Two party presidents attempted to draw comparisons with the Nazis in late summer 2014. Firstly, Martin Landolt, leader of the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP), asked: “How brown must a policy be before everyone realises that it stinks to high heaven?” He was referring to the policies of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) from which the BDP splintered off in 2008. Christian Levrat, President of the Social Democratic Party (SP), followed suit shortly afterwards, remarking: “SVP policy in recent months has clearly shown fascist tendencies.” The fact that such comparisons usually overstep the mark or are completely inappropriate is not the issue here. However, the harsh rhetoric is a clear indication of how charged the political mood is already a year before the federal elections on 18 October 2015.
There are good reasons why various parties are using their heavy artillery on the SVP. The predominant election campaign issues in 2015 are highly likely to be the SVP’s major political concerns: Europe, immigration, foreign policy and defence against anything “foreign”. Whichever way Switzerland’s relationship with the European Union (EU) develops after the approval of the SVP initiative against mass immigration on 9 February 2014, the SVP will be at the centre of the debate.
All the others face a problem
The SVP is therefore entering election year 2015 with an invaluable advantage. It does not have to “come up with” its election campaign issues, they have long been on the table and are matters of genuine concern to people. According to the election barometer of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) in October 2014, immigration-related issues are the most pressing for the electorate. And the SVP is thought most likely to provide solutions here. The party lost more than two percentage points in the 2011 elections but has since made significant headway. It has increased its share of the vote in 14 of 19 cantonal elections. Whether this success will be continued at the federal elections depends heavily on how policies on Europe and immigration develop. According to the election barometer mentioned, maintaining the bilateral treaties with the EU is actually more important to the electorate than the implementation of the initiative against mass immigration. If a straight decision had to be made between these two options, 58 % would favour the set of agreements with the EU. The implementation of the initiative clearly jeopardises the agreement on the free movement of persons and therefore the bilateral treaties. It remains to be seen whether and to what extent this position on the bilateral treaties takes the wind out of the SVP sails.
The fact that the SVP is comfortable with the key issues at the outset presents a problem for the other parties. They will find it hard to bring other issues into play. That said, election years can take unpredictable turns. In 2011, the Fukushima nuclear disaster in the spring of the election year suddenly made energy a key issue. However, it is more likely that all the parties will attempt to provide their own answers to the EU and immigration issues which will inevitably see them enter SVP territory. The SVP is able to clearly differentiate itself not just from the left over these issues but also from the other conservative parties. These want well-structured relations with the EU and are keen to save the bilateral approach, an objective which the SVP now openly questions.
In light of widespread EU scepticism, the EU-friendly SP may face a particularly challenging task over the issues of immigration and EU relations. It is therefore focusing on its key political issue of social justice. It can also make headway here, according to the electoral barometer. The party keeps debate alive with some bold proposals, but the last three popular initiatives it supported – 1:12, the minimum wage and the single health insurance fund – have failed. Its opposition to flat-rate taxation for wealthy foreigners and its support for the introduction of inheritance tax are in line with the party slogan of “for everyone rather than the few”. At the 2011 elections, the SP won three additional National Council seats despite a slight 0.8 % fall in its share of the vote thanks to good fortune with the system of proportional representation. It would appear to have little chance of defending these seats without significant electoral gains. However, its performance in the cantonal elections since 2011 has been reasonably good: the SP has made ground in 12 of 19 cantons.
The traditional parties are faltering
The two other once strong conservative parties on the Federal Council are underperforming - FDP.The Liberals (FDP) and the Christian Democratic People’s Party (CVP). Both lost support at the 2011 elections. The FDP’s performance at the cantonal elections in recent years has failed to impress, and the CVP has performed very poorly. The FDP as a business-friendly party is suffering from the political fallout of the financial and banking crises. Even if the party leadership is going to great lengths to distance itself from the excessive salaries and bonus culture and to position itself less as a party focused purely on representing economic interests – the reputational damage suffered by parts of the economy is tarnishing the party. The down-to-earth liberalism embodied by party leader Philipp Müller is nevertheless proving increasingly popular. The party is accredited with great expertise in policy on Europe in particular, not least thanks to the work of the free democrat President of the Swiss Confederation and Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter.
The CVP faces major challenges. Its support fell by over two percentage points at the 2011 elections and the downward trend has continued on a similar scale in many cantons. The CVP is steadfastly attempting to position itself as a traditional centre party which plays a vital role in Switzerland’s political culture as a mediator between the two ends of the political spectrum. However, it is often difficult to predict the approach the CVP will adopt on political issues. It sometimes enters into pacts with the left and sometimes with the right. This can be seen in a positive light as a genuine willingness to compromise, but voters often have problems knowing what the CVP stands for. There is also great divergence within the party between social, business-oriented and rural-conservative factions. In the legislative period prior to 2011, the CVP worked closely with the Green Liberal Party (GLP) and the Evangelical People’s Party (EVP), and then after the elections with the BDP. This reflects the CVP’s perhaps somewhat excessive flexibility or maybe also its well-honed instinct for power since, despite being a small party, the BDP, with Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, still contributes a Federal Council seat to the partnership of convenience.
“New centre” unsteady
The BDP, which sees itself as a new centre party after breaking away from the SVP, is nevertheless not on very solid foundations itself. The BDP suffered a huge setback in one of its strongholds, the canton of Berne, at the elections last March. The diagnosis here is also a rather indistinct profile.
The same cannot be said of the GLP, also a relatively new centre party. Not only was it one of the winners during the last federal elections, it has also since recorded gains in almost all cantonal elections. The combination of liberalism and ecology makes the party an attractive alternative for many people. Its ethos of a sustainable energy and environmental policy and a liberal economic and social policy captures the spirit of the times.
The “original” greens, the Green Party (GPS), have never really recovered from their election defeat in 2011. Their key concerns are very much overshadowed by the predominant issues of policy on Europe and immigration.
Jürg Müller is an editor with the “swiss review”
New formula for the Federal Council?
The parliamentary elections also always indirectly impact on the complete re-election of the Federal Council, which takes place shortly afterwards. The current composition (2 SP, 2 FDP, 1 CVP, 1 SVP and 1 BDP) is certainly not guaranteed in 2015 although no Federal Councillors are stepping down. There will in any event be a lively debate about how the will of the electorate is reflected in the nation’s most senior body. The SVP, as the strongest faction, is actually entitled to a second seat. If it does not lose ground or even gains votes at the elections, Parliament will probably no longer be able to ignore its claims. The seat of the BDP, a minor party, or one of the two FDP seats will be targeted in such circumstances. But it is well known that Federal Council elections can always produce very surprising results.
Picture Relations between Switzerland and the EU will be a key issue in election year
Comments
Comments :
Having lived abroad for most of my life and watched Switzerland from that perspecitve, I must tell you that nothing infuriates me more than any Swiss hatemongering against other Swiss and it is ALWAYS against the SVP. You are giving our country a bad image---not the SVP, or the LDP, or the SDP, or the XXX Party. Hating and belittling other Swiss for their opinions is NOT RIGHT!
We can argue points of view in which we differ, but this stupid hatemongering against what I understand to be the majority party in Switzerland is not good. Most of the people I have met in the SVP are intelligent, well educated, very dependable and totally connected to the world and often very successful Swiss. Almost all of them have a great love for their home, their country, their Switzerland. The only question we should ask of anyone with an opinion that differs from ours is, ''Is it true?'' By argument alone, not hatred, and abusive inuendo do we get to that little kernel, the truth, in the middle of the spaghetti pot of blind emotions.
Not to stand up for your values is cowardice and treason towards your country, towards your children. Your country, your home, is a piece of real estate with a border around it. In it are people who feel at home, understand each other, and think pretty well the same, and have pretty well the same values. Our instinct of ''home'' is our strongest instinct---every human's.
If the majority of Saudi citizens decide that I am not allowed to build a Christian church in their country, nor assemble in my own apartment with other Christians for the purpose of a Christian prayer, and if I do, and they catch me doing it in the privacy of my home, I may suffer the death penalty---which is the case in Saudi Arabia, that is the way they want to live and to protect themselves. I may think that this is very wrong, but it is right for them.
If the majority of Swiss---or any European majority decide that they do not wish to be woken up by some alien cantor singing to his Allah, but to the sounds of their familiar church bells, then that is right for them. I may not agree, but it is right for them. It is dear wrong for a minority to impose its will on the majority. We have a word for that: tyranny. Our people have not died at Morgarten, and Sempach, and Murten so their children should one day be dominated in their homes. They won their victories for freedom against far greater odds than we Swiss face now. Let us stand up for what we truly believe---and everybody will understand.
One day, we may have a world without borders, and we can move anywhere we want and live any way we want, but right now we still have them, and most countries defend them. Not being masters in our own home, may reduce us and our children to slavery and being dominated by others, other values, other custums, other dress codes, while ours die. One glance at Swiss history will tell you that our ancestors have never submitted to the power of others, have paid long and dearly for their liberty---and ours. If every Swiss in the SVP agrees with their ancestors and wants their border defended, and keep their home the way they inherited it, however briefly, then that is their right. You may not agree. You may want to put forth other arguments into the debate. But no intelligent Swiss has the right to condemn others for their believes, make belittling and disparaging remarks about other Swiss for the benefit of an uncaring foreign press, particularly if their arguments are so well and clearly enunciated, as most Swiss parties' arguments are, and must be, for the people to decide, vote, and elect.
You ask where will Switzerland go, Erwin. There are strong Swiss and weak Swiss. The strong will ensure that our children will live in a Switzerland that we all can be proud of---forever. The weak will have no will to survive---and they will not lead! I should not worry.
And to you, Doris, I say that it is totally untrue that the ''Parolen der SVP dem schweizerisch Image enormen Schaden zufuegen.'' We understand those who want to defend their home and families. We do not understand those who flatter with sugary ''Parolen'' and are as false as three-dollar bills---and attack and hate their own cousins, brothers and sisters with mock generosity. We see right through their lies and weakness, and we do not honour them.
I am very proud of Switzerland's model democracy, where people decide for themselves---and have done so for centuries---and the people have ALWAYS made the right decision, even when I personally disagreed. In the long run, if you look back carefully, the majority decision was always the right one. ''Many heads are better than one!'' is indeed a true maxime. Let's continue in that vein. Let the majority lead!
Als Partei des rechten Spektrums ist sich die SVP ganz sicher bewusst, dass sich auch an ihrem äussersten Rand (wie bei allen andern gleichgelagerten europäischen Parteien) jede Menge von Rassisten, Rechtsextremen und Neonazis befinden. Diese werden von der, ach so staatstragenden SVP bewusst und schamlos als billiges Stimmvieh geduldet und benutzt.
Zu Zeiten vor der polemischen Populistik galt noch, sage mir mit wem du gehst und ich werde dir sagen WER du bist.
Heute gilt, je dümmer argumentiert wird, desto lauter wird geklatscht und Bravo geschrieen und die so motipulierten Idioten sind noch stolz auf Ihre vaterländiche Einstellung.
Quo vadis helveticae
Die Politik der SVP der letzten Monate habe klar faschistoide Tendenzen. Dass solche Vergleiche meist weit über das Ziel hinausschiessen oder gar völlig unzutreffend sind, wird fairerweise von verschiedenen Kommentatoren zum „SR“ Beitrag erkannt. Die Anmerkungen einiger „Trittbrettler“ haben offensichtlich die Wirklichkeiten der heutigen Schweiz immer noch nicht erfasst. In Anlehnung meiner Rückfahrt nach Spanien im August d.J(s). habe ich bis Genf die Autobahn bewusst gemieden, um auf Nebenstrassen die enormen Veränderungen, Bausünden und städtische Schmuddligkeiten von Grosswohnsiedlungen in den Regionen zu besichtigen. Von Graubünden bis Genf zeigt die Schweiz unwiederbringlich verheerende Ortsbilder und zerstörtes Kulturland. Dem kolossalen Wachstumswahn, Verschwendungswirtschaft wie auch der unkontrollierten Zuwanderung muss unbedingt Einhalt geboten werden. Wer noch einigermassen bei Sinnen ist, kann das nicht mehr zulassen. In Biel kaufte ich am Bahnhof eine Tageszeitung man glaubt sich halbwegs in Afrika?!
Die unerträglich behördliche und von den Wirtschaftsverbänden betriebene Heuchelei in Verbindung offener Grenzen PFZ und Schengen muss ein Ende haben. Was sind das für Kräfte, die unser Land über masslose Zuwanderung destabilisieren, die sogar von der FDP bis zur SP unterstützt werden. Man hat grösste Mühe, zu begreifen, dass an sich gescheite Leute, die enorme Zuwanderung, so wie sie jetzt läuft; Asyl, Sans-Papier, offene Grenzen, Schein-Verträge, Sozialversicherungs-Missbrauch etc. nicht nur tolerieren, nein sogar verlangen, dass es so bleibt. Das löst doch in der CH-Bevölkerung ein Unbehagen aus, und zeigt eine enge, bedrückende Schweiz, die das Leben nicht mehr lebenswert sein lässt.
Zu Recht hält Verena Kaplan im „SR“ Beitrag fest, Zitat: „wenn diese Limite ueberschritten wird, gehoert die Schweiz nicht mehr den Schweizern. Schlussendlich koennen sich die Schweizer den Emigranten anpassen“. Gleichfalls rechtfertigen Kurt Stauffer und Heinrich Huber; „wer der SVP Ausländerfeindlichkeit zuspricht hat ihre Anliegen nicht verstanden“.
Realität: Z.B. der Ärger unter Auslandschweizern über ihre Banken in der Schweiz ist seit langem gross. Meist ohne weitere Erklärung fordern CH-Banken ihre Auslandschweizerkunden in vielen Ländern auf, ihr Bankkonto zu saldieren. Grund: Es betrifft alle Kontoinhaber, welche ihr Steuerdomizil nicht in der Schweiz haben. Der St. Galler SVP-Nationalrat Roland Rino Büchel als Vorstandsmitglied der Auslandschweizer-Organisation hat mit einer Motion d.J(s). im Parlament verlangt; alle Schweizer, ob im Inland oder Ausland, benötigten das Recht, ein Bankkonto in der Schweiz zu haben. Man sei geradezu «schockiert», dass die gleichen Banken, die bis vor Kurzem im Ausland noch um Kunden warben, heute bei Auslandschweizern Schwierigkeiten machten, wenn diese ein Konto halten oder eines eröffnen wollen. Der Nationalrat hat die Motion von NR Büchel (SVP/SG) am 11. September 2014 klar mit 126 zu 53 Stimmen bei 11 Enthaltungen angenommen. Der Vorstoss verlangt, dass der Bund den Grundversorgungsauftrag der Post um den Zahlungsverkehr für die Auslandschweizer bei der PostFinance erweitert.
Auch die Neue Helvetische Bank, des Zürcher SVP-Nationalrats Thomas Matter hat sich bereit erklärt die Auslandschweizer als neue Kunden aufzunehmen. Für NR Matter lässt die geltende Rechtslage genügend Spielraum. So ist es für Schweizer Banken nach wie vor möglich, für Auslandschweizer Konten zu unterhalten, ihnen in der Schweiz Hypotheken anzubieten oder Pensionskassengelder / AHV zu transferieren.
Viktor Nell,
Präsident SVP Landes-Sektion Spanien
Als auslandschweizer finde ich es beschämend, wenn nur mit purem Populismus, und noch schlimmer entgegengesetzt aller wissen-schaftlichen Erkenntnisse Politik betrieben wird.
Tja, liebe Frau Schrader, offensichtlich kann ich leider weder sprachlich noch inhaltlich mit Ihnen mithalten. Frohes Fest!
Aber diejenigen Politiker im Ausland, speziell bei unserem nördlichen Nachbarn, welche die Abstimmungsergebnisse bezüglich Immigration kritisieren, sollten erst einmal in sich gehen. Mit Ausländeranteilen wie sie die Schweiz immer noch ziemlich souverän verkraftet hätten sie in ihrem eigenen Land schon lange Bürgerkrieg.
Und die "Erfolge" der SVP sind in erster Linie darauf zurückzuführen, dass man aus Gründen der "political correctness" von der FDP bis zur SP gewisse heisse Eisen einfach nicht anfassen will.
Wir erleben hier in Tschechien dasselbe mit den Romas, wo es enorme Probleme z.B. mit Arbeitslosigkeit, Kriminalität, Wucher und Schulen gibt, aber eigentlich niemand hier richtig etwas lösen will. Dann kommen halt die Rechten mit ihren einfachen "holzschnittartigen" Rezepten. Endlösungen sind ja aus der Geschichte bekannt.
Das einzigartige politische System der Schweiz ermöglicht halt nun, dass das Volk an der Urne die Warnschüsse loslässt und damit aber auch Verantwortung übernimmt.
Kein Grund zur Panik und gar kein Grund sich bei irgendwem zu schämen oder zu entschuldigen.
Nächste sind die Asiaten-die grosse Geschäfte mit den Drogen und alle verschiedene Kopien....??grosse Schande!!
Die Schweden haben zu viele Ausländer auch und können nichts dagegen machen-die Partei entscheidet immer für die Schweden selber???!!! Im März 2015 kommt hoffentlich ein neuen Wind in Schweden wieder!! Die Schweiz war und ist immer sauber, lassen sie nicht zu viele Ausländer zu kommen!!
Warum sollten alle Leute aus Ex-Jugoslawien die CH-Pässe bekommen??? Jeder hat ein Haus hin und sie fahren immer für lange Urlaub nach Hause also bitte schicken sie die wieder Heim und sie müssen keine Sozial. Hilfe, Pensionen in der Schweiz kassieren!! Ich bin sehr stolz auf die Schweiz!!!Kein Angst vom EU - Kommando!!!
Ich denke, man muss nichr sch?men, aber auch nicht besonderes Stolz ei Schweizer zu sein!