Swiss federal election, 2011
Encyclopedia
Federal elections were held in Switzerland
on 23 October 2011.
All of the Federal Assembly were to be elected: all 200 seats in the National Council
and all 46 seats in the Council of States.
The overall result of the elections is a moderate strengthening of the political centre, reversing the trend towards polarisation
in Swiss politics during the 1990s and 2000s, the centrist parties gaining an overall of ten seats in the National Council, with the left and right poles losing three and seven seats, respectively.
Voter turnout was 49.1%, compared to 48.9% in 2007.
, the Swiss People's Party
(SVP) won the highest share of the vote ever recorded for a single party in Switzerland, with 29% of the vote. Soon after, a moderate faction split from the SVP, forming the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP).
In the 2011 election, the two neophyte parties BDP and Green Liberal Party
(GLP) were successful, each receiving 5.4% of the popular vote.
Both the GLP and the BDP have gained the required five seats to form their own parliamentary groups, suggesting a split of the centrist CVP/EVP/glp group
.
All other major parties lost votes, the Swiss People's Party
(SVP) for the first time since the 1987 elections
. With 26.6% of the popular vote, the SVP is still the strongest party by a comfortable margin, but the 2011 elections marked the end of its rapid growth during the period of 1995–2007.
Of the small parties (below 5 seats), the Evangelical People's Party
received 2.0% of the vote (+0.4%), retaining its two seats. The Ticino League
received 0.8% of the vote (+0.2%) and gains one seat, now holding two.
The Christian Social Party
lost one seat, but gained another to remain in the National Council, while the Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland
and Swiss Party of Labour lost their single seats. Other minor groups which gathered more than 0.1% of the popular vote are: the Swiss Pirate Party
(0.48%, 11,616 votes), the Swiss Democrats
(0.20%, 4,838 votes), parteifrei.ch (0.19%, 4,602 votes) and Tierpartei Schweiz (0.15%, 3,558 votes).
.
27 out of 46 seats have been accounted for in the first ballot of 23 October. For the remaining 19 seats, a second ballot will be held in November.
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 23 October 2011.
All of the Federal Assembly were to be elected: all 200 seats in the National Council
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 all 46 seats in the Council of States.
The overall result of the elections is a moderate strengthening of the political centre, reversing the trend towards polarisation
Polarization (politics)
In politics, polarization is the process by which the public opinion divides and goes to the extremes. It can also refer to when the extreme factions of a political party gain dominance in a party. In either case moderate voices often lose power and influence as a consequence.-Definitions of...
in Swiss politics during the 1990s and 2000s, the centrist parties gaining an overall of ten seats in the National Council, with the left and right poles losing three and seven seats, respectively.
Voter turnout was 49.1%, compared to 48.9% in 2007.
National Council
At the last election, in 2007Swiss 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 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...
(SVP) won the highest share of the vote ever recorded for a single party in Switzerland, with 29% of the vote. Soon after, a moderate faction split from the SVP, forming the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP).
In the 2011 election, the two neophyte parties BDP and Green Liberal Party
Green Liberal Party of Switzerland
The Green Liberal Party of Switzerland , abbreviated to glp, is a centrist Green liberal political party in Switzerland. Founded in 2007, the party holds five seats in the Federal Assembly....
(GLP) were successful, each receiving 5.4% of the popular vote.
Both the GLP and the BDP have gained the required five seats to form their own parliamentary groups, suggesting a split of the centrist CVP/EVP/glp group
Christian Democrats/EPP/glp Group
The Christian Democrats/EVP/glp Group , abbreviated to CEg, is a centrist parliamentary group of three parties in Switzerland's federal legislature, the Federal Assembly. It is formed by the Christian Democratic People's Party , Evangelical People's Party , and Green Liberal Party...
.
All other major parties lost votes, 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...
(SVP) for the first time since the 1987 elections
Swiss federal election, 1987
The Swiss federal election, 1987 was a federal election that took place in Switzerland in 1987.- Results :...
. With 26.6% of the popular vote, the SVP is still the strongest party by a comfortable margin, but the 2011 elections marked the end of its rapid growth during the period of 1995–2007.
Of the small parties (below 5 seats), the Evangelical People's Party
Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland
The Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland is a political party in Switzerland.In questions of redistribution, education, environmentalism, immigration policy, the EVP stands rather center-left. In questions of euthanasia, abortion, and registered partnership and other typically Christian...
received 2.0% of the vote (+0.4%), retaining its two seats. The Ticino League
Ticino League
The Ticino League is an isolationist, national conservative political party in Switzerland active in the canton of Ticino.In 1991, after some public campaigning in the Sunday journal Mattino della Domenica against political power and use of public money, the editor Giuliano Bignasca and the...
received 0.8% of the vote (+0.2%) and gains one seat, now holding two.
The Christian Social Party
Christian Social Party (Switzerland)
The Christian Social Party is a political party in Switzerland. The CSP is more social democratic than the CVP. With the moderate Christian left as its background, the CSP commits itself to social democratic and environmentalist political solutions...
lost one seat, but gained another to remain in the National Council, while the Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland
Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland
The Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland is a political party in Switzerland....
and Swiss Party of Labour lost their single seats. Other minor groups which gathered more than 0.1% of the popular vote are: the Swiss Pirate Party
Swiss Pirate Party
The Pirate Party Switzerland is a political party in Switzerland, based on the model of the Swedish Piratpartiet. The party was founded on July 12, 2009 in Zürich by about 150 people...
(0.48%, 11,616 votes), the Swiss Democrats
Swiss Democrats
The Swiss Democrats are a right-wing political party in Switzerland.The party is not represented in the Federal Assembly, but has two members of the Grand Council of Aargau....
(0.20%, 4,838 votes), parteifrei.ch (0.19%, 4,602 votes) and Tierpartei Schweiz (0.15%, 3,558 votes).
Seats by canton
| Canton | SVP !! colspan="2"|SP !! colspan="2" |FDP !! colspan="2" |CVP !! colspan="2" |Grüne !! colspan="2" |glp !! colspan="2" |BDP !! colspan="2" |EVP !! colspan="2" |EDU !! colspan="2" |PdA !! colspan="2" |CSP !! colspan="2" |Lega !! colspan="2"|MCG Mouvement citoyens genevois -External links:*... |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 11 | −1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | −1 | 3 | −1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 26 | 8 | -2 | 6 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 2 | −1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | −1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | +1 | 0 | −1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 0 | −1 | 1 | +1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 0 | −1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | −1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 1 | 3 | +1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | −1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 2 | 2 | +1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | −1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 0 | −1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 4 | −1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1 | −1 | 1 | 0 | −1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 1 | +1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | −2 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 1 | +1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 3 | 1 | −1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 0 | -1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 1 | 2 | +1 | 1 | 3 | −1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | −1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 200 | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 46 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | -5 | 12 | 9 | 2 | ±0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | ±0 | 2 | 1 |
Council of States
The elections of the Council of States are done by a plurality voting systemPlurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
.
27 out of 46 seats have been accounted for in the first ballot of 23 October. For the remaining 19 seats, a second ballot will be held in November.
Pre-election polls
| Pollster | Date | SVP 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... |
SPS Social Democratic Party of Switzerland The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland.... |
FDP 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.... |
CVP 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... |
GPS 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:... |
GLP Green Liberal Party of Switzerland The Green Liberal Party of Switzerland , abbreviated to glp, is a centrist Green liberal political party in Switzerland. Founded in 2007, the party holds five seats in the Federal Assembly.... |
BDP | EVP Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland The Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland is a political party in Switzerland.In questions of redistribution, education, environmentalism, immigration policy, the EVP stands rather center-left. In questions of euthanasia, abortion, and registered partnership and other typically Christian... |
EDU Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland The Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland is a political party in Switzerland.... |
PdA | LdT Ticino League The Ticino League is an isolationist, national conservative political party in Switzerland active in the canton of Ticino.In 1991, after some public campaigning in the Sunday journal Mattino della Domenica against political power and use of public money, the editor Giuliano Bignasca and the... |
CSP Christian Social Party (Switzerland) The Christian Social Party is a political party in Switzerland. The CSP is more social democratic than the CVP. With the moderate Christian left as its background, the CSP commits itself to social democratic and environmentalist political solutions... |
oth. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gfs.bern | 1–8 October 2011 | 29.3 | 19.9 | 15.2 | 14.2 | 9.3 | 4.9 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 1.0 | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | 1.1 |
| Isopublic | 1–23 September 2011 | 28.2 | 20.3 | 15.7 | 14.2 | 9.8 | 5.2 | 3.2 | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | 3.4 |
| gfs.bern | 23 August – 3 September 2011 | 28.0 | 20.5 | 15.6 | 14.5 | 9.5 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.0 | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | 1.7 |
| demoscope.ch | 25 July – 6 August 2011 | 24.8 | 19.5 | 17.8 | 12.4 | 9.9 | 7.2 | 3.0 | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | 5.4 |
| gfs.bern | 25 July – 6 August 2011 | 27.4 | 18.5 | 16.1 | 15.0 | 10.1 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | 2.0 |
| gfs.bern | 13–26 June 2011 | 27.5 | 18.9 | 15.0 | 13.4 | 10.0 | 5.2 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.3 | n.c. | n.c. | n.c. | 3.3 |
| Isopublic | 8–18 June 2011 | 28.7 | 18.6 | 13.9 | 13.2 | 9.9 | 8.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | n.c. | n.c. | 0.2 | 1.8 |
| gfs.bern | 4–16 April 2011 | 29.9 | 17.7 | 15.2 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 5.7 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | n.c | n.c | n.c | 1.8 |
| Isopublic | 17–26 March 2011 | 25.4 | 18.2 | 15.4 | 14.3 | 10.5 | 6.1 | 2.8 | n.c | n.c | n.c | n.c | n.c | 7.3 |
| gfs.bern | 10–22 January 2011 | 29.8 | 18.0 | 17.7 | 12.9 | 8.8 | 5.2 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.5 | n.c | n.c | n.c | 1.4 |
| Isopublic | 10–21 December 2010 | 26.0 | 19.1 | 17.1 | 13.8 | 9.1 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.5 | n.c | n.c | 4.1 |
| gfs.bern | 28 Sept. – 11 Oct. 2010 | 26.1 | 20.1 | 17.2 | 14.1 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 2.0 |
| 2007 federal election Swiss 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... |
21 October 2007 | 28.9 | 19.5 | 17.7 | 14.5 | 9.6 | 1.4 | — | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.9 |