Ring of Independents

The country's Ring of Independents ( LdU ) / Alliance of Independents ( AdI ) was a party of Switzerland, which existed from 1936 to 1999. In -examination today, but there is the last remaining local section.

• 4.2 cantonal parliaments
• 4.3 Representation in local councils

History of the Party

Formation

Because the retailer and founder of Migros, Gottlieb Duttweiler, with the prevailing policy of Switzerland in the 1930s did not agree, he founded together with like-minded people in 1935 an association. Although this was not originally intended as a party but as a representation of persons who should reconcile capital and labor in the so-called social market economy, the movement won in the elections to the National Council in 1935 immediately seven seats. However, the seat gains were limited to merely three cantons ( Zurich 5 seats, Sankt Gallen and Berne for 1 seat). Since the original plan was to combine the best of all parties in a country ring, did not succeed politically, a party was founded with the name of the country ring the Independent on December 30, 1936.

Era Duttweiler

As Duttweiler as party president initially had only vague ideas, but authoritarian acted, it came back in 1943 to a spin-off by leading circles within the party. This occurred in the general election in the autumn of the same year as Independent free list on their own and scored a seat, but there was a secession not last long. In the era Duttweiler the party always reached at the 5 percent share of the vote. In the French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland, the party could not take root, just as in Central Switzerland (excluding Lucerne ).

The social-liberal phase after Duttweiler

After the death of long-time party president, the country's Ring has established itself as socially liberal alternative between the Left and the commoners. In the elections to the National Council in 1967, he was with 9.05 percent of the vote and sixteen deputies in the National Assembly and a Senate in the strongest opposition party. The LdU spoke mainly the urban middle class ( employees, civil servants ). Numerous new registry rings, such as the cantonal parties were called, emerged (1968 Geneva, Neuchâtel, Solothurn and Graubünden, Valais 1972; 1977 train ). Towards the end of the 1970s but decreased share of the vote and mandates massive. It broke out a fierce factional dispute. The traditional representative of a social market economy were suddenly towards an ecological wings. The daily The fact, mouthpiece of the country ring was converted in 1977 from a reputable day in a tabloid - but which could not be said and disappeared in 1978.

The green and socially liberal phase

In the mid-1980s, the ecologically oriented wing prevailed. Already in 1982 were due to the direction of difficulties, both representatives of the green resigned; ; ( conversion to the SP Zurich ) ( Basel Land transfer to the Greens ) and the socially liberal wing. As the largest donor to the party, the Migros cooperative had as retail giant economic reasons trouble with the ecological wing, they reduced the contributions to the LdU massive. This had serious consequences. Because of the scarce contributions on the part of Migros also had to be dissolved in some regional secretariats. The LdU lost his profile and new protest groups ( Green, Car Party, etc.) promoted him from the voters.

Decline and dissolution

Due to the strong right ( socially liberal ) wing of the Social Democratic Party and the advent of the green countryside ring lost more and more voters. The party tried to return to the social-liberal ideas to stop the decline, but failed in the 1990s. In many cantonal parliaments and local councils of the large and medium-sized communities of LdU disappeared. Already in 1994, applied for cantonal section Lucerne their resolution, in April 1996, followed by the section Basel Land, in October 1998, the city of Bern section. Many local elected officials in the country ring switched to other parties (Greens, Free List, etc.) or have no party affiliation. At a Reform Party Congress in May 1999 the party was renamed the Independent list and rejected the resolution by 52 votes to 9. The final blow was the defeat in the parliamentary elections in autumn 1999. On special party on December 4, 1999 in Aarau, the delegates decided by 57 votes to 7, the dissolution of the party. The LdU was so after 63 years of history.

Party chairman

Press

• The act (1935-1977; weekly newspaper, from 1939 newspaper )
• The ring ( monthly newspaper; 1965-1984 )

Voter strength

From 1935 to 1999, a total 65 people were chosen as representative of the country ring in the National Council. Three of them were also in the Council of States (Gottlieb Duttweiler, Albin Heimann and Monika Weber). The highest number of National Council seats in 1967 reached 16 mandates, the lowest number in 1999 with only one deputy.

Cantonal parliaments

The country's ring was represented in numerous cantonal parliaments; longest in the Zurich canton.

Representation in local councils

In many parliaments of cities and towns in the country's ring was represented. Strongholds were the cities of Zurich, St. Gallen, Bern, Lucerne, Chur, Winterthur, Kloten, Burgdorf, Wettingen.