Switzerland is Electing a New National Council and Council of States Today
Published: Sunday, Oct 22nd 2023, 03:50
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On Sunday, Switzerland will elect a new National Council and almost all members of the Council of States. Over 5,900 people are competing for a seat in the National Council and around 180 for a seat in the Council of States. Results are expected early in the afternoon and the last ones in the evening. 200 seats in the National Council are up for grabs and voters have a selection like never before. The parties have submitted a record number of lists and candidates. Compared to 2019, there are around 27 percent more candidates. The proportion of women among the candidates is a record high of 40.8 percent.
Polls and media reports suggest a shift to the right in the National Council, mainly benefiting the SVP. However, it is not expected that the SVP will reach the historically high voter share of 29.4 percent from 2015. The Greens are expected to suffer losses, although their voter share could remain the second highest ever, even if it drops below 10 percent. The Green Liberals could also see their high from 2019 come to an end. FDP and Mitte are neck and neck for the position of the third strongest party in the National Council.
29 members of the National Council are not running for re-election, the same number as in 2019. This could lead to a partial correction of the 2019 result, with more members leaving the National Council after the new legislature in December.
In Basel-Stadt, one of the five National Council members must give up their seat, as the canton now has four seats in the large chamber. Zurich, on the other hand, has 36 seats instead of 35.
For the first time ever, campaigns with budgets of more than 50,000 francs and donations of more than 15,000 francs must be disclosed by name. The FDP is spending 12.4 million francs on its candidates, the SVP 11.1 million, the SP 6.9 million, the Mitte 6.5 million, the Greens 3.7 million and the GLP 2.9 million.
In the Council of States, 44 of the 46 seats are up for grabs; Obwalden and Appenzell Innerrhoden have already elected their representatives. Seven Council members and one Council member are not running for re-election. In addition, the seat of the Tessin is vacant due to the election of Marina Carobbio Guscetti (SP) to the cantonal government. FDP and Mitte-Party are competing for this seat. The SP is already under pressure in the Council of States, having lost two of its eight mandates during its term.
It is expected that relatively few people will participate in the national elections this weekend. However, no clear conclusions can be drawn from the votes received by mail so far.
©Keystone/SDA
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