Federal elections were held in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

on 23 October 2011. All of the Federal Assembly were to be elected: all 200 seats in the National Council and all 46 seats in the Council of States. Voter turnout was 49.1%, compared to 48.9% in 2007.

National Council

At the last election, in 2007, the

Swiss People's Party The Swiss People's Party (german: Schweizerische Volkspartei, SVP; rm, Partida populara Svizra, PPS), also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre (french: Union démocratique du centre, UDC; it, Unione Democratica di Centro, UDC), is a nati ...

(SVP) won the highest share of the vote ever recorded for a single party in Switzerland, with 29% of the vote. Soon after, a moderate faction split from the SVP, forming the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP). In the 2011 election, the two neophyte parties BDP and

Green Liberal Party The Green Liberal Party of Switzerland (german: Grünliberale Partei der Schweiz, glp; french: Parti vert'libéral, pvl), abbreviated to glp, is a centrist green-liberal political party in Switzerland. Founded in 2007, the party holds sixteen s ...

(GLP) were successful, each receiving 5.4% of the popular vote. Both the GLP and the BDP have gained the required five seats to form their own

parliamentary group A parliamentary group, parliamentary party, or parliamentary caucus is a group consisting of some members of the same political party or electoral fusion of parties in a legislative assembly such as a parliament or a city council. Parliame ...

s, suggesting a split of the centrist CVP/EVP/glp group. All other major parties lost votes, the

(SVP) for the first time since the 1987 elections. With 26.6% of the popular vote, the SVP is still the strongest party by a comfortable margin, but the 2011 elections marked the end of its rapid growth during the period of 1995–2007. Of the small parties (below 5 seats), the Evangelical People's Party received 2.0% of the vote (+0.4%), retaining its two seats. The

Ticino League The Ticino League ( it, Lega dei Ticinesi) is a regionalist, national-conservative political party in Switzerland active in the canton of Ticino. The party was founded in 1991 by entrepreneur Giuliano Bignasca and journalist Flavio Maspoli. Af ...

received 0.8% of the vote (+0.2%) and gains one seat, now holding two. The Christian Social Party lost one seat, but gained another to remain in the National Council, while the

Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland The Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (German: ''Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union'', EDU; French: ''Union Démocratique Fédérale'', UDF; Italian: ''Unione Democratica Federale'', UDF; Romansch: ''Uniun Democrata Federala'', UDF) is a na ...

and

Swiss Party of Labour The Swiss Party of Labour (german: Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz; french: Parti Suisse du Travail – Parti Ouvrier et Populaire; it, Partito Svizzero del Lavoro – Partito Operaio e Popolare; rm, Partida svizra da la lavur) is a communist pa ...

lost their single seats. Other minor groups which gathered more than 0.1% of the popular vote are: the Swiss Pirate Party (0.48%), the Swiss Democrats (0.20%),

parteifrei.ch This is a list of political parties in Switzerland. Switzerland has a multi-party system. Since 1959, the four largest political party, parties have formed a coalition government, according to a ' or "Magic formula (Swiss politics), magic formu ...

(0.19%) and Tierpartei Schweiz (0.15%).

Summary

, - !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" colspan=2, Parties !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;", Abbr. !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;", Alignment !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;", Ideology !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", VotesThese numbers represent ''fictional voters''. See National Council for more details. !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", % !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", +/– (%) !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", Seats !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", % !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", +/– (seats) , - , width=5px style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:left;" , SVP/UDC , style="text-align:left;" , Right wing , style="text-align:left;" ,

National conservatism National conservatism is a nationalist variant of conservatism that concentrates on upholding national and cultural identity. National conservatives usually combine nationalism with conservative stances promoting traditional cultural values, ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 648,675 , style="text-align:right;" , 26.6 , style="text-align:right;" , −2.3 , style="text-align:right;" , 54 , style="text-align:right;" , 27 , style="text-align:right;" , −8 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties For ...

, style="text-align:left;" , SPS/PSS , style="text-align:left;" , Centre-left/Left-wing , style="text-align:left;" ,

Social democracy Social democracy is a political, social, and economic philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy. As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocating economic and social interventions to promote s ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 457,317 , style="text-align:right;" , 18.7 , style="text-align:right;" , +0.8 , style="text-align:right;" , 46 , style="text-align:right;" , 23.0 , style="text-align:right;" , +3 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , FDP.The Liberals , style="text-align:left;" , FDP/PLR , style="text-align:left;" , Centre-right , style="text-align:left;" ,

Classical liberalism Classical liberalism is a political tradition and a branch of liberalism that advocates free market and laissez-faire economics; civil liberties under the rule of law with especial emphasis on individual autonomy, limited government, e ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 368,951 , style="text-align:right;" , 15.1 , style="text-align:right;" , −0.7 , style="text-align:right;" , 30 , style="text-align:right;" , 15.0 , style="text-align:right;" , −1 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , Christian Democratic People's Party , style="text-align:left;" , CVP/PDC , style="text-align:left;" , Centre/Centre-right , style="text-align:left;" ,

Christian democracy Christian democracy (sometimes named Centrist democracy) is a political ideology that emerged in 19th-century Europe under the influence of Catholic social teaching and neo-Calvinism. It was conceived as a combination of modern democratic ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 300,544 , style="text-align:right;" , 12.3 , style="text-align:right;" , −2.2 , style="text-align:right;" , 28 , style="text-align:right;" , 14.0 , style="text-align:right;" , −3 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation f ...

, style="text-align:left;" , GPS/PES , style="text-align:left;" , Left wing , style="text-align:left;" ,

Green politics Green politics, or ecopolitics, is a political ideology that aims to foster an ecologically sustainable society often, but not always, rooted in environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice and grassroots democracy. Wall 2010. p. 12-13. It be ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 205,984 , style="text-align:right;" , 8.4 , style="text-align:right;" , −1.2 , style="text-align:right;" , 15 , style="text-align:right;" , 7.5 , style="text-align:right;" , −5 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:left;" , GLP/PVL , style="text-align:left;" , Centre , style="text-align:left;" , Green liberalism , style="text-align:right;" , 131,436 , style="text-align:right;" , 5.4 , style="text-align:right;" , +4.0 , style="text-align:right;" , 12 , style="text-align:right;" , 6.0 , style="text-align:right;" , +9 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , Conservative Democratic Party , style="text-align:left;" , BDP/PBD , style="text-align:left;" , Centre-right , style="text-align:left;" ,

Conservatism Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...

Economic liberalism Economic liberalism is a political and economic ideology that supports a market economy based on individualism and private property in the means of production. Adam Smith is considered one of the primary initial writers on economic libera ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 132,279 , style="text-align:right;" , 5.4 , style="text-align:right;" , +5.4 , style="text-align:right;" , 9 , style="text-align:right;" , 4.5 , style="text-align:right;" , +9 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , Evangelical People's Party , style="text-align:left;" , EVP/PEV , style="text-align:left;" , Centre , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:right;" , 48,789 , style="text-align:right;" , 2.0 , style="text-align:right;" , −0.4 , style="text-align:right;" , 2 , style="text-align:right;" , 1.0 , style="text-align:right;" , ±0 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:left;" , LdT , style="text-align:left;" , Right wing , style="text-align:left;" , Regionalism /

Right-wing populism Right-wing populism, also called national populism and right-wing nationalism, is a political ideology that combines right-wing politics and populist rhetoric and themes. Its rhetoric employs anti-elitist sentiments, opposition to the Estab ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 19,657 , style="text-align:right;" , 0.8 , style="text-align:right;" , +0.2 , style="text-align:right;" , 2 , style="text-align:right;" , 1.0 , style="text-align:right;" , +1 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Geneva Citizens' Movement The Geneva Citizens' Movement (french: Mouvement Citoyens Genevois), abbreviated to MCG, is a populist political party in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. On its own initiative, it started, and is a part of, the wider Romandy Citizens' Movement ( ...

, style="text-align:left;" , MCG , style="text-align:left;" , Right wing , style="text-align:left;" , Regionalism /

, style="text-align:right;" , 10,714 , style="text-align:right;" , 0.4 , style="text-align:right;" , +0.3 , style="text-align:right;" , 1 , style="text-align:right;" , 0.5 , style="text-align:right;" , +1 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Federal Democratic Union The Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (German: ''Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union'', EDU; French: ''Union Démocratique Fédérale'', UDF; Italian: ''Unione Democratica Federale'', UDF; Romansch: ''Uniun Democrata Federala'', UDF) is a na ...

, style="text-align:left;" , EDU/UDF , style="text-align:left;" , Right wing , style="text-align:left;" ,

Christian right The Christian right, or the religious right, are Christian political factions characterized by their strong support of socially conservative and traditionalist policies. Christian conservatives seek to influence politics and public policy with ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 31,056 , style="text-align:right;" , 1.3 , style="text-align:right;" , ±0 , style="text-align:right;" , 0 , style="text-align:right;" , 0 , style="text-align:right;" , −1 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , Party of Labour , style="text-align:left;" , PdA , style="text-align:left;" , Left wing , style="text-align:left;" ,

Socialism Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes th ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 21,482 , style="text-align:right;" , 0.5 , style="text-align:right;" , −0.2 , style="text-align:right;" , 0 , style="text-align:right;" , 0 , style="text-align:right;" , −1 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , Christian Social Party , style="text-align:left;" , CSP/PCS , style="text-align:left;" , Centre-left , style="text-align:left;" ,

Christian left The Christian left is a range of left-wing Christian political and social movements that largely embrace social justice principles and uphold a social doctrine or social gospel. Given the inherent diversity in international political thoug ...

, style="text-align:right;" , 6,248 , style="text-align:right;" , 0.3 , style="text-align:right;" , -0.1 , style="text-align:right;" , 0 , style="text-align:right;" , 0 , style="text-align:right;" , -1 , - , style="text-align:left;" colspan=2 , Other , style="text-align:left;" , , style="text-align:left;" , , style="text-align:left;" , , style="text-align:right;" , 54,622 , style="text-align:right;" , 2.2 , style="text-align:right;" , , style="text-align:right;" , 1 , style="text-align:right;" , 0.5 , style="text-align:right;" , +1 , - ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" colspan=5 , Total (turnout 48.5%) ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" , 2,442,648 ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" , — ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" , — ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" , 200 ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" , — ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" , — , - , colspan=11 style="text-align:left;" , Source
Swiss Federal Statistical Office

By constituency

Council of States

The elections of the Council of States are done by a

plurality voting system Plurality voting refers to electoral systems in which a candidate, or candidates, who poll more than any other counterpart (that is, receive a plurality), are elected. In systems based on single-member districts, it elects just one member per ...

. 27 out of 46 seats were determined on the first ballot on 23 October; the remaining 19 seats were decided in a second ballot held in November. CE2011 diagramme

, - !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" colspan=2, Parties !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" , Ideology !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", 2007 !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", Seats !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", ± , - , width=5px style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:right;" , 15 , style="text-align:right;" , 13 , style="text-align:right;" , -2 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PRD) , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:right;" , 12 , style="text-align:right;" , 11 , style="text-align:right;" , -1 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

(SPS/PSS) , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:right;" , 9 , style="text-align:right;" , 11 , style="text-align:right;" , +2 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

(SVP/UDC) , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:right;" , 7 , style="text-align:right;" , 5 , style="text-align:right;" , -2 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

(GPS/PES) , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:right;" , 2 , style="text-align:right;" , 2 , style="text-align:right;" , ±0 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

(GLP/VL) , style="text-align:left;" , Green liberalism , style="text-align:right;" , 1 , style="text-align:right;" , 2 , style="text-align:right;" , +1 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" , Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD) , style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:right;" , ''New'' , style="text-align:right;" , 1 , style="text-align:right;" , +1 , - , style="background-color: " , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independe ...

, style="text-align:left;" ,

, style="text-align:right;" , 0 , style="text-align:right;" , 1 , style="text-align:right;" , +1 , - , style="text-align:left;background-color:#E9E9E9" colspan=3, Total , width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9", 46 , width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9", 46 , width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9", , - , colspan=6 style="text-align:left;" , Source: http://www.politik-stat.ch/srw2011CH_de.html

Pre-election polls

Notes and references

External links

{{Portal bar, Politics, Switzerland Federal elections in Switzerland 2011 elections in Switzerland October 2011 events in Europe