Swiss Federal Council election, 1999

On 15 December 1999, the general elections of the Federal Council were held in Switzerland. The two chambers of the newly elected parliament, the Federal Assembly, elected by the Swiss government, the Federal Council for 2000 to 2003 permanent tenure. The seats were ordered individually in the order of the District ages the seat holder.

According to the by-elections a few months earlier, all previous members of the Bundesrat as a candidate again. Failure to re-election of a sitting Federal Council was extremely unusual. The SVP, which was the largest party in the previous general elections called for in vain a second seat

Strategies of the fractions

• SVP: As a newly strongest party, the SVP demanded a second seat in the Federal Council. She presented with National Councillor Christoph Blocher for a fight candidates, but not against a member of the smallest Federal party, the CVP, took, but against the SP members Ruth Dreifuss and Moritz Leuenberger.
• Other fractions: Most other groups recognized in principle the claim of the SVP on a second Federal seat. They threw her but of wanting to connect with her ​​candidacy against the SP no concordance, since the claim of the SP has not been contested on its two seats. In addition, the SVP had to wait until it follows a vacancy.

Results

All previous members of the Federal Council were confirmed in the first ballot.

Election of the Federal Chancellor

For the retiring Chancellor François Couchepin a successor or a successor had to be chosen. For the FDP candidate Annemarie Huber- Hotz, which was also supported by the SVP. The CVP and the Liberals beat Vice Chancellor Achille Casanova before, the SP and the EPP / LdU Group Vice- Chancellor Hanna Muralt -Müller. Annemarie Huber- Hotz was elected on the fourth ballot with 152 votes.

Election of the Federal President

Adolf Ogi was elected with 176 votes for President in 2000, Moritz Leuenberger, with 145 votes for vice president.