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Anti-immigration SVP wins Swiss election in big swing to right | Anti-immigration SVP wins Swiss election in big swing to right |
(1 day later) | |
The right-wing, anti-immigration Swiss People's Party (SVP) has won Switzerland's parliamentary election with a record 29.4% of the vote. | The right-wing, anti-immigration Swiss People's Party (SVP) has won Switzerland's parliamentary election with a record 29.4% of the vote. |
Its victory translates into 11 extra seats, giving it 65 out of the total 200 in the lower house. | Its victory translates into 11 extra seats, giving it 65 out of the total 200 in the lower house. |
Europe's migrant crisis boosted support for the SVP, commentators say - though Switzerland is taking in far fewer migrants than Germany. | Europe's migrant crisis boosted support for the SVP, commentators say - though Switzerland is taking in far fewer migrants than Germany. |
The right-wing liberal FDP also got an electoral boost, coming third. | The right-wing liberal FDP also got an electoral boost, coming third. |
Swiss media are speaking of a "Rechtsrutsch" - a "slide to the right" - because the SVP, FDP and some small right-wing parties can now command a majority in the National Council (lower house). | Swiss media are speaking of a "Rechtsrutsch" - a "slide to the right" - because the SVP, FDP and some small right-wing parties can now command a majority in the National Council (lower house). |
No such slide has occurred yet in the 46-seat upper house (Council of States), as a second round of voting is required in many cantons. | No such slide has occurred yet in the 46-seat upper house (Council of States), as a second round of voting is required in many cantons. |
The SVP won the 2011 vote with 26.6%, becoming the largest party, but now it has made further gains. | The SVP won the 2011 vote with 26.6%, becoming the largest party, but now it has made further gains. |
The SVP is sceptical about Switzerland's many bilateral agreements with the EU, telling voters that the country is better off remaining outside the 28-nation bloc. | The SVP is sceptical about Switzerland's many bilateral agreements with the EU, telling voters that the country is better off remaining outside the 28-nation bloc. |
In Sunday's election the leftist Social Democratic Party (SP) came second, winning 44 seats - two fewer than last time. | In Sunday's election the leftist Social Democratic Party (SP) came second, winning 44 seats - two fewer than last time. |
"The vote was clear. The people are worried about mass migration to Europe," said SVP leader Toni Brunner. | "The vote was clear. The people are worried about mass migration to Europe," said SVP leader Toni Brunner. |
The SVP spearheaded the Swiss drive to impose immigration quotas, which got the green light in a February 2014 referendum. But it contradicts the EU's freedom of movement principle, which Switzerland had earlier agreed to respect. | The SVP spearheaded the Swiss drive to impose immigration quotas, which got the green light in a February 2014 referendum. But it contradicts the EU's freedom of movement principle, which Switzerland had earlier agreed to respect. |
The EU has until January 2017 to resolve the dispute with Switzerland - after that the Swiss government must make the quotas law. | The EU has until January 2017 to resolve the dispute with Switzerland - after that the Swiss government must make the quotas law. |
Switzerland has pledged to participate in the EU's controversial scheme to relocate 120,000 refugees from Italy and Greece, but it is not yet clear how many the Swiss will accept. | Switzerland has pledged to participate in the EU's controversial scheme to relocate 120,000 refugees from Italy and Greece, but it is not yet clear how many the Swiss will accept. |
The SVP is pushing for the three biggest parties to get two seats each in the seven-member government. Its composition will be decided by parliament in December. Currently the SVP has one seat in the governing council. | |
The newly-elected SVP politicians include Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, daughter of the SVP's controversial vice-president Christoph Blocher, who served in government from 2004-2007. | The newly-elected SVP politicians include Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, daughter of the SVP's controversial vice-president Christoph Blocher, who served in government from 2004-2007. |
Mr Blocher, a billionaire businessman, made the SVP the best-funded Swiss party and played a key role in the Swiss rejection of the European Economic Area. EEA membership would have been a stepping-stone to Swiss EU membership. | Mr Blocher, a billionaire businessman, made the SVP the best-funded Swiss party and played a key role in the Swiss rejection of the European Economic Area. EEA membership would have been a stepping-stone to Swiss EU membership. |
Roger Koeppel, a leading Swiss political pundit and chief editor of the magazine Die Weltwoche, was elected as an SVP candidate in Zurich. | Roger Koeppel, a leading Swiss political pundit and chief editor of the magazine Die Weltwoche, was elected as an SVP candidate in Zurich. |
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