ElectionGudie

Oct. 18, 2015 Held

2,563,052
Voted
Switzerland

Swiss Confederation

Election for Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale (Swiss National Council)

Results

48%
Voter
Turnout*
Cast Votes:2,563,052
Valid Votes:2,563,052
Invalid Votes:None

Parties:

Party Seats Won Seats Change Votes

FDP.The Liberals 33 None

16.40%

Christian Democratic People's Party 27 None

11.60%

Social Democratic Party (SDP) 43 None

18.80%

Swiss People's Party 65 None

29.40%

Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland (EVP) 2 None

1.90%

Swiss Party of Labour 1 None

0.40%

Green Party of Switzerland (GPS) 11 None

7.10%

Ticino League (LEGA) 2 None

1.00%

Green Liberal Party of Switzerland (GLP) 7 None

4.60%

Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland (BDP) 7 None

4.10%

Geneva Citizens' Movement (MCG) 1 None

0.30%

Others 1 None

2.40%

More Info:

At stake in this election: 

  • The 200 seats in the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale)

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President Simonetta SOMMARUGA*
  • Head of Government: President  Simonetta SOMMARUGA
  • Assembly: Switzerland has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung/Assemblée Fédérale/Assemblea Federale) consisting of the Council of States (Ständerat/Conseil des Etats/ Consiglio degli Stati) with 46 seats and the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale) with 200 seats.

*The Federal Presidency rotates among the 7 members of the Federal Council, which is the formal chief of state. Presently the Federal Council consists of Doris LEUTHARD, Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF, Ueli MAURER, Didier BURKHALTER, Simonetta SOMMARUGA, Johan SCHNEIDER—AMMANN, and Alain BERSET.

Description of electoral system:

  • The President is appointed by parliament to serve a 1-year term.
  • In the Council of States (Ständerat/Conseil des Etats/ Consiglio degli Stati), 6 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year and 36 members are elected by plurality vote in multi-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.  4 members are elected by list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies to serve 4-years terms (Neuchâtel and Jura).** 
  • In the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale), 194 members are elected by open list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms and 6 members are elected by a plurality system to serve 4-year terms.***

**Single-member districts correspond to the former half-cantons whereas two-seat districts correspond to former full cantons. The electoral system is a two round system, with exception of Jura and Neuchâtel, where it is proportional representation. 

***Seats are apportioned to each canton in proportion to the permanent resident population. Voters have the option of panachage. The electoral system is proportional representation.

Main parties in the electoral race[1]:

Last election:

  • The last election for the National Council was held on 23 October 2011.  There were 5,124,034 registered voters for the election.  The Liberals (FDP) won 30 seats (of 200) or 15.10% of the vote, the Christian Democratic People’s Party won 28 seats (12.3% of the vote), the Social Democrats won 46 seats (18.7% of the vote), the Swiss People’s Party won 54 seats (26.6% of the vote), the Swiss Evangelical Popular Party won 2 seats (2.0% of the vote), the Green Liberal Party of Switzerland won 12 seats (5.40% of the vote), the Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland (BDP) won 9 seats (5.40% of the vote), the Green Party won 15 seats (8.40% of the vote), the Ticino League (LEGA) won 2 seats (0.80% of the vote), and the Geneva Citizens’ Movement (MCG) won 1 seat (0.40% of the vote).  Results can be found here. 

Population and number of registered voters:

  • Population: 8,256,000 (2015)[2]
  • Registered voters: 5,254,965

Gender Data:

  • Female Population: 4,171,800[3]
  • Is SWITZERLAND a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (23 January 1987)[4]
  • Has SWITZERLAND ratified CEDAW: Yes (27 March 1997)[5]
  • Gender Quota: No, but there are voluntary quotas adopted by political parties[6]
  • Female Candidates in this election: Yes
  • Number of Female Legislators: 57 (28%) of 200 seats in the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale)[7]
  • Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 3[8]
  • Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A[9]

Disability Data:

  • Is SWITZERLAND a signatory to CRPD: N/A[10]
  • Has SWITZERLAND ratified CRPD: Yes (15 April 2014) [11]
  • Population with a disability: 1,199,404[12]