Swiss Federal Council election, 2003

The Federal Council elections in 2003 were held in Switzerland on 10 December 2003. Both chambers of the newly elected parliament, the Federal Assembly, elected in the general election to election, the Swiss government, the Federal Council for 2004 to 2007 permanent tenure. The seats were ordered individually in the order of the District ages the seat holder.

Federal Councillor Kaspar Villiger (FDP) did not run for another term. In its place, Hans -Rudolf Merz (FDP) has been selected. The SVP demanded a second seat in the Federal Council, in the person of Christoph Blocher, at the expense of CVP due to their voter strength. For the first time since 1872 was a member of the Federal wiederkandidierendes, notably Ruth Metzler -Arnold (CVP ), not re-elected. Instead, Christoph Blocher was elected. All other candidates were re-elected easily.

Strategies of the fractions

• SVP: In the evening, after the parliamentary elections, the SVP made ​​for a surprise. As the largest party they have in mind a concordance government a claim on a second seat in the Federal Council at the expense of the CVP. Your candidate name is Christoph Blocher. In the event of non-election she threatened to go into opposition. The SVP was up against the first standing for election headquarters of the CVP. For the remaining CVP- seat they made ​​no recommendation. She confessed to the FDP to their claim to the second seat, but made no recommendation here.
• CVP: The CVP Group insisted that former cabinet ministers who have done a good job, to be re-elected. She pulled back any candidate and did not want that their federal councils compete against each other. The vacant seat FDP did not want to attack. They expressed no preference between the two FDP candidates.
• SP: For the SP fraction of the candidate Christoph Blocher was not selectable. They also did not want to be blackmailed by the SVP and let dictate anything. She recommended the two CVP Federal Councillors for re-election. Also, they left nothing that FDP candidate should be supported.
• FDP: FDP - LPS Group recognized the claim of the SVP on a second seat and supported Christoph Blocher. For the remaining CVP- seat she expressed no preferences. For her vacant seat she put on two candidates: Christine Beerli and Hans -Rudolf Merz.
• Green: The green group rejected a choice Christoph Blocher. She called for an adequate representation of women and therefore supported Ruth Metzler and Christine Beerli and presented for the case that the SVP withdraws from the state government, with party president Ruth Genner own candidate on.

1st choice ( seat of Moritz Leuenberger )

All parties advised Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger, a member of the SP and Head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications ( UVEK), for re-election.

2nd choice ( seat of Couchepin )

Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin (FDP), Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (DHA), stood for re-election. His choice was unharmed.

3rd choice ( home of Ruth Metzler )

Ruth Metzler (CVP ), head of the Federal Justice and Police Department for Migration (FOM ), had to fear for their re-election. The CVP did not respond to the demand of the SVP and withdrew their candidacies no. The SVP attacked because of the first standing for election seat you gave to understand that this attack is not directed against the person of Ruth Metzler, but against the second seat of the CVP. Parliament it was open to choose the 4th option Ruth Metzler.

Christoph Blocher was elected in the third ballot.

4th choice ( seat of Joseph Deiss )

The CVP did not want to compete against each other their cabinet ministers and recommended Joseph Deiss, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs for re-election.

After this election, Ruth Metzler announced that they no longer stand for further ballots are available. Thus, their re-election was definitely not.

5th ( seat of Samuel Schmid)

Next up, it turned Federal Councillor Samuel Schmid (SVP ), Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) for re-election. This was undisputed.

6th (sitting by Micheline Calmy -Rey )

Also, Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy -Rey ( SP), Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), stood for re-election. Their choice was safe.

7th choice ( new appointment )

For the retiring Kaspar Villiger election of a replacement was needed. The claim of the FDP was not disputed. The FDP set two Candidates: Christine Beerli and Hans -Rudolf Merz. The Green Party of Switzerland recommended Christine Beerli for election. The other groups left nothing to choose between the two candidates.

Federal Chancellor Annemarie Huber- Hotz was re-elected on the first ballot with 173 votes.

Joseph Deiss was elected with 174 votes to the President for the year 2004, Samuel Schmid, with 143 votes for vice president.

Follow

With the new party-political composition of the magic formula in force since 1959 has been changed. By 2008, SVP, FDP and SP were represented by two seats in the Bundesrat, the CVP only with one. Thus FDP and SVP had a majority in the Bundesrat, which they do not have in Parliament. There was only one woman represented in the Bundesrat, which led to protests. The new Federal Council had a high average age of 59 years.