This is how federal elections work

Hardly any day in Swiss politics is as exciting as the day of the Federal Council elections. Wednesday it’s that time again. Because SVP federal councilor Ueli Maurer (72) and SP federal councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (62) resign, two of the seven most important posts in the Confederation have to be filled.

The two State Councilors Eva Herzog (60) and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (58) will represent the SP. The SVP has nominated alderman Albert Rösti (55) and former council member and professor of law Hans-Ueli Vogt (52). – But how does such an election actually work?

Appreciation by the President of the National Council

The new members of the government are not elected by the people, but by the United Federal Assembly, ie all members of the States and the National Council. That is a total of 246 MEPs. Election day starts early, at 8am. The parliamentarians should be in the National Council Chamber by then at the latest. While the members of the National Council are seated in their usual places, the women and men of the Council of States take their seats in the back of the National Council Chamber.

First, the departing federal councilors say goodbye to the chairman of the National Council, i.e. the middle national councilor Martin Candinas (42). The members of the state government and the Chancellor then leave the National Council chamber. And then it gets really exciting!

secret choice

Because Ueli Maurer was a federal councilor longer than Simonetta Sommaruga, his successor will be elected first. And it goes like this:

Parliamentarians vote in secret. That means they write the name of their favorite among the two SVP candidates Rösti and Vogt on the ballot – or a completely different name. Then they put the paper in a ballot box.

A person is elected when he has obtained an absolute majority of the votes, ie half of the valid votes plus at least one vote. The blank and invalid ballot papers do not count in determining the absolute majority.

If all 246 members of the National Council and the Council of States cast their votes correctly and one person casts a blank vote, there are 245 valid votes. In this case, a candidate is elected if he receives at least 123 votes.

If no one makes the election, there will be different ballots. The following rules apply:

• In theory, all Swiss citizens with the right to vote can be elected on the first two ballots – not just the candidates proposed by the parties. You don’t even have to be a politician. No new names may be written down from the third ballot.
• Anyone who receives fewer than ten votes after two ballots or on a subsequent ballot is eliminated.
• From the third ballot, the one with the fewest votes is eliminated. This also applies to the next elections.
• This is repeated until a candidate receives an absolute majority and is thus elected as the next member of the Bundesrat.

Over before noon

As soon as the ballot papers are handed out, they are picked up again. And then counting. Depending on how many ballots are needed, the election is a very quick or lengthy affair.

As an illustration: Federal Councilor Viola Amherd (60) was elected in 2018 after a vote of only 20 minutes. Time: 9.20 am! Bundesrat colleague Karin Keller-Sutter (58) also made it right away: her election started at 9.31 am and about half an hour later it was clear that she had also made it to the first ballot.

Acceptance of election and swearing in

And that was it? Not quite! After all, a newly elected federal councilor must first declare to the United Federal Assembly whether he or she accepts the election or not. The new member of the Bundesrat is only established once this has been done.

So if Ueli Maurer’s successor has accepted the election, you can proceed immediately to elect Simonetta Sommaruga’s successor. If their successor has also accepted the election, the two newly elected federal councilors are sworn in.

oath or vow

The newly elected raise their right hands and take the oath or vow in their mother tongue.

The oath reads: “I swear before Almighty God to observe the Constitution and the laws and to conscientiously perform the duties of my office.”

The vow reads: “I pledge to obey the Constitution and the laws and conscientiously perform the duties of my office.”

The formula of the oath or vow is read in the United Federal Assembly. When a new federal councilor takes the oath, he or she pronounces the words “I swear” with raised fingers. The one who takes the vow says the words “I vow”. Now the election is official!

After the new federal councilors have taken the oath of office, there is a short break – then the federal assembly elects the 2023 federal presidency and the 2023 vice-presidency of the federal council – this time, in all likelihood, Alain Berset (50, SP) will be elected Federal President and Viola Amherd (60, center) as vice president.

After applause and a photo round, the new members of the Bundesrat are escorted out of the room by the weibels. The destination is the Salon de la Présidence. After the elections, the Bundesrat receives its new colleagues in the audience hall.

Before lunch it is usually already clear who will occupy the most important position in the Confederacy.

Distribution departments

In the days that followed, the seven members of the Bundesrat reached mutual agreement on the distribution of the divisions. The newcomers will not automatically take over the Finance Department (EFD) that has become vacant following the departure of Ueli Maurer or the Environment and Energy Department (UVEK) that has become vacant following the resignation of Simonetta Sommaruga. For example, if the incumbent Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (58, FDP) wanted to switch to the FDF and the other members of the Bundesrat agree, then one of the new government members could take over the Keller-Sutters FDJP.

However, it is especially important that the new members of the Bundesrat do not start immediately. You still have one month to prepare for your new position. It doesn’t get serious until January 1!