As protestors in recent clashes in Bern
this weekend feared, Switzerland's vote yesterday saw the extremely
right-wing SVP claiming 65 seats in the new National Council, giving
it a right-wing majority for the first time ever.
Turnout was around 47%, fairly normal
for a Swiss general election, but the SVP managed to achieve a
historic high of 29.4% by spending more money than any other party –
it seems money buys votes in Switzerland as it does everywhere else.
So what does this mean? In Swiss
politics a majority in parliament isn't as dramatic as in Britain but
it is still a big result and will dictate the path Switzerland takes
over the next four years. Although Switzerland is a direct democracy,
meaning that voters have a say through referenda, around 75% of all
decisions are taken by parliament without asking the people.
Most immediately it will affect the
election of the Swiss government, the Federal Council, which takes
place on 9 December. The seven Federal Councillors are elected by
both houses of parliament together, with a simple majority needed to
elect each member. Although these particular elections often produce
surprises, a second seat for the SVP is now almost a foregone
conclusion, meaning that the right will then have four seats and a
majority in government as well.
The SVP made the refugee crisis in
Europe the main topic of debate, even though Switzerland has barely
been affected by the recent migration so far. So this result is very
disturbing. The right-wing majority is also likely to replace the
Swiss political tradition of consensus with confrontation –for
example, over immigration, over pensions, nuclear energy – as well
as confrontation with anyone who disagrees with them.
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