Many Former Councilors Confirmed – Minder and Vara Nervously Await Results
Published: Sunday, Oct 22nd 2023, 14:02
Back to Live Feed
In the Swiss Council of States elections, over a dozen incumbent members have been confirmed in office. The independent Schaffhausen Council of States member Thomas Minder and Neuchâtel Council of States member Céline Vara are facing a second round of voting. In Schaffhausen, Minder, known as the "Father of the Abzockerinitiative", came in third behind SP candidate Simon Stocker. Hannes Germann (SVP) was comfortably re-elected as the second Schaffhausen Council of States member. In Neuchâtel, Philippe Bauer (FDP) was in the lead after counting half of the municipalities. He is likely to be re-elected. Céline Vara (Greens) is likely to be defeated by Baptiste Hurni (SP).
In Uri, Josef Dittli (FDP) and Heidi Z'graggen (Mitte) were re-elected without any other candidates running against them. In Glarus, Mathias Zopfi (Greens) was re-elected and Benjamin Mühlemann (FDP) secured the seat vacated by Thomas Hefti (FDP). In Lucerne, Andrea Gmür (Mitte) and Damian Müller (FDP) were re-elected for another term. In Graubünden, Stefan Engler (Mitte) and Martin Schmid (FDP) achieved the absolute majority of 22,000 votes in the first round and were re-elected. In Nidwalden, Hans Wicki (FDP) was re-elected and in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Andrea Caroni (FDP) was confirmed. In Zug, Peter Hegglin (Mitte) and Matthias Michel (FDP) were re-elected. In Basel-Stadt, Eva Herzog (SP) was re-elected according to preliminary results. In Zurich, Daniel Jositsch (SP) is likely to be re-elected on the first round, but it is uncertain if the FDP will be able to keep Ruedi Noser's seat, as Gregor Rutz (SVP) is the leading candidate. In Solothurn, Pirmin Bischof (Mitte) is likely to be re-elected according to the preliminary results. The SP, whose representative Roberto Zanetti did not run again, is under pressure as Christian Imark (SVP) is in second place after counting three-quarters of the municipalities. It is likely that a second round of voting will be necessary.
In Thurgau, the two incumbent Council of States members Brigitte Häberli (Mitte) and Jakob Stark (SVP) had a large lead over their competitors after counting 24 out of 80 municipalities. In Basel-Landschaft, Maya Graf (Greens) had a clear lead over Sven Inäbnit (FDP) after counting 61 out of 86 municipalities. In Fribourg, Isabelle Chassot (Mitte) was in the lead according to the early results, followed by Pierre-André Page (SVP) and Johanna Gapany (FDP). In Vaud, Pierre-Yves Maillard (SP) and Pascal Broulis (FDP) were neck and neck after counting 24 percent of all votes. The incumbent Olivier Français (FDP) and Adèle Thorens (Greens) did not run again. In Geneva, Mauro Poggia (MCG) was in the lead according to preliminary results, followed by the two incumbents Carlo Sommaruga (SP) and Lisa Mazzone (Greens).
Eight members of the small chamber did not run for re-election. One seat has been vacant since April, that of Marina Carobbio Guscetti (SP), who has been in the Ticino cantonal government since spring. The second rounds of voting will take place between 12 and 26 November. Currently, the Mitte holds 14 seats in the Council of States, the FDP 12, the SVP 8, the SP 6 and the Greens 5.
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic