At stake
in this election:
- All 200 seats in the National Council
and 40 of the 46 seats in the Council of States
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Description
of government structure:
- Switzerland's bicameral legislature is composed of the National Council and the Council
of States.
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Description
of electoral system:
- The National Council, consists of 200 members elected to four-year terms by direct popular vote within each canton on a proportional representation basis.
- The Council of States, consists of 46 members, two elected from each of 20 cantons and one from each of the six half-cantons, according to cantonal procedure.
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Results of the electoral race (National Council):
- Party: Social Democratic Party (SPS)
Leader: Ursula KOCH
Seats won in this election: 51
Seats in last Parliament: 54
- Party: Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC)
Leader: Ueli MAURER
Seats won in this election: 44
Seats in last Parliament: 29
- Party: Radical-Democratic Party (FDP/PRD)
Leader: Franz STEINEGGER
Seats won in this election: 43
Seats in last Parliament: 45
- Party: Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC)
Leader: Adalbert DURRER
Seats won in this election: 35
Seats in last Parliament: 34
- Party: Green Party
Leader: Ruedi BAUMANN
Seats won in this election: 9
Seats in last Parliament: 8
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When was
the last election? Number of seats in last election?
- Parliamentary elections last held: October 22, 1995
- Seats decided in the last election: 200
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Population
and number of registered voters:
- Population: 7,275,467 (July 1999)
- Number of registered voters: 4,596,209 (1995)
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Of Interest:
- The People's party gained support on a platform that focused on the issue of political
asylum in Switzerland, an issue at the forefront of the campaign due to the flow of
refugees from Kosovo into Switzerland.
- Social security issues such as a healthy standard of living for middle-income groups
were also important in the campaign.
- The question of whether Switzerland should participate more actively in the international community (eg. joining EU, UN) could lead to an increased polarization
between the main political parties.
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| SOURCE: INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS (IFES) |
| For additional information:
IFES ElectionGuide Online |
