Swiss Federal Council election, 2008
Encyclopedia
On 10 December 2008, the Swiss Federal Assembly elected Ueli Maurer
as successor to Federal Councillor
Samuel Schmid
. Schmid resigned on 12 November 2008 after a number of controversies, officially citing health and personal reasons. Maurer took office on 1 January 2009.
(SVP/UDC), Switzerland's largest party by voter share but no longer represented in the Federal Council after the 2008 splitoff of Schmid's Conservative Democratic Party (BDP), claimed Schmid's seat. The other governing parties including the BDP accepted the SVP's claim and declined to field candidates of their own.
On 27 November 2008, the SVP's parliamentary group decided to nominate former Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher
and former party president Ueli Maurer
as candidates for Schmid's seat. Under new SVP party rules, any SVP member elected to the position without being nominated for it by the group would automatically lose his or her party membership. The opposition Green Party
, citing their opposition to the SVP's policies and their representation on the Council, fielded State Councillor Luc Recordon
as a candidate of their own.
All governing parties declared Blocher to be unacceptable as Federal Councillor. The center-right Free Democrats
(FDP/PRD) decided to support Maurer, while the center-left Social Democrats
(SP/PS) announced that they would not elect him and were looking for an alternative SVP candidate. The centrist Christian Democrats (CVP/PDC) announced on 9 December 2008 that a narrow majority of their parliamentary group, 23 MPs, would vote for Maurer
, an SVP councillor from Thurgau
who had previously been rumored to be the favorite of the center-left parties, announced that he would not accept an election. He nonetheless received 109 votes. Following the first round, SVP group leader Caspar Baader
announced that Christoph Blocher's candidacy was withdrawn in favor of Ueli Maurer. Green Party candidate Luc Recordon
, who did not receive more than ten votes in the first round, declared that he would "suspend" his candidacy.
Ueli Maurer was elected Federal Councillor on the third ballot, receiving exactly the 122 votes required.
Ueli Maurer
Ueli Maurer is a member of the Swiss Federal Council and head of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports...
as successor 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....
Samuel Schmid
Samuel Schmid
Samuel Schmid is a Swiss politician who was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2000 to 2008. He was the head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports .He was elected to the Federal Council on 6 December 2000...
. Schmid resigned on 12 November 2008 after a number of controversies, officially citing health and personal reasons. Maurer took office on 1 January 2009.
Candidates
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), Switzerland's largest party by voter share but no longer represented in the Federal Council after the 2008 splitoff of Schmid's Conservative Democratic Party (BDP), claimed Schmid's seat. The other governing parties including the BDP accepted the SVP's claim and declined to field candidates of their own.
On 27 November 2008, the SVP's parliamentary group decided to nominate former Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher
Christoph Blocher
Christoph Blocher is a Swiss politician, industrialist, and former member of the Swiss Federal Council heading the Federal Department of Justice and Police . Currently he is serving as Vice President of the Swiss People's Party...
and former party president Ueli Maurer
Ueli Maurer
Ueli Maurer is a member of the Swiss Federal Council and head of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports...
as candidates for Schmid's seat. Under new SVP party rules, any SVP member elected to the position without being nominated for it by the group would automatically lose his or her party membership. The opposition 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:...
, citing their opposition to the SVP's policies and their representation on the Council, fielded State Councillor Luc Recordon
Luc Recordon
Luc Recordon is a Swiss politician, member of the Green Party of Switzerland, representing Vaud in the Swiss Council of States.Recordon was educated as an engineer at the EPFL and holds a doctorate in jurisprudence...
as a candidate of their own.
All governing parties declared Blocher to be unacceptable as Federal Councillor. The center-right Free Democrats
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/PRD) decided to support Maurer, while the center-left Social Democrats
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(SP/PS) announced that they would not elect him and were looking for an alternative SVP candidate. The centrist Christian Democrats (CVP/PDC) announced on 9 December 2008 that a narrow majority of their parliamentary group, 23 MPs, would vote for Maurer
Results
Prior to the first round, Hansjörg WalterHansjörg Walter
Hansjörg Walter is a Swiss politician of the Swiss People's Party, a member of the Swiss National Council for the canton of Thurgau and the president of the Swiss Farmers' Union....
, an SVP councillor from Thurgau
Thurgau
Thurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
who had previously been rumored to be the favorite of the center-left parties, announced that he would not accept an election. He nonetheless received 109 votes. Following the first round, SVP group leader 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....
announced that Christoph Blocher's candidacy was withdrawn in favor of Ueli Maurer. Green Party candidate Luc Recordon
Luc Recordon
Luc Recordon is a Swiss politician, member of the Green Party of Switzerland, representing Vaud in the Swiss Council of States.Recordon was educated as an engineer at the EPFL and holds a doctorate in jurisprudence...
, who did not receive more than ten votes in the first round, declared that he would "suspend" his candidacy.
Ueli Maurer was elected Federal Councillor on the third ballot, receiving exactly the 122 votes required.
| Candidates | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ueli Maurer Ueli Maurer Ueli Maurer is a member of the Swiss Federal Council and head of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports... |
67 | 119 | 122 | |
.jpg) |
Hansjörg Walter Hansjörg Walter Hansjörg Walter is a Swiss politician of the Swiss People's Party, a member of the Swiss National Council for the canton of Thurgau and the president of the Swiss Farmers' Union.... |
109 | 121 | 121 |
.jpg) |
Christoph Blocher Christoph Blocher Christoph Blocher is a Swiss politician, industrialist, and former member of the Swiss Federal Council heading the Federal Department of Justice and Police . Currently he is serving as Vice President of the Swiss People's Party... |
54 | unknown | – |
.jpg) |
Luc Recordon Luc Recordon Luc Recordon is a Swiss politician, member of the Green Party of Switzerland, representing Vaud in the Swiss Council of States.Recordon was educated as an engineer at the EPFL and holds a doctorate in jurisprudence... |
unknown | unknown | – |
| Other persons | 11 | 2 | 0 | |
| Ballots cast | 244 | 244 | 244 | |
| Invalid ballots | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Blank ballots | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Valid ballots | 241 | 242 | 243 | |
| Absolute majority | 121 | 122 | 122 | |