratsFree Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
and the centrist Christian Democrats
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
, who both claim to be entitled to the free Council seat. The right-wing Swiss People's Party
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
and the left-wing Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
's support, however, will decide the outcome.
Free Democratic Party
The FDP will attempt to retain Pascal Couchepin's seat. Representative Didier BurkhalterDidier Burkhalter
Didier Burkhalter is a Swiss politician of FDP.The Liberals. He is a member of the Swiss Federal Council who was elected on 16 September 2009, and succeeded Pascal Couchepin on 1 November 2009 when he became head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs .A native of the Canton of Neuchâtel, he...
(Neuchâtel
Canton of Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel is a canton of French speaking western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,782 of which 39,654 were foreigners. The capital is Neuchâtel.-History:...
) announced his candidacy on 8 July 2009, followed by the Genevan
Canton of Geneva
The Republic and Canton of Geneva is the French speaking westernmost canton or state of Switzerland, surrounded on almost all sides by France. As is the case in several other Swiss cantons The Republic and Canton of Geneva is the French speaking westernmost canton or state of Switzerland,...
representatives Christian Lüscher
Christian Lüscher
Christian Lüscher is a Swiss attorney and politician of FDP.The Liberals, representing the Canton of Geneva in the National Council. He stood for election to the Swiss Federal Council on 16 September 2009....
on 9 July and Martine Brunschwig Graf
Martine Brunschwig Graf
Martine Brunschwig Graf is a Swiss politician, member of the Swiss National Council for the Canton of Geneva in FDP.The Liberals....
on 12 July, as well as Pascal Broulis
Pascal Broulis
Pascal Broulis is a Swiss politician. Since 2002, he has been a member of the Council of State in the canton of Vaud...
(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,...
) on 6 August. Party president Fulvio Pelli
Fulvio Pelli
Fulvio Pelli is a Swiss politician, member of the Swiss National Council , and president of the Free Democratic Party.-External links:*...
, while not officially putting himself forward, stated that he would stand in the election if nominated by his party.
The FDP decided on 29 August to nominate two candidates, Burkhalter and Lüscher. Lüscher was seen as a right-wing candidate and Burkhalter as a centrist; some speculated that the FDP had nominated Lüscher to appease the SVP, while wanting Burkhalter to be elected. This strategy was considered to be risky, however, as a final vote between the FDP's Lüscher and the CVP's Schwaller would likely see Schwaller's election. The FDP claimed that Lüscher was not at all meant as an appeasement, and that he was as legitimate a candidate as Burkhalter.
Shortly before the election, Dick Marty
Dick Marty
Dick Marty is a Swiss politician and former state prosecutor of the canton of Ticino. He is a member of the Swiss Council of States , and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.-Education:Marty holds a doctorate in law from the University of Neuchâtel with the thesis:...
(FDP Ticino
Ticino
Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
) announced without the support of his party that he would accept an election; it was seen as possible that some SP and Green representatives might support him.
Christian Democratic Party
The Christian Democratic People's PartyChristian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(CVP/PDC) also stated it was entitled to a second seat. Dominique de Buman from the CVP Fribourg
Canton of Fribourg
The Canton of Fribourg is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the west of the country. The capital of the canton is Fribourg. The name Fribourg is French, whereas is the German name for both the canton and the town.-History:...
announced his candidacy on 7 August 2009. Urs Schwaller
Urs Schwaller
Urs Schwaller is a Swiss politician, member of the Swiss Council of States for the Canton of Fribourg. Elected to the Council in 2003, Schwaller currently presides the caucus of the CVP/EVP/glp. From 1992-2004, Schwaller was member of the cantonal government of Fribourg .-External links:...
(CVP Fribourg) will also stand. Furthermore, Luigi Pedrazzini (CVP Ticino) was nominated on 31 August 2009. On 8 September 2009, the CVP unanimously nominated Schwaller.
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's PartySwiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
(SVP/UDC) maintained that it was entitled to a second seat on the Federal Council, but that it had not yet decided when to try and obtain it. The SVP announced that it would only support the FDP's candidate if the FDP agreed to a fixed timetable for the election of a second SVP councillor. The SVP was strongly considering proposing their own candidate, with Jean-François Rime
Jean-François Rime
Jean-François Rime is a Swiss entrepreneur and politician from the Canton of Fribourg, representing the Swiss People's Party in the National Council....
(SVP Fribourg) the only likely candidate; if they do not propose their own candidate, they stated they would only vote for FDP candidates, as they do not recognise the CVP's claim to a second seat.
Social Democratic Party
SP representatives stated that they would consider the candidates of CVP and FDP on their own merits, as they don't see either of the two parties having a natural claim to the seat; supporting the Greens was seen as unlikely, but possible. The FDP's Pelli was the only candidate the SP ruled out supporting. Analysts stated the SP had to take into account that it would likely shortly have to replace Moritz LeuenbergerMoritz Leuenberger
Moritz Leuenberger is a Swiss politician, lawyer, was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1995 to 2010 and President of the Confederation in 2001 and in 2006....
's seat, and that it couldn't risk alienating the FDP too strongly. The SVP almost directly threatened it might vote against the SP's second candidate and for a Green candidate in the next complete renewal of the Federal Council in 2011.
Shortly before the election, the SP declared that it was not decided that its members would prefer Schwaller; while he was closer to the SP on the issues, some members of the SP were reluctant to vote for a non-FDP candidate on institutional grounds. The SP also stated it would openly announce its voting behaviour (likely in an attempt to show that some SVP members – likely from constituencies strongly influenced by the farming community – would vote for Schwaller, who had tried to raise his profile as a critic of agricultural free trade with the EU).
Greens
The Greens decided on 28 August not to propose a candidate for the seat, as they had done in the two previous elections when SVP seats were contested, because they considered the time not to be right.Conservative Democrats
The small Conservative Democratic Party (BDP) stated that if any agreement to replace Eveline Widmer-SchlumpfEveline Widmer-Schlumpf
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is a Swiss lawyer, politician, and member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2008. She is currently the head of the Federal Department of Finance ....
with a SVP representative came to pass, the party would vote for the CVP's candidate. Furthermore, the BDP proposed giving the BDP's votes to the CVP candidate in exchange for the CVP's support for Widmer-Schlumpf's reelection in 2011.
Procedure
Federal Council elections proceed in as many ballots as are required for a candidate to receive an absolute majority of valid votes. Each of the 246 members of the Federal Assembly, members of the National Council and the Council of States alike, hold one vote. Article 132, par. 3 and 4 of the Parliament Act provides that:Results
| Candidates | Ballot 1 | Ballot 2 | Ballot 3 | Ballot 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Didier Burkhalter Didier Burkhalter Didier Burkhalter is a Swiss politician of FDP.The Liberals. He is a member of the Swiss Federal Council who was elected on 16 September 2009, and succeeded Pascal Couchepin on 1 November 2009 when he became head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs .A native of the Canton of Neuchâtel, he... |
58 | 72 | 80 | 129 | |
| Christian Lüscher Christian Lüscher Christian Lüscher is a Swiss attorney and politician of FDP.The Liberals, representing the Canton of Geneva in the National Council. He stood for election to the Swiss Federal Council on 16 September 2009.... |
73 | 72 | 63 | (4) | |
| Dick Marty Dick Marty Dick Marty is a Swiss politician and former state prosecutor of the canton of Ticino. He is a member of the Swiss Council of States , and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.-Education:Marty holds a doctorate in law from the University of Neuchâtel with the thesis:... |
34 | (12) | (5) | — | |
| Urs Schwaller Urs Schwaller Urs Schwaller is a Swiss politician, member of the Swiss Council of States for the Canton of Fribourg. Elected to the Council in 2003, Schwaller currently presides the caucus of the CVP/EVP/glp. From 1992-2004, Schwaller was member of the cantonal government of Fribourg .-External links:... |
79 | 89 | 95 | 106 | |
| Other persons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Votes cast | 245 | 245 | 243 | 245 | |
| Invalid votes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Blank votes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Valid votes | 245 | 245 | 243 | 239 | |
| Absolute majority | 123 | 123 | 122 | 120 | |
After the first ballot, Dick Marty asked his colleagues, in a personal statement, to support his party's official candidates.
After the third ballot, Christian Lüscher asked his colleagues to support Didier Burkhalter.
Didier Burkhalter accepted his election to Federal Councillor.