The Greens want to gain a seat in the Federal Council held by the FDP.
Published: Sunday, Oct 29th 2023, 21:11
Updated At: Monday, Oct 30th 2023, 00:54
Volver a Live Feed
Despite their electoral setback, the Greens are determined to pursue a candidacy for the Federal Council. On December 13th, they will not challenge a seat held by the Social Democrats, but instead will target a seat held by the Free Democratic Party.
The Free Democratic Party of Switzerland achieved the worst result in its history in the Swiss elections last Sunday, said party president Balthasar Glättli in a press conference at the Federal Palace on Saturday. "The Green Party achieved the second best result in its history," he added. Glättli emphasized the importance of climate change being represented in the Federal Council.
The Parliament has a chance to give Switzerland a government that reflects the breadth of the population with this candidacy. The FDP is clearly the party that is overrepresented in the Federal Council, said the faction leader Aline Trede. "The party must now take responsibility and make room," she said. The magic formula is dead. "That is why we have clearly decided in the faction that we will attack a FDP seat and no SP seats," Trede continued.
Patrick Glättli will not be running as a candidate.
Candidates have until next Friday to submit their applications for a Green Party seat in the Federal Council. One week later, on November 10th, the faction will come together for an extraordinary meeting to decide who will run.
Balthasar Glättli has confirmed that he will not be available for a candidacy for the Swiss Federal Council. He stands by his decision against a personal candidacy for the Federal Council. However, the Green Party will present a "convincing candidacy", Glättli said in an interview with the "SonntagsZeitung".
The Greens are hoping for support from the SP. Glättli also said that the GLP had sent them positive signals. "And even the center should be interested in the fact that there are no more blockades from the right in the Federal Council," he said.
The German Social Democratic Party (SPD) has declared the candidacy of the Green Party for the upcoming election as legitimate.
SP-Co-President Cédric Wermuth considers a Green Federal Council candidacy "absolutely legitimate" - particularly in light of the "historically" weak result of the FDP, as he said in the RTS program "19:30" on Sunday evening (essentially the "evening news" of the French-speaking Switzerland).
From Wermuth's perspective, the right-wingers of the SVP and FDP ("la droite dure" in Wermuth's own words) are currently overrepresented in the Federal Council. The SP will therefore "seriously consider" the question of supporting a Green candidate. "We will weigh the possibilities and opportunities we have. Of course, this depends on the candidacies presented," said the Aargauer.
GLP will openly discuss public consumer news.
The Green Liberal Party (GLP) declared itself open to discussing over- and under-representation in the Swiss Federal Council on Saturday. "The magic formula has worked its magic again, as evidenced by the recent elections. The magic formula is a clinging to the old system of the other parties, to the past," said GLP party president Jürg Grossen.
The Green Liberal Party (GLP) has confirmed to the news agency Keystone-SDA that it will not be claiming a seat in the Federal Council elections on December 13th. This is a matter for the other parties.
The FDP, targeted by the Greens, told Keystone-SDA in response to the Greens' attack that the removal of incumbent federal councillors does not correspond to the system of Switzerland. "The President of the Centre has already emphasised this several times. We expect him to stand by his word," the FDP told Keystone-SDA on Saturday.
Karin Keller-Sutter and Ignazio Cassis have done an excellent job in their departments. "A vote of no confidence would be irresponsible and would cause a mess in important dossiers," said the FDP.
There are six candidates for the SP nomination.
On Sunday afternoon, the deadline for the submission of Federal Council candidacies for the succession of Alain Berset at the SP has expired. Six candidates have applied for Berset's succession.
Five Swiss People's Party (SP) politicians and one politician are: Basel Government President and former National Council Member Beat Jans, Grisons National Council Member Jon Pult, Bern National Council Member Matthias Aebischer, Zurich Council of States Member Daniel Jositsch, Vaud National Council Member Roger Nordmann, and Bern Government Councillor and former National Council Member Evi Allemann.
The Swiss People's Party is now reviewing the candidates. On November 25th, the party will decide on its ticket for the Federal Council election. On October 13th, the United Federal Assembly will elect the successor to Berset.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic