Switzerland

Council of States

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 22 Oct 2023
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: No information available
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: 31 Oct 2027
Number of seats at stake: 46
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

The number of candidates is not available from authoritative sources.: Yes
The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.: Yes

Results

About the election: No political party secured an overall majority in the 200-member National Council. The two largest parties in the outgoing legislature increased their share of seats. The Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), led by Mr. Marco Chiesa, won 62 seats (up from 54 in 2019) and the Socialist Party (SP/PS), led by Ms. Mattea Meyer, won 41 seats (up from 39). The Centre Party (see note 1), led by Mr. Gerhard Pfister, came third with 29. On the other hand, both the Green Party (GPS/PES, led by Mr. Balthasar Glättli) and the Liberal Green Party (GLP/PVL, led by Mr. Jürg Grossen) lost their share of seats. The number of women elected to the National Council decreased from 84 in 2019 (42%) to 77 in 2023 (38.5%).

In elections to the 46-member Council of States, the Centre Party and FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) won the most seats – 15 and 11 respectively. Run-off elections were held in each canton on various dates and concluded on 19 November.

The key electoral issues included asylum and immigration policies, a rise in mandatory health insurance fees, and energy supply. Climate change and environmental issues, which had dominated the 2019 elections, kept a low profile in 2023.

Note 1:

The Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) and the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD), which jointly took 28 seats in the 2019 elections, formed the Centre Party in 2021.

Note 2:

Since 1959, the Federal Council has comprised representatives of the four major parties: two seats each for the SVP/UDC, the SP/PS and the FDP/PLR, and one seat for the CVP/PDC, which has now become the Centre Party.
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 32.6%

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
Centre Party	15
FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR)	11
Socialist Party (SP/PS)	9
Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC)	6
Green Party (GPS/PES)	3
Liberal Green Party (GLP/PVL)	1
Geneva Citizens' Movement (MCR/MCG)	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 30
Number of women elected: 16
Percentage of women elected: 34.8%
Women Directly Elected: 16
Sources: Parliament (28.11.2023)

Office fédéral de la statistique OFS (01.12.2023)

https://www.elections.admin.ch/en/ch/

www.swissinfo.ch

www.euronews.com

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/history-of-the-federal-council/federal-councillors-and-their-parties.html

https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/actualites/quoi-de-neuf.assetdetail.27605685.html

https://www.parlament.ch/en/ratsbetrieb/sessions/schedule

https://www.ch.ch/en/elections2023/council-of-states:-dates-of-the-second-rounds

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 30
Total number of women after the election: 16
Percentage of women after the election: 34.8%
First-term parliamentarians: 3
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 6.5%
Date of the first session: 04 Dec 2023

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Eva Herzog (Female)
Date of birth: 25 Dec 1961
Political party: Socialist Party (SP/PS)
Date of election: 04 Dec 2023