| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati / Council of States |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 18 October 2015
22 November 2015 |
| Purpose of elections |
The five parties in the outgoing government (Federal Council, see note 1) were returned with a similar number of seats in the 200-member National Council, except for the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), now led by Mr. Toni Brunner, which increased its share from 54 to 65 seats. In the 46-member Council of States, the Radical-Democratic Party (FDP/PRD) increased its share to 13 seats, the same as the Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC). The latter had been the largest party in the outgoing legislature.
The 2015 elections were held against the background of the refugee/migration crisis in Europe. On 9 September, the National Council adopted amendments to the law on asylum (see note 2) by 135 votes to 53. The SVP/UDC, which was opposed to the amendments, said that it would call a referendum on them and argued for more border controls. PLR leader Philipp Müller called for better cooperation with the European Union to deal with the refugee crisis. Other major parties, including the Socialist Party (SP/PS), led by Mr. Christian Levrat, focused on social issues, such as better salaries, affordable housing and pension reforms.
Note 1:
The five parties in the outgoing government are the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), the Socialist Party (SP/PS), The Liberals (FDP/PLR), the Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) and the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD).
Note 2:
The amendments aimed at accelerating the asylum procedure. Around 60% of asylum procedures are expected to be completed less than 140 days, instead of the current average of 700 days. Asylum seekers will be assisted by a lawyer free of charge. Earlier, the Council of States had adopted the amendments by 35 votes to 5. |
Date of previous elections: 23 October 2011
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 30 November 2015
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: October 2019
Number of seats at stake: 46 (full renewal)*
*In Appenzell Inner Rhodes, a male candidate from the CVP/PDC was elected through "Landsgemeinde" (cantonal assembly of citizens) in April 2015.
Number of candidates: Not available.
Percentage of women candidates: Not available.
Number of parties contesting the election: Not available.
Number of parties winning seats: 6
Alternation of power: No
Note: Four of the five parties that were in the previous Federal Council - all those except the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD) - are represented in the new Federal Council, elected on 9 December 2015."
Number of parties in government: 4
Names of parties in government: Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), Socialist Party (SP/PS), FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR) and the Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 30 November 2015
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Raphaël Comte (FDP.The Liberals, FDP/PLR)
|
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 (from/to) | 18 October 2015
22 November 2015 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Socialist Party (SP/PS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Others |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Green Party (GPS/PES) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
1st round |
2nd round |
|
|
| FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR) |
13
|
8 |
5 |
|
|
| Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) |
13
|
7 |
6 |
|
|
| Socialist Party (SP/PS) |
12
|
6 |
6 |
|
|
| Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) |
5
|
5 |
0 |
|
|
| Others |
1
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
| Green Party (GPS/PES) |
1
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
| Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD) |
1
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
39
7
15.22%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
http://www.politik-stat.ch/srw2015CH_fr.html
https://www.ch.ch/fr/elections2015/resultate-staenderat/resultate-kanton/
http://www.letemps.ch
http://www.reuters.com |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
