Swiss Labour Party
Encyclopedia
The Swiss Party of Labour is a socialist party in Switzerland
.
The party was founded in 1944 by the illegal Communist Party of Switzerland
. On May 21 the constituent conference of the Basel
Federation of the party was held. On October 14-15 the same year the first Party Congress of the party was held in Zürich
. Léon Nicole
was elected President and Karl Hofmaier General Secretary.
On October 6–7 1945 the Second Congress was held in Geneva
. By this time the party has 20 000 members. On November 30-December 1 the 3rd Congress in Zürich
.
On July 27 a Swiss Party Conference was held in Bern. Karl Hofmaier was removed from his position due to a financial scandal.
In the national elections of 1947 the party receives 5,1% of votes.
On July 4–6 1949 the 4th Congress was held. Steps to strengthen the organization as a Cadre Party are taken. Edgar Woog elected General Secretary.
In 1950 the party works intensively for the Stockholm Appeal
. 260 000 signatures are collected in Switzerland
.
On May 31-June 2 1952 the 5th Congress is held in Geneva
. On December 7 the Central Committee expels Léon Nicole
from the party.
On May 28-30 6th Congress in Geneva
.
On May 16–18 1959 7th Congress in Geneva
. A new party programme approved with the concept of antimonopolistic unity, "Swiss Road to Socialism" (inspired by the similar programme
of the Communist Party of Great Britain
).
On May 16–18 1964 8th Congress in Geneva
.
It is associated with the European United Left - Nordic Green Left group in the European Parliament
, although Switzerland is not in the EU
.
In 2005, the party held 0.8% of the seats in the Swiss cantonal councils, but was not represented in any of the 26 cantonal governments.
, the party stood candidates in the cantons of Zürich
, Vaud
, Geneva
and the Ticino
on their own, and in Neuchâtel
the candidate was on a joint list with Solidarity. While the share of the vote in 2007 was similar to the party's 2003 results (0.7%), the party lost the seat held by Josef Zisyadis
, while retaining the seat held by Marianne Huguenin
. However, on 1 November 2007 Marianne Huguenin
announced her resignation from the National Council to focus on her position as mayor of Renens
, Vaud, leaving Zisyadis to take the Party's seat in the national council representing Vaud.
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....
.
The party was founded in 1944 by the illegal Communist Party of Switzerland
Communist Party of Switzerland
Communist Party of Switzerland , known as the "Old Communists" , was a historical Communist party, section of the Communist International....
. On May 21 the constituent conference of the Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
Federation of the party was held. On October 14-15 the same year the first Party Congress of the party was held in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. Léon Nicole
Léon Nicole
Léon Nicole was a prominent leftist in Switzerland and was elected the first President of the Swiss Party of Labour in 1944....
was elected President and Karl Hofmaier General Secretary.
On October 6–7 1945 the Second Congress was held in 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...
. By this time the party has 20 000 members. On November 30-December 1 the 3rd Congress in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
.
On July 27 a Swiss Party Conference was held in Bern. Karl Hofmaier was removed from his position due to a financial scandal.
In the national elections of 1947 the party receives 5,1% of votes.
In 1950 the party works intensively for the Stockholm Appeal
Stockholm Appeal
March 1950: The World Peace Council releases the Stockholm Appeal calling for an absolute ban on nuclear weapons. The appeal was initiated by the French Communist physicist Frédéric Joliot-Curie, gathered petitions allegedly signed by 273,470,566 persons The text of the Appeal read:“We demand the...
. 260 000 signatures are collected 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 May 31-June 2 1952 the 5th Congress is held in 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...
. On December 7 the Central Committee expels Léon Nicole
Léon Nicole
Léon Nicole was a prominent leftist in Switzerland and was elected the first President of the Swiss Party of Labour in 1944....
from the party.
On May 28-30 6th Congress in 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...
.
On May 16–18 1959 7th Congress in 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...
. A new party programme approved with the concept of antimonopolistic unity, "Swiss Road to Socialism" (inspired by the similar programme
Britain's Road to Socialism
Britain's Road to Socialism is the programme of the Communist Party of Britain and is adhered to by the Young Communist League and the editors of the The Morning Star...
of the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
).
On May 16–18 1964 8th Congress in 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...
.
It is associated with the European United Left - Nordic Green Left group in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, although Switzerland is not in the EU
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 2005, the party held 0.8% of the seats in the Swiss cantonal councils, but was not represented in any of the 26 cantonal governments.
National Elections 2007
Holding two seats in the Swiss National Council (lower or first chamber of the Swiss parliament), going into the 2007 electionsSwiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
, the party stood candidates in the cantons of Zürich
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...
, 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,...
, Geneva
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,...
and the 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...
on their own, and in 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:...
the candidate was on a joint list with Solidarity. While the share of the vote in 2007 was similar to the party's 2003 results (0.7%), the party lost the seat held by Josef Zisyadis
Josef Zisyadis
thumb|Josef ZisyadisJosef Zisyadis is a Swiss politician, a member of the of the Swiss Party of Labour, and of the Alternative Left ....
, while retaining the seat held by Marianne Huguenin
Marianne Huguenin
thumb|Marianne HugueninMarianne Huguenin is a Swiss politician, a member of the Swiss Party of Labour who was a member of the Swiss National Council, representing the Canton of Vaud from 2003 to 2007...
. However, on 1 November 2007 Marianne Huguenin
Marianne Huguenin
thumb|Marianne HugueninMarianne Huguenin is a Swiss politician, a member of the Swiss Party of Labour who was a member of the Swiss National Council, representing the Canton of Vaud from 2003 to 2007...
announced her resignation from the National Council to focus on her position as mayor of Renens
Renens
Renens is a municipality in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It is located in the district of Ouest lausannois, and is a suburb of the city of Lausanne. It is the fourth largest city in the canton. It is considered a very multiethnic town, as more than 50% of the inhabitants are resident foreign...
, Vaud, leaving Zisyadis to take the Party's seat in the national council representing Vaud.
Results at National Elections
| Year | % of votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 5.1% | 7 |
| 1951 | 2.7% | 5 |
| 1955 | 2.6% | 4 |
| 1959 | 2.7% | 3 |
| 1963 | 2.2% | 4 |
| 1967 | 2.9% | 5 |
| 1971 | 2.6% | 5 |
| 1975 | 2.4% | 4 |
| 1979 | 2.1% | 3 |
| 1983 | 0.9% | 1 |
| 1987 | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1991 | 0.8% | 2 |
| 1995 | 1.2% | 3 |
| 1999 | 1.0% | 2 |
| 2003 | 0.7% | 2 |
| 2007 | 0.7% | 1 |