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1
Elected three times
In 1935, Migros founder Gottlieb Duttweiler (1888–1962) achieved what no one before or after him had achieved: he was elected not just once, but three times. At that time it was still possible to compete in multiple cantons. And so ‘Dutti’ got a seat for the independents in Zurich, Bern and St. Gall, but because he could not divide himself into three parts, he had to choose a canton: the Zurich native chose Bern. Later he also sat for Zurich in the National Council and the Council of States – before being re-elected in Bern. The multiple elections resulted in the creation of a Lex Dutti: since 1939 it has been forbidden to stand as a candidate for the National Council in more than one canton.
2
Fate decides
The Ticino CVP politician Marco Romano (now in the middle, 40) received 23,979 votes in the National Council elections in October 2011. Exactly the same number as his party colleague Monica Duca Widmer (64). What now? In this rare case, the law determines that fate decides. After several complaints were received against the first electronic lottery draw, the Federal Court ordered a repetition. In the presence of a policewoman and the excited CVP candidates, traffic director Marco Borradori (62) finally took out a sheet of paper with Romano’s name from a white cloth bag, more than a month after the election Sunday. The then 29-year-old was elected – and Duca Widmer gave up her political career.
3
The political commuters
Since the Dutti case (see point 1), you can only stand as a candidate in one canton, but in theory it does not matter in which canton. There is no requirement to have residency in the canton in which you compete. Magdalena Martullo-Blocher (54), who lives with her family in Feldmeilen on Lake Zurich, represents the canton of Graubünden in the National Council. The place where their Ems Chemie is located – and where the family has a holiday home. The former SP faction leader and founder of the faction for a Switzerland without an army (GSoA), Andreas Gross (71), also lived a significant part of his 25 years in the National Council, not in the canton of Zurich, where he was politically represented, but in the Jura.
4
By plane to Bern
Instead of a free GA, Tim Guldimann (73) received plane tickets with expenses reimbursed. Almost half a year after his term as Swiss ambassador in Berlin ended, the people of Zurich elected the diplomat to the National Council for the SP in 2018. A first! Swiss abroad are allowed to vote and be elected, but no one has yet succeeded in doing the latter. After only three years, Guldimann resigned from this position. According to the International Council, he realized that it was problematic to live in a completely different environment from the one in which he practices politics.
5
Priests excluded
You can only preach from a pulpit: this rule applied until 1999. When a preacher was elected, he had to choose between the National Council and his profession. The corresponding clause in the constitution meant that Catholic priests were completely excluded from the National Council, as they could not simply give up their ordination. Reformed members had to resign their offices during their stay in Bern. It was Reverend Ernst Sieber (1927–2018), member of the National Council from 1991 to 1995, who submitted a proposal that ultimately led to the abolition of the provision.
6
Election campaign? Not necessary!
Obwalden State Councilor Erich Ettlin (61) can relax and look forward to the elections on October 22. It has been clear since the beginning of September that the centrist politician will be re-elected. Because there is no one who can compete with him, he is confirmed – just like four years ago – through silent elections. In 2019, his colleague from Nidwalden, FDP State Councilor Hans Wicki (59), was also able to spare himself the election campaign. In the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, the smallest canton, National Council seats have been awarded eleven times in silent elections since 1919. Most recently, however, in the late 1980s.
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.
