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List of political parties in Switzerland

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Political positions of the Swiss political parties based on their referendum voting recommendations, 1985–90 and 2010–14

This is a list of political parties in Switzerland.

Switzerland has a multi-party system. Since 1959, the four largest parties have formed a coalition government, according to a Zauberformel or "magic formula". This arithmetic formula divides the seven cabinet seats among representatives of the four largest parties.[1]

Political parties in Switzerland

Federal and cantonal parliaments

The following parties are represented in the Swiss Federal Assembly or cantonal parliaments and executive councils as of 2024.[2][3][4] For their names in the four national languages of Switzerland, see #Names in the national languages below.

For more detailed information on the political positions of some of the parties listed below, see here:[5] For Swiss political party strength on the municipal level, see here:[6]

Party Website Leader Main ideology Position Members in
Federal Council Council of States National Council Cantonal executives Cantonal legislatures Members
SVP/UDC Swiss People's Party svp.ch Marco Chiesa National conservatism Right-wing
2 / 7
6 / 46
62 / 200
27 / 154
574 / 2,544
 90,000 (2015)[7]
SP/PS Social Democratic Party sp-ps.ch Cédric Wermuth
Mattea Meyer 		Social democracy Centre-left
2 / 7
9 / 46
41 / 200
28 / 154
442 / 2,544
 30,000 (2015)[7]
FDP/PLR FDP.The Liberals fdp.ch Thierry Burkart Classical liberalism Centre to centre-right
2 / 7
11 / 46
28 / 200
38 / 154
[a]
512 / 2,544
[a]		 120,000 (2015)[7]
DM/LC/AdC The Centre die-mitte.ch Gerhard Pfister Christian democracy Centre to centre-right
1 / 7
15 / 46
29 / 200
40 / 154
425 / 2,544
 -
GPS/PES Green Party gruene.ch Balthasar Glättli Green politics Centre-left to left-wing
0 / 7
3 / 46
23 / 200
7 / 154
249 / 2,544
 7,500 (2015)[7]
GLP/PVL Green Liberal Party grunliberale.ch Jürg Grossen Green liberalism Centre
0 / 7
1 / 46
10 / 200
2 / 154
154 / 2,544
 3,800 (2015)[7]
EVP/PEV Evangelical People's Party evppev.ch Lilian Studer Christian democracy Centre
0 / 7
0 / 46
2 / 200
1 / 154
42 / 2,544
 4,600 (2015)[7]
Lega Ticino League lega-dei-ticinesi.ch Attilio Bignasca Ticino regionalism Right-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
1 / 200
2 / 154
14 / 2,544
 1,500 (2015)[7]
CSP OW Christian Social Party of Obwalden csp-ow.ch Christian Schäli
Sepp Stalder 		Christian left Centre-left
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 154
1 / 154
6 / 2,544
 250 (2015)[7]
PdA/PST/POP Swiss Party of Labour pst-pop.ch Norberto Crivelli Communism Left-wing[8] to far-left
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
0 / 154
13 / 2,544
MCG Geneva Citizens' Movement mcge.ch Ana Roch Geneva regionalism Right-wing
0 / 7
1 / 46
2 / 200
0 / 154
14 / 2,544
 1,500 (2015)[7]
Sol Solidarity solidarites.ch – Anti-capitalism Left-wing to far-left
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
1 / 154
0 / 2,544
EDU/UDF Federal Democratic Union edu-schweiz.ch Hans Moser Right-wing populism Right-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
2 / 200
0 / 154
21 / 2,544
 3,000 (2011)[9]
CSP/PCS Christian Social Party csp-pcs.ch Marius Achermann Christian left Centre-left
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
1 / 154
14 / 2,544
 1,500 (2011)[9]
AL-ZH Alternative List al-zh.ch – Socialism Left-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
0 / 154
0 / 2,544
AL-BE Alternative Left Bern al-be.ch – Democratic socialism Left-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
0 / 154
10 / 2,544
 2,000 (2011)[9]
Total 7 46 200 154[b][3] 2,544[c][4]

Minor parties

The following groups or parties are not represented at either the cantonal or national level (but may hold positions in municipal parliaments).

Abbr. Name W Leader Ideology Founded Popular vote[d]
PPS Pirate Party [1] Denis Simonet Pirate politics, liberalism 2009 0.27% (2019)
SD/DS Swiss Democrats [2] Bernhard Hess Right-wing, national conservatism 1961 0.13% (2019)
SLB/MSL Social Liberal Movement [3] Samuel Schmid Centre-right, social conservatism 2011 0.1% (2015)
LP/PL Libertarian Party [4] Simon Scherrer Libertarianism 2014 0.01% (2019)
FPS/PSL Freedom Party [5] Peter Commarmot Right-wing, national liberalism 1984 n/a
HPS/PHS Swiss Humanist Party [6] Daniel Horowitz Humanist Movement 1984 n/a
KVP Catholic People's Party [7] Lukas Brühwiler-Frésey Catholic social teaching 1994 n/a
TPS/PSpA Tierpartei Schweiz [8] Thomas Märki Animal rights 2010 0.15% (2015)
Parteifrei [9] Lukas Harder Voluntary association of independent politicians formed for the 2011 elections; opposing party politics 2011 0.19% (2015)
MontagnaViva [10] Germano Mattei Regionalism (Alpine Ticino) 2011 0.08% (2015)
Alpenparlament [11] Alternative medicine 2011 0.06% (2015)
Konfessionslose [12] Separation of church and state 2011 0.05% (2015)
Volksaktion [13] Eric Weber Right-wing populism (Basel-Stadt) 2002 0.03% (2015)
La gauche combative [14] Communism (Geneva) 2002 0.03% (2015)
Les Rauraques [15] Jura separatism (Bernese Jura) 2011 0.03% (2015)

Historical parties

Name Ideology Active Continued as
Christian Democratic People's Party Christian democracy, Social conservatism, Support for EU Bilateral Accords 1912–2020 merged to The Centre
Communist Party of Switzerland Communism 1921–1940 Swiss Party of Labour
Communist Party of Switzerland/Marxist–Leninists Communism 1969–1987 Libertarian Socialist Party
Communist Party Opposition Communism 1930–1935 Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
Conservative Democratic Party Centre to Centre-right, Conservative liberalism 2008-2020 merged to The Centre
Democratic Party Direct democracy 1860–1971 merged to Swiss People's Party
Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents (BGB) Conservatism, Agrarianism 1936–1971 merged to Swiss People's Party
Eidgenössische Sammlung Fascism 1940–1943
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (FDP/PRD/PLR) Classical liberalism, Radicalism 1894–2009 merged to The Liberals
Liberal Party of Switzerland (LPS/PLS) Classical liberalism 1913–2009 merged to The Liberals
National Front Fascism/nationalism 1930s Eidgenössische Sammlung
National Movement of Switzerland (NBS) Nazism 1940–1941
National Union Fascism 1932–1940
Progressive Organizations of Switzerland (POCH) Communism 1969–1993
Republican Movement Right-wing populism, Christian right 1971–1989
Ring of Independents (LdU) Centrism 1936–1999
Swiss Nationalist Party Far-right, ethnic nationalism 2000–2022
Volkspartei der Schweiz (VPS) Neo-Nazism 1950s

Names in the national languages

Abbr. Party German French Italian Romansh
SVP/UDC Swiss People's Party Schweizerische Volkspartei (SVP) Union démocratique du Centre (UDC) Unione Democratica di Centro (UDC) Partida populara Svizra (PPS)
SP/PS Social Democratic Party Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz (SP) Parti socialiste suisse (PS) Partito Socialista Svizzero (PS) Partida socialdemocratica da la Svizra (PS)
FDP/PRD Free Democratic Party Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz (FDP) Parti radical-démocratique suisse (PRD) Partito Liberale Radicale (PLR) Partida liberaldemocrata da la Svizra (PLD)
Mitte/Centre The Centre Die Mitte (DM) Le Centre (LC) Alleanza del Centro (AdC) Allianza dal Center (AdC)
GPS/PES Green Party Grüne Partei der Schweiz (Die Grünen) Parti écologiste suisse (Les Verts) Partito Ecologista Svizzero (I Verdi) Partida ecologica svizra (Ils Verds)
CSP/PCS Christian Social Party Christlich-soziale Partei (CSP) Parti chrétien-social (PCS) Partito Cristiano Sociale (PCS) Partida cristiansociala da la Svizra (PCS)
CVP/PDC Christian Democratic People's Party Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz (CVP) Parti démocrate-chrétien suisse (PDC) Partito Popolare Democratico (PPD) Partida Cristian-democratica da la Svizra (PCD)
BDP/PBD Conservative Democratic Party Bürgerlich-Demokratische Partei Schweiz (BDP) Parti bourgeois démocratique Suisse (PBD) Partito borghese democratico Svizzera (PBD) Partida burgais democratica Svizra (PBD)
EVP/PEV Evangelical People's Party Evangelische Volkspartei der Schweiz (EVP) Parti évangelique suisse (PEV) Partito Evangelico Svizzero (PE) Partida evangelica svizra (PEV)
FPS/PSL Freedom Party Freiheits-Partei der Schweiz (FPS) Parti suisse de la liberté (PSL) Partito svizzero della Libertà (PSL) Partida svizra da la libertad (PSL)
LPS/PLS Liberal Party Liberale Partei der Schweiz (LPS) Parti libéral suisse (PLS) Partito Liberale Svizzero (PLS) Partida liberal-conservativa Svizra (PLC)
AL Alternative Left Alternative Linke (AL) La Gauche (LG) La Sinistra (LS) Alternativa sanestra (AS)
SD/DS Swiss Democrats Schweizer Demokraten (SD) Démocrates suisses (DS) Democratici Svizzeri (DS) Democrats svizers (DS)
Lega Ticino League Liga der Tessiner Ligue des Tessinois Lega dei Ticinesi Liga dals Tessinais
EDU/UDF Federal Democratic Union Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union (EDU) Union démocratique fédérale (UDF) Unione Democratica Federale (UDF) Uniun democrata federala (UDF)
PdA/PST Swiss Party of Labour Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz (PdA) Parti suisse du travail – Parti ouvrier et populaire (PST-POP) Partito Svizzero del Lavoro – Partito Operaio e Popolare (PC) Partida svizra da la lavur (PdL)
GLP/PVL Green Liberal Party Grünliberale Partei der Schweiz (GLP) Parti vert'libéral (PVL) Partito Verde Liberale (PVL) Partida verda-liberala (PVL)
MCG Geneva Citizens' Movement Genfer Bürgerbewegung Mouvement citoyens genevois (MCG) Movimento dei Cittadini Ginevrini
CSP OW Christian Social Party of Obwalden Christlichsoziale Partei Obwalden (CSP OW) Parti chrétien-social d'Obwald
Sol Solidarity Solidarität solidaritéS Solidarità Solidaritad
SLB/MSL Social Liberal Movement Sozial-Liberale Bewegung Mouvement socio-libéral Movimento social-liberale
SD/DS Swiss Democrats Schweizer Demokraten (SD) Démocrates suisses (DS) Democratici Svizzeri (DS) Democrats svizers (DS)
FPS/PSL Freedom Party Freiheits-Partei der Schweiz Parti suisse de la liberté Partito svizzero della Libertà Partida Svizra da la Libertad
HPS/PHS Swiss Humanist Party Humanistische Partei der Schweiz Parti Humaniste de la Suisse Partito Umanista della Svizzera Partida umanistica da la Svizra
KVP Catholic People's Party Katholische Volkspartei Parti populaire catholique Partito Popolare Cattolico Partida populara catolica
PPS Pirate Party Piratenpartei Schweiz Parti Pirate Suisse Partito Pirata Svizzera Partida da Pirats Svizra
TPS/PSpA Tierpartei Schweiz Tierpartei Schweiz (TPS) Parti suisse pour les animaux (PSpA) Partito svizzero per gli animali (PSpA) Partida svizra d'animals (PSA)
up! The Swiss Independence Party up! Unabhängigkeitspartei up! Parti suisse de l'indépendance up! Switzerland

Sources: The Swiss Federal Chancellery

Relative importance

At the federal level

Overall

Number of elected representatives by party at the federal, cantonal and communal levels in 2014 (governmental parties)[10]
Party Number of elected representatives at the federal, cantonal and communal levels
FDP.The Liberals
2,011
Social Democratic Party
1,863
Swiss People's Party
1,511
Christian Democratic Party
1,205
Conservative Democratic Party
173

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Includes seats held by the FDP and by the Liberal Party in Vaud and Valais where cantonal parties did not merge and retained separate structures
  2. ^ Includes independents and small minor parties.
  3. ^ Includes independents and small minor parties.
  4. ^ 2011 Swiss federal election, where applicable

References

  1. ^ Pierre Cormon, Swiss Politics for Complete Beginners, Editions Slatkine, 2014, ISBN 978-2-8321-0607-5, p. 31–32 Archived November 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Eidgenössische Wahlen". Federal Statistical Office (in German). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Kantonsregierungen". Federal Statistical Office (in German). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Kantonsparlamente". Federal Statistical Office (in German). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Swiss Political Parties Reveal Their Colours". Swissinfo. September 11, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  6. ^ "Städtische Wahlen". Federal Statistical Office (in German). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Swiss Confederation — A Brief Guide" (PDF). Federal Chancellery. 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  8. ^ Barbet, Denis; Bonhomme, Marc (2006). La politique mise au Net. ENS Editions. ISBN 9782847880953.
  9. ^ a b c Der Bund kurz erklärt (in German). Swiss Confederation. 2011. p. 21. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24.
  10. ^ Kevin Gertsch; Chantal Tauxe (24 December 2014). "L'UDC n'est pas le premier parti de Suisse" [The UDC is not the largest party in Switzerland]. L'Hebdo. pp. 62–63.

Bibliography

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