Swiss Federal Council election, 2009

The Swiss Federal Council election in 2009 was on 16 September 2009 in a by-election Didier Burkhalter (FDP ) was chosen as successor to the retiring Couchepin (FDP) of the United Federal Assembly of the Swiss Federal Council.

Resignation Couchepin

Couchepin was elected in the election of 11 March 1998 in the Federal Council as the successor to Jean -Pascal Delamuraz (FDP). Initially his tenure, he stood before the Department of Economic Affairs, and last until his resignation he was in the Bundesrat as interior minister in Switzerland. Twice, in 2003 and 2008, Couchepin served as Federal President. In his tenure as Federal Couchepin the main concern was the increase in the retirement age to 67 Couchepin was in the last months of his term because of the health insurance premium increases under pressure. The Medical Association protested his health policy and demanded his resignation. Compared to his party promised Couchepin before the national elections in 2007, to withdraw during the course of the Legislature 2007-2011.

On 12 June 2009, National Council las Chiara Simoneschi - Cortesi before the National Council meeting the letter of resignation Couchepin ago, in which he wrote that he would resign on 31 October 2009. Reasons for his resignation did not name Couchepin. He had made ​​the decision for his resignation some time ago, also he had announced he would resign over the legislature. In the fall was half of the legislature, which would be the right time. His party would allow sufficient time to find a candidate for the succession choice.

Positions of the parties

As concordance government, the Federal Assembly tries to select all the political currents in the Bundesrat. It has long been the so-called magic formula 2:2:2:1, in which the major parties SP, CVP and FDP had two seats in the Bundesrat, while the SVP presented only one seat in the government. This magic formula relies on the proportion of votes in the Federal Assembly. In the Federal elections in 2003, however, the SVP National Councillor Christoph Blocher was elected after the SVP party became the strongest voter instead of the CVP Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler -Arnold. The FDP wanted "their" defend seat and relied on its third largest share of the vote ( with the Liberal Party, according to SVP and SP, but before CVP). The CVP wanted to bring back her lost to the SVP 2003 seat and on the basis that the second largest group ( together with EVP / glp, according to the SVP but before SP and FDP).

The SVP decided to not support a candidate of their own. But only on the condition that the FDP candidate Lüscher not prematurely taking out of the race. The Green Party also considered a candidacy, but decided in September 2009 against a candidacy. The SP and the BDP does not want to put their own candidate.

Candidates

According to the Constitution shall be adequately represented in the Bundesrat every country and language regions. As with Couchepin one of two representatives of the Western Switzerland resigned, was undisputed that the seat should be given to a person from the French or the Italian-speaking Switzerland.

Party Internal secretions of the FDP

Were nominated by their cantonal parties for party internal secretions: Martine Brunschwig Graf National Council and the National Christian Lüscher, both of Canton Geneva, Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Canton of Neuchâtel and Councillor Pascal Broulis, Canton of Vaud. Fulvio Pelli party president, Canton Ticino, was not formally nominated by his cantonal party, but as a candidate for the attention of the House of Parliament Group proposed. The FDP Liberal Group of the Federal Assembly nominated on 28 August Didier Burkhalter and Christian Lüscher.

Party Internal secretions of the CVP

In the CVP Dominique de Buman National Council and Council of States Urs Schwaller from the canton of Fribourg and Ticino State Luigi Pedrazzini have been proposed. The CVP / EPP / glp Group decided on September 8 for Urs Schwaller as the only official candidate.

Official candidates

  • FDP: Didier Burkhalter and Christian Lüscher
  • CVP: Urs Schwaller

The choice

Pictures of Swiss Federal Council election, 2009

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