Expert Lea Portmann: “We discriminate against a very large population group”

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In 2015, 12 percent of candidates for the National Council had a migration background. This time it is 14 percent. What do you say about this development?
Leah Portmann: In principle, it is certainly positive if more people with a migrant background can stand as candidates. But it is also important to take into account that the population with a migrant background who has a Swiss passport and can apply for registration is constantly increasing. Overall, people with a migrant background are still significantly underrepresented on party lists.

Many parties are very aggressive in drawing attention to candidates with a migrant background – for example via Secondo lists. Is it all just a show?
You can see it like this. Secondo lists have been around for a long time. In principle this is positive because it increases visibility. But the fact is: only those who have a good spot on a main list have a real chance of being chosen. This still happens far too little.

In the last National Council elections (2019), only 6 percent of those elected had a foreign name, compared to 13 percent of candidates. Why does this share fall so sharply during the elections?
For two reasons: On the one hand, with a foreign name there is a smaller chance of being motley or cumulated, that is, being written twice on a list. This happens more often with a Swiss name – and this allows candidates to climb higher on the lists. On the other hand, a foreign name increases the risk that voters will remove you from the list. Our research has proven this.

Even among left-wing parties committed to integration, progress has been slow. How is that possible?
Networks are crucial in politics. It starts when you enter politics: without a mentor it is difficult to get into parties. People often promote people who look like them and have a similar background. People with a migration background are at a disadvantage. But networks also play a central role in the election campaign: you have to be invited to stages, you have to have donors, and so on. And networks are also crucial in the battle for good places on the electoral lists.

In the canton of Lucerne, Ylfete Fanaj was elected as a government councilor, and in Egerkingen SO, Alban Rudaj was elected as a municipal councilor.
Yes, there is a lot going on – and there are certainly positive developments. There are also examples such as Sanija Ameti, who put up election posters at Pristina airport. These are new networks that are establishing themselves there. And that has an effect: if people with a migrant background feel represented, they vote more often.

How does Switzerland perform internationally?
Research into discrimination against minorities with a migrant background in democratic electoral processes is still in its infancy. Switzerland makes an important contribution in this area because there is probably no other country where so much data on the issue of representation and discrimination can be evaluated. Existing research in Europe points in the same direction: discrimination based on origin plays a major role in elections, while discrimination based on gender has decreased significantly.

Why are you investigating this?
We are talking here about discrimination against a very large population group. 20 percent of the Swiss voting population has a migration background and can hold on. These citizens must be able to participate. Until they are given a fair chance to do so, political equality will not be achieved in Switzerland.

What needs to happen to change that?
It is very simple: the parties must place people with a migration background in promising places on the list. Only then do they have a real chance of being chosen.

Source:Blick