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Nervousness and melancholy: these two feelings currently dominate the Federal Palace. There is nervousness among lawmakers concerned about their re-election on October 22, and sadness among those who are no longer running for office. For 36 of the 245 sitting National Council members – one seat of the Council of States is vacant – it is officially the last session.
Eleven leave from the SVP
The SVP recorded the greatest bloodshed. Eleven SVP members turn their backs on the Bundeshaus. These include political dinosaurs such as Walter Wobmann (65, SO) or Alex Kuprecht (65, SZ), both of whom are stepping down after twenty years. With “Weltwoche” boss Roger Köppel (58, ZH), the king of the absentees also grants himself a permanent dispensation. A trio from Bern, Andrea Geissbühler (47), Andreas Aebi (64) and Erich von Siebenthal (64), are also resigning – all due to an internal party term.
Fewer SVP initiatives are expected with the departure of Yvette Estermann (56, LU), who kept the federal government on its toes with numerous critical demands, especially during the corona pandemic. Further departures include: Jean-Pierre Grin (76, VD), Verena Herzog (67, TG), Peter Keller (52, NW) and Hansjörg Knecht (63, AG).
Nine deviations from the FDP
There are nine parliamentarians in the FDP who no longer want to know anything about it. Among them are political veterans Kurt Fluri (68, SO) and Christa Markwalder (48, BE), who at twenty years old are among the oldest in Bern. In Zurich, the Freisinn has to deal with the dismissal of Doris Fiala (66) and Ruedi Noser (62).
Jacques Bourgeois (65, FR), Rocco Cattaneo (64, TI), Christian Lüscher (59, GE), Olivier Français (67, VD) and Thomas Hefti (63, GL) are also missing.
Eight departures from the SP
The SP registered eight departures. Among them are consumer lawyer Prisca Birrer-Heimo (64, LU) and state councilors Hans Stöckli (71, BE) and Roberto Zanetti (68, SO), who are part of the old SP guard.
In addition, the SP must defend the seats of other people who are leaving, namely: Angelo Barrile (47, ZH), Yvonne Feri (57, AG), Edith Graf-Litscher (59, TG), Sandra Locher Benguerel (48, GR) and Ada Marra (50, VD).
Five exits from the center
The center has to say goodbye to five parliamentarians. The best-known figure: National councilor Martin Landolt (55, GL), the last BDP president who merged his party with the CVP to form the new center.
Ida Glanzmann (64, LU), Jean-Paul Gschwind (70, JU), Marco Romano (40, TI) and probably the most famous Swiss brewer Alois Gmür (68, SZ) are also saying goodbye. What is striking: there is not a single member of the Council of States among the dropouts. It is not surprising that the center wants to defend its stronghold in Stöckli.
Two departures from the Greens
The Greens will have to do without State Councilor Adèle Thorens Goumaz (51, VD) in the future – and will hardly be able to defend their seat in Vaud. The Green group also includes the retiring Stefanie Prezioso Batou (54, GE), but she was chosen for the left-wing group Ensemble à Gauche.
The Greens are under pressure after their election victory four years ago. It is therefore not surprising that almost everyone who has participated so far is running again to keep the impending losses as low as possible.
A deviation from GLP
The GLP was one of the election winners four years ago and therefore still has many ‘newcomers’ in its group. The only departure: Thomas Brunner (64, SG) leaves after four years in Bundesbern.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
