Second seat in the Vaud Council of States goes to either the FDP or the Greens
Published: Sunday, Nov 5th 2023, 09:50
Updated At: Monday, Nov 6th 2023, 00:53
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The election for the second seat in the Vaud Council of States on November 12 will be a duel between FDP politician Pascal Broulis and the Green Party's Raphaël Mahaim. Broulis is the favorite going into the race.
Pierre-Yves Maillard, SP National Councillor and President of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB), was elected to the Council of States in the first round of voting on October 22. With 52.3 percent of the vote (101,880), Maillard's fellow campaigner on the red-green list achieved an absolute majority at the first attempt.
Broulis came a clear second with 85,171 votes. The former State Councillor received 37,000 more votes than Mahaim (48,087). Despite the large gap, the Green decided to run again: "I'm going with the knowledge that it's possible to turn the tide, even if it will be difficult," he explained.
All other parties withdrew their candidates, including the Green Liberals, whose candidate Céline Weber had come fifth in the first round of voting.
Mahaim wants to close the gap by hoping to win over the votes of the red-green camp, which was split in the first round of voting. He is also flirting with the votes of the Green Liberals and the so-called Free Voters, two parties that have not issued an election recommendation for November 12.
Mobilization is crucial
The Greens and the SP nominated Mahaim for the second round of voting in the hope of achieving the broadest possible mobilization beyond their own party and even beyond the left. His mission is to "unite all progressive and ecological forces", explained the SP and the Greens in unison.
The political heavyweight Broulis can continue to rely on the "Alliance vaudoise". This alliance of FDP, SVP and centrists was already successful in last year's cantonal elections. The greatest danger for Broulis is that the mobilization of voters in the conservative camp will wane and his supporters will stay away from the ballot box.
©Keystone/SDA
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