Elections 2023 in the Canton of Bern: Funiciello and Co. are afraid of being voted out

SP women feel threatened

The SP women are worried. They are afraid of, of all people, the social democratic men. Four years ago, the two trade union members Corrado Pardini (58) and Adrian Wüthrich (43) were voted out – it was only a women’s election. Now the SP members are trying to win back a seat, for example with former ‘Kassenrutsch’ moderator Ueli Schmezer (62). The candidacy of SP national councilor Matthias Aebischer (55) for the Federal Council also brings further attention to the men.

This means that even Switzerland’s best-known feminist, Tamara Funiciello (33), now fears she will soon no longer be in parliament.

The Green Liberal Melanie Mettler (45) also has to tremble. Four years ago she won a remaining mandate for her seat in the National Council chamber, but now her party is threatened by the rise of the center. Mettler could be surpassed by Bern safety director Reto Nause (52).

Stöckli leaves the Stöckli

The race for the Council of States also promises excitement: the Bernese seat of State Councilor Hans Stöckli (71) is becoming available – and the race for it is fierce. 17 candidates have registered their interest. The SP wants to defend the seat with land councilor Flavia Wasserfallen (44). But she also has to be afraid of a man who is running for office: Bernhard Pulver (58), candidate for the Green Party.

As a former government councilor, Pulver received votes from the middle camp. However, as chairman of the board of the Inselspital, he recently decided to close a hospital in the country and one in Bern. This was not well received in rural areas. In contrast to that of the busy falls, his election campaign was also rather tepid.

There will be a second round of voting

The race for the Council of States will probably not be decided until November 19. Then the second voting round begins. Due to the Jekami around Stöckli, even the current SVP state councilor Werner Salzmann (60) will find it difficult to get the necessary votes in the first voting round. But the second round of voting will no longer pose an obstacle for the security politician and former candidate for the Federal Council.

The big question is which of the many other candidates will run for office again. The SP and the Greens want to decide this late. FDP candidate Sandra Hess (50) could already have entered the National Council. National Councilors Lorenz Hess (62, center) and Jürg Grossen (54, GLP) have outsider chances at best.

The eleven other candidates are considered virtually without a chance, especially because only those who received at least three percent of the valid votes in the first round are eligible for the second voting round.