List of political parties in Switzerland

This is a 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

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 either in the Swiss Federal Assembly as of 2022 or in cantonal parliaments and executive councils as of 2021.[2] 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:[3] For Swiss political party strength on the municipal level, see here:[4]

Party Website Leader Main ideology Position Members in
FC CS NC C exec C leg. Members
SVP/UDC Swiss People's Party svp.ch Marco Chiesa National conservatism Right-wing
2 / 7
7 / 46
53 / 200
26 / 154
554 / 2,594
90,000 (2015)[5]
SP/PS Social Democratic Party sp-ps.ch Cédric Wermuth
Mattea Meyer		 Social democracy Left-wing
2 / 7
6 / 46
39 / 200
30 / 154
438 / 2,594
30,000 (2015)[5]
FDP/PLR FDP.The Liberals fdp.ch Thierry Burkart Classical liberalism Centre to centre-right
2 / 7
12 / 46
29 / 200
36 / 154
[lower-alpha 1]
507 / 2,594
[lower-alpha 2]		120,000 (2015)[5]
DM/LC/AdC The Centre die-mitte.ch Gerhard Pfister Christian democracy Centre to centre-right
1 / 7
14 / 46
28 / 200
39 / 154
424 / 2,594
-
GPS/PES Green Party gruene.ch Balthasar Glättli Green politics Left-wing
0 / 7
5 / 46
28 / 200
7 / 154
258 / 2,594
7,500 (2015)[5]
GLP/PVL Green Liberal Party grunliberale.ch Jürg Grossen Green liberalism Centre
0 / 7
0 / 46
16 / 200
2 / 154
157 / 2,594
3,800 (2015)[5]
EVP/PEV Evangelical People's Party evppev.ch Lilian Studer Christian democracy Centre
0 / 7
0 / 46
3 / 200
1 / 154
42 / 2,594
4,600 (2015)[5]
Lega Ticino League lega-dei-ticinesi.ch Attilio Bignasca Ticino regionalism Right-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
1 / 200
2 / 154
14 / 2,594
1,500 (2015)[5]
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 / 2,594
250 (2015)[5]
PdA/PST/POP Swiss Party of Labour pst-pop.ch Norberto Crivelli Communism Left-wing[6] to far-left
0 / 7
0 / 46
1 / 200
0 / 154
13 / 2,594
MCG Geneva Citizens' Movement mcge.ch Ana Roch Geneva regionalism Right-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
0 / 154
14 / 2,594
1,500 (2015)[5]
Sol Solidarity solidarites.ch – Anti-capitalism Left-wing to far-left
0 / 7
0 / 46
1 / 200
1 / 154
1 / 2,594
EDU/UDF Federal Democratic Union edu-schweiz.ch Hans Moser Right-wing populism Right-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
1 / 200
0 / 154
19 / 2,594
3,000 (2011)[7]
CSP/PCS Christian Social Party csp-pcs.ch Marius Achermann Christian left Centre-left
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
1 / 154
14 / 2,594
1,500 (2011)[7]
AL-ZH Alternative List al-zh.ch – Socialism Left-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
0 / 154
0 / 2,594
AL-BE Alternative Left Bern al-be.ch – Democratic socialism Left-wing
0 / 7
0 / 46
0 / 200
0 / 154
10 / 2,594
2,000 (2011)[7]
Total 7[lower-alpha 3]200154[lower-alpha 4][8]2594[lower-alpha 5][9]

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[lower-alpha 6]
PPS Pirate Party Denis Simonet Pirate politics, liberalism 2009 0.27% (2019)
SD/DS Swiss Democrats Bernhard Hess Right-wing, national conservatism 1961 0.13% (2019)
SLB/MSL Social Liberal Movement Samuel Schmid Centre-right, social conservatism 2011 0.1% (2015)
LP/PL Libertarian Party Simon Scherrer Libertarianism 2014 0.01% (2019)
FPS/PSL Freedom Party Peter Commarmot Right-wing, national liberalism 1984 n/a
HPS/PHS Swiss Humanist Party Daniel Horowitz Humanist Movement 1984 n/a
KVP Catholic People's Party Lukas Brühwiler-Frésey Catholic social teaching 1994 n/a
TPS/PSpA Tierpartei Schweiz Thomas Märki Animal rights 2010 0.15% (2015)
Parteifrei Lukas Harder Voluntary association of independent politicians formed for the 2011 elections; opposing party politics 2011 0.19% (2015)
MontagnaViva Germano Mattei Regionalism (Alpine Ticino) 2011 0.08% (2015)
Alpenparlament Alternative medicine 2011 0.06% (2015)
Konfessionslose Separation of church and state 2011 0.05% (2015)
Volksaktion Eric Weber Right-wing populism (Basel-Stadt) 2002 0.03% (2015)
La gauche combative Communism (Geneva) 2002 0.03% (2015)
Les Rauraques 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 or SVP Union démocratique du Centre or UDC Unione Democratica di Centro or UDC Partida populara Svizra or PPS
SP/PS Social Democratic Party Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SP Parti socialiste suisse or PS Partito Socialista Svizzero or PS Partida socialdemocratica da la Svizra or PS
FDP/PRD Free Democratic Party Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP Parti radical-démocratique suisse or PRD Partito Liberale Radicale or PLR Partida liberaldemocrata da la Svizra or PLD
Mitte/Centre The Centre Die Mitte Le Centre Alleanza del Centro Allianza dal Center
GPS/PES Green Party Grüne Partei der Schweiz or Die Grünen Parti écologiste suisse or Les Verts Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi Partida ecologica svizra or Ils Verds
CSP/PCS Christian Social Party Christlich-soziale Partei or CSP Parti chrétien-social or PCS Partito Cristiano Sociale or PCS Partida cristiansociala da la Svizra or PCS
CVP/PDC Christian Democratic People's Party Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP Parti démocrate-chrétien suisse or PDC Partito Popolare Democratico or PPD Partida Cristian-democratica da la Svizra or PCD
BDP/PBD Conservative Democratic Party Bürgerlich-Demokratische Partei Schweiz or BDP Parti bourgeois démocratique Suisse or PBD Partito borghese democratico Svizzera or PBD Partida burgais democratica Svizra or PBD
EVP/PEV Evangelical People's Party Evangelische Volkspartei der Schweiz or EVP Parti évangelique suisse or PEV Partito Evangelico Svizzero or PE Partida evangelica svizra or PEV
FPS/PSL Freedom Party Freiheits-Partei der Schweiz or FPS Parti suisse de la liberté or PSL Partito svizzero della Libertà or PSL Partida svizra da la libertad or PSL
LPS/PLS Liberal Party Liberale Partei der Schweiz or LPS Parti libéral suisse or PLS Partito Liberale Svizzero or PLS Partida liberal-conservativa Svizra or PLC
AL Alternative Left Alternative Linke or AL La Gauche or LG La Sinistra or LS Alternativa sanestra or AS
SD/DS Swiss Democrats Schweizer Demokraten or SD Démocrates suisses or DS Democratici Svizzeri or DS Democrats svizers or DS
Lega Ticino League Liga der Tessiner Ligue des Tessinois Lega dei Ticinesi Liga dals Tessinais
EDU/UDF Federal Democratic Union Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union or EDU Union démocratique fédérale or UDF Unione Democratica Federale or UDF Uniun democrata federala or UDF
PdA/PST Swiss Party of Labour Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz or PdA Parti suisse du travail – Parti ouvrier et populaire or PST-POP Partito Svizzero del Lavoro – Partito Operaio e Popolare or PC Partida svizra da la lavur or PdL
GLP/PVL Green Liberal Party Grünliberale Partei der Schweiz or GLP Parti vert'libéral or PVL Partito Verde Liberale or PVL Partida verda-liberala or PVL
MCG Geneva Citizens' Movement Genfer Bürgerbewegung Mouvement citoyens genevois Movimento dei Cittadini Ginevrini
CSP OW Christian Social Party of Obwalden Christlichsoziale Partei Obwalden 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 Démocrates suisses Democratici Svizzeri Democrats svizers
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 or TPS Parti suisse pour les animaux or PSpA Partito svizzero per gli animali or PSpA Partida svizra d'animals or PSA
up! The Swiss Independence Party up! Unabhängigkeitspartei up! 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. 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 seats held by the FDP and by the Liberal Party in Vaud and Valais where cantonal parties did not merge and retained separate structures
  3. Including one independent member of the Council of States (Thomas Minder).
  4. Cantonal executives As of 2022
  5. Cantonal legislatures As of 2021, including independents and small minor parties.
  6. 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. Office fédéral de la statistique. "Élections aux parlements cantonaux". www.bfs.admin.ch (in French). Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  3. "Swiss Political Parties Reveal Their Colours". Swissinfo. September 11, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  4. "Gemeindewahlen" (in German). Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  5. "The Swiss Confederation — A Brief Guide" (PDF). Federal Chancellery. 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  6. Barbet, Denis; Bonhomme, Marc (2006). La politique mise au Net. ISBN 9782847880953.
  7. Der Bund kurz erklärt (in German). Swiss Confederation. 2011. p. 21. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24.
  8. "Kantonale Regierungswahlen" (in German). Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  9. "Kantonale Parlamentswahlen" (in German). Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  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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