Swiss Federal Council election, 2010
Encyclopedia
Two by-elections to the Swiss Federal Council
were held in Switzerland
on 22 September 2010, after Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger
(SP
) announced he would leave the Federal Council as of December 31, 2010. as well as incumbent Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz
(FDP.The Liberals
) announced his intention to retire on 6 August 2010, effective late October 2010. Elected were Simonetta Sommaruga
and Johann Schneider-Ammann
.
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) 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, but Leuenberger then predated his resignation so that only one electoral session would have to be held.
Possible candidates by the FDP for Merz' seat include 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. Malama officially announced his candidacy on 20 August 2010, and Schneider-Ammann was nominated on 2 September 2010. Noser, Keller-Sutter and Cassis were also nominated.
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). 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.
The SP's favoured candidates appeared to be Simonetta Sommaruga
and Jacqueline Fehr
, with Pascale Bruderer
and Claude Janiak
also considered possible candidates. Bruderer declined to seek the seat and Sommaruga officially announced her candidacy on 11 August 2010. Eva Herzog also announced her intention to stand, as did Hildegard Fässler. Fehr is also a candidate, which means the SP will nominate two of four women for the seat on 3 September 2010. The SP also might support the Greens for the other seat.
The Green Party will contest the seat of Merz, with three possible candidates: Geri Müller, Marlies Bänziger and Brigit Wyss.
The following candidates will stand for Merz' seat:
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....
were 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 22 September 2010, after Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger
Moritz 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....
(SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
) announced he would leave the Federal Council as of December 31, 2010. as well as incumbent Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz
Hans-Rudolf Merz
Hans-Rudolf Merz is a Swiss politician of FDP.The Liberals and member of the Swiss Federal Council . He is the head of the Federal Department of Finance and President of the Swiss Confederation for 2009...
(FDP.The Liberals
FDP.The Liberals
FDP.The Liberals is a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It is the joint-largest party in the Federal Council, third-largest party in the National Council, and second-largest in the Council of States....
) announced his intention to retire on 6 August 2010, effective late October 2010. Elected were Simonetta Sommaruga
Simonetta Sommaruga
Simonetta Sommaruga is a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. She is a member of the Swiss Federal Council, the federal government of Switzerland, and head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police .- Early life :Born in Zug, Sommaruga grew up with two brothers and...
and Johann Schneider-Ammann
Johann Schneider-Ammann
Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann is a Swiss businessman and politician. Member of the Free Democratic Party, he was elected to the Swiss National Council in 1999...
.
Party Positions
The Green PartyGreen Party of Switzerland
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.-History:...
and the 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...
laid claim to the FDP's seat. The election was complicated by the fact that Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger
Moritz 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....
(Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
, 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, but Leuenberger then predated his resignation so that only one electoral session would have to be held.
Possible candidates by the FDP for Merz' seat include Karin Keller-Sutter
Karin Keller-Sutter
Karin Keller-Sutter is a Swiss politician of the FDP.- Biography :Keller-Sutter lived her childhood in Wil before moving to Neuchâtel. She studied language interpretation at Dolmetscherschule Zürich. She then worked in a private capacity while studying political science in London and Montréal...
, Gabi Huber, Johann Schneider-Ammann
Johann Schneider-Ammann
Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann is a Swiss businessman and politician. Member of the Free Democratic Party, he was elected to the Swiss National Council in 1999...
, Philipp Müller, Felix Gutzwiller, Ruedi Noser, Christa Markwalder, 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:*...
, Laura Sadis, Ignazio Cassis and Peter Malama. Malama officially announced his candidacy on 20 August 2010, and Schneider-Ammann was nominated on 2 September 2010. Noser, Keller-Sutter and Cassis were also nominated.
The Green Party
Green Party of Switzerland
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.-History:...
and the FDP.The Liberals
FDP.The Liberals
FDP.The Liberals is a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It is the joint-largest party in the Federal Council, third-largest party in the National Council, and second-largest in the Council of States....
have announced they will support the SP's candidate for Leuenberger's seat, while the 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...
has announced it will put up its own candidate, likely either 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....
or Adrian Amstutz
Adrian Amstutz
Adrian Amstutz is a Swiss politician and member of the Council of States from the Canton of Berne.Amstutz was born and lives in the rural village of Sigriswil. As a young man, he served in the elite parachute reconnaissance unit of the Swiss Air Force and won the 1978 Parachuting World Cup in the...
(Caspar Baader
Caspar Baader
Caspar Baader is a Swiss politician, attorney and member of the Swiss National Council from the canton of Basel-Country. Elected in 1998, he is a member of the Swiss People's Party .Baader is married and father of three....
was mooted as a candidate, but declined). Rime was selected as their nominee on 3 September 2010. The Christian Democratic People's Party
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...
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.
The SP's favoured candidates appeared to be Simonetta Sommaruga
Simonetta Sommaruga
Simonetta Sommaruga is a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. She is a member of the Swiss Federal Council, the federal government of Switzerland, and head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police .- Early life :Born in Zug, Sommaruga grew up with two brothers and...
and Jacqueline Fehr
Jacqueline Fehr
Jacqueline Fehr is a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. She represents the Canton of Zürich in the Swiss National Council.- Professional career :...
, with Pascale Bruderer
Pascale Bruderer
Pascale Bruderer Wyss is a Swiss politician. As of 2009, she was the President of the National Council in 2009/2010. She is a member of the Social Democratic Party.-Biography:...
and Claude Janiak
Claude Janiak
Claude Janiak is a Swiss politician of Polish origin, lawyer and President of the Swiss National Council for the 2005/2006 term. Member of the Social Democratic Party , he was elected to the National Council in 1999 in the canton of Basel-Land and reelected in 2003...
also considered possible candidates. Bruderer declined to seek the seat and Sommaruga officially announced her candidacy on 11 August 2010. Eva Herzog also announced her intention to stand, as did Hildegard Fässler. Fehr is also a candidate, which means the SP will nominate two of four women for the seat on 3 September 2010. The SP also might support the Greens for the other seat.
The Green Party will contest the seat of Merz, with three possible candidates: Geri Müller, Marlies Bänziger and Brigit Wyss.
Official Candidates
The following were nominated as official candidates for Leuenberger's seat:- SP: Simonetta SommarugaSimonetta SommarugaSimonetta Sommaruga is a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. She is a member of the Swiss Federal Council, the federal government of Switzerland, and head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police .- Early life :Born in Zug, Sommaruga grew up with two brothers and...
and Jacqueline FehrJacqueline FehrJacqueline Fehr is a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. She represents the Canton of Zürich in the Swiss National Council.- Professional career :... - SVP: Jean-François RimeJean-François RimeJean-François Rime is a Swiss entrepreneur and politician from the Canton of Fribourg, representing the Swiss People's Party in the National Council....
The following candidates will stand for Merz' seat:
- FDP.Liberals: Karin Keller-SutterKarin Keller-SutterKarin Keller-Sutter is a Swiss politician of the FDP.- Biography :Keller-Sutter lived her childhood in Wil before moving to Neuchâtel. She studied language interpretation at Dolmetscherschule Zürich. She then worked in a private capacity while studying political science in London and Montréal...
and Johann Schneider-AmmannJohann Schneider-AmmannJohann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann is a Swiss businessman and politician. Member of the Free Democratic Party, he was elected to the Swiss National Council in 1999... - SVP: Jean-François RimeJean-François RimeJean-François Rime is a Swiss entrepreneur and politician from the Canton of Fribourg, representing the Swiss People's Party in the National Council....
- GPS: Brigit Wyss
Seat vacated by Moritz Leuenberger
| Candidate | Party | Canton | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simonetta Sommaruga Simonetta Sommaruga Simonetta Sommaruga is a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. She is a member of the Swiss Federal Council, the federal government of Switzerland, and head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police .- Early life :Born in Zug, Sommaruga grew up with two brothers and... |
SP Social Democratic Party of Switzerland The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland.... |
Bern | 86 | 96 | 98 | 159 | |
| 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 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:... |
80 | 78 | 77 | 81 | |
| Jacqueline Fehr Jacqueline Fehr Jacqueline Fehr is a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. She represents the Canton of Zürich in the Swiss National Council.- Professional career :... |
SP Social Democratic Party of Switzerland The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland.... |
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... |
61 | 64 | 70 | - | |
| Hildegard Fässler | SP Social Democratic Party of Switzerland The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland.... |
St. Gallen Canton of St. Gallen The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling... |
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
| Candidate | Party | Canton | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johann Schneider-Ammann Johann Schneider-Ammann Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann is a Swiss businessman and politician. Member of the Free Democratic Party, he was elected to the Swiss National Council in 1999... |
FDP 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.... |
Bern | 52 | 75 | 78 | 84 | 144 | |
| 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 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:... |
72 | 72 | 72 | 76 | 93 | |
| Karin Keller-Sutter Karin Keller-Sutter Karin Keller-Sutter is a Swiss politician of the FDP.- Biography :Keller-Sutter lived her childhood in Wil before moving to Neuchâtel. She studied language interpretation at Dolmetscherschule Zürich. She then worked in a private capacity while studying political science in London and Montréal... |
FDP 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.... |
St. Gallen Canton of St. Gallen The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling... |
44 | 55 | 66 | 74 | - | |
| Brigit Wyss | Green Green Party of Switzerland 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.-History:... |
Solothurn Canton of Solothurn Solothurn is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the northwest of Switzerland. The capital is Solothurn.-History:The territory of the canton comprises land acquired by the capital... |
57 | 40 | 28 | - | - | |
| Ignazio Cassis | FDP 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.... |
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 | |||