2015 Swiss Federal Council election
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An election for all seven members of the Federal Council, the Government of Switzerland, was held on 9 December 2015, following the federal election on 19 October 2015, for the 2016–2020 term.[1]
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, a member of the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD), announced she would not run for reelection after the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) won a record 29.4% of the vote, whilst her own party received 4.1% of the vote.[2][3] The SVP/UDC was widely expected to fill her seat in the election; it chose Thomas Aeschi (Zug), Guy Parmelin (Vaud) and Norman Gobbi (Ticino) as candidates for the seat, with Aeschi being the favourite at the time.[4][5]
Guy Parmelin, of the SVP/UDC, was ultimately elected by the Federal Assembly on 9 December 2015.[1] Parmelin, a farmer and winegrower from Bursins in the canton of Vaud, became the first Federal Councillor of the Swiss People's Party from the French-speaking part of Switzerland.[1][6]
There was a minor cabinet reshuffle after the election, as newly elected Federal Councillor Parmelin was selected to become head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, replacing fellow SVP/UDC member Ueli Maurer, who became head of the Federal Department of Finance.[7] The SVP/UDC regained its second seat on the Federal Council, which it had lost in 2008, when the newly created BDP/PBD split from the SVP/UDC.
Incumbents
Incumbents, in descending order of seniority, including political party affiliation and department at the time of the election:
- Doris Leuthard (CVP/PDC), from Aargau, head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications,
- Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (BDP/PBD), from Grisons, head of the Federal Department of Finance (did not run for reelection),
- Ueli Maurer (SVP/UDC), from Zürich, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports,
- Didier Burkhalter (FDP.The Liberals), from Neuchâtel, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs,
- Simonetta Sommaruga (SPS/PSS), from Bern, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police,
- Johann Schneider-Ammann (FDP.The Liberals), from Bern, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research,
- Alain Berset (SPS/PSS), from Fribourg, head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs.
Results
Source showing only the final tallies in favour of the winner of each seat:[1]
Seat held by Doris Leuthard
Doris Leuthard (CVP/PDC) was reelected in the first round of voting.
| Round 1 | |
|---|---|
| Doris Leuthard | 215 |
| Votes received by other persons | 19 |
| Votes cast | 245 |
| Invalid votes | 3 |
| Blank votes | 8 |
| Valid votes | 234 |
| Absolute majority | 118 |
Seat held by Ueli Maurer
Ueli Maurer (SVP/UDC) was reelected in the first round of voting.
| Round 1 | |
|---|---|
| Ueli Maurer | 173 |
| Thomas Hurter | 10 |
| Votes received by other persons | 27 |
| Votes cast | 245 |
| Invalid votes | 3 |
| Blank votes | 32 |
| Valid votes | 210 |
| Absolute majority | 106 |
Seat held by Didier Burkhalter
Didier Burkhalter (FDP.The Liberals) was reelected in the first round of voting.
| Round 1 | |
|---|---|
| Didier Burkhalter | 217 |
| Votes received by other persons | 14 |
| Votes cast | 244 |
| Invalid votes | 0 |
| Blank votes | 13 |
| Valid votes | 231 |
| Absolute majority | 116 |
Seat held by Simonetta Sommaruga
Simonetta Sommaruga (SPS/PSS) was reelected in the first round of voting.
| Round 1 | |
|---|---|
| Simonetta Sommaruga | 182 |
| Daniel Jositsch | 11 |
| Votes received by other persons | 28 |
| Votes cast | 245 |
| Invalid votes | 5 |
| Blank votes | 19 |
| Valid votes | 221 |
| Absolute majority | 111 |
Seat held by Johann Schneider-Ammann
Johann Schneider-Ammann (FDP.The Liberals) was reelected in the first round of voting.
| Round 1 | |
|---|---|
| Johann Schneider-Ammann | 191 |
| Votes received by other persons | 28 |
| Votes cast | 244 |
| Invalid votes | 2 |
| Blank votes | 23 |
| Valid votes | 219 |
| Absolute majority | 110 |
Seat held by Alain Berset
Alain Berset (SPS/PSS) was reelected in the first round of voting.
| Round 1 | |
|---|---|
| Alain Berset | 210 |
| Votes received by other persons | 23 |
| Votes cast | 243 |
| Invalid votes | 2 |
| Blank votes | 8 |
| Valid votes | 233 |
| Absolute majority | 117 |
Vacant seat
Guy Parmelin (SVP/UDC) was elected to the Federal Council after three rounds of voting.
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guy Parmelin | 90 | 117 | 138 |
| Thomas Aeschi | 61 | 78 | 88 |
| Norman Gobbi | 50 | 30 | 11 |
| Thomas Hurter | 22 | - | - |
| Viola Amherd | 16 | - | - |
| Votes received by other persons | 4 | 14 | - |
| Votes cast | 245 | 244 | 243 |
| Invalid votes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank votes | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Valid votes | 243 | 239 | 237 |
| Absolute majority | 122 | 120 | 119 |
References
- ^ a b c d Mombelli, Armando (10 December 2015). "People's Party Gains Second Seat in Cabinet". Swissinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ Jaberg, Samuel; Stephens, Thomas (28 October 2015). "Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf to Stand Down". Swissinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ Geiser, Urs (19 October 2015). "Parliament Shifts to the Right". Swissinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "People's Party Posts Candidates for Cabinet Seat". Swissinfo. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "People's Party Tightens Grip on Second Cabinet Seat". Swissinfo. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ Bradley, Simon (10 December 2015). "Wary Press Split Over Farmer Parmelin". Swissinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "People's Party finally nails finance minister job". Swissinfo. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.