Direct democracy

Political parties in the Federal Council and in Parliament

Switzerland’s political landscape comprises many different parties, of which none holds a majority at federal level. In the 2019–2023 legislature period, eleven political parties are represented in the National Council. Five of those are also represented in the Council of States, four in the Federal Council.

The next elections to the National Council and (in most cantons) the Council of States will take place on 22 October 2023: the electorate will then decide which parties are represented in Parliament and how the seats are allocated. On 13 December 2023, the newly elected Parliament will then elect the members of the Federal Council.

At the last National Council elections in 2019, the two ecological parties made the largest gains: the Greens gained 17 seats, the glp 9 seats. The SVP lost 12 seats, but remained the strongest party in the People's chamber. The other Federal Council parties also lost seats: the SP and the FDP both lost 4 seats, while the CVP lost 2 seats.

Federal elections 2023

SVP - Swiss People's Party

Marco Chiesa Party President www.svp.ch

Share of voters25.6%

Federal Council2

National Council53

Council of States6

SP - Swiss Social Democratic Party

Mattea Meyer and Cédric Wermuth Co-Presidents www.sp-ps.ch

Share of voters16.8%

Federal Council2

National Council39

Council of States9

FDP - FDP.The Liberals

Thierry Burkart Party President www.fdp.ch

Share of voters15.1%

Federal Council2

National Council29

Council of States12

The Centre

Gerhard Pfister Party President www.die-mitte.ch

Share of voters13.8%

Federal Council1

National Council28

Council of States13

Following the merger of the CVP and the BDP, the new party is known as ‘The Centre’ since 1.1.2021.

At the 2019 elections, the parties achieved the following results:

Share of the vote
CVP: 11,4%
BDP: 2,4%

No. of National Council seats
CVP: 25
BDP: 3