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| Swiss election: Green parties 'make historic gains' | Swiss election: Green parties 'make historic gains' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Green parties have made strong gains in Switzerland's parliamentary election, according to initial projections. | Green parties have made strong gains in Switzerland's parliamentary election, according to initial projections. |
| The anti-immigration Swiss People's Party (SVP) is set to remain the largest party, despite losing at least 3% of its support. | |
| But projections show a combined vote for the two green parties of around 20%. | |
| Their gains reflect voters' concerns over climate change, seen as the dominant issue in this election. | Their gains reflect voters' concerns over climate change, seen as the dominant issue in this election. |
| Not all votes have been counted yet but the national broadcaster projected the Green Party's share surged 5.6 points to 12.7% of the vote, while the smaller, more centrist Green Liberal Party (GLP) garnered 7.6%. | Not all votes have been counted yet but the national broadcaster projected the Green Party's share surged 5.6 points to 12.7% of the vote, while the smaller, more centrist Green Liberal Party (GLP) garnered 7.6%. |
| The Green Party looked set to overtake one of the parties in the coalition government, the Christian Democrats (CVP), and could for the first time get a seat in the coalition that governs Switzerland. | The Green Party looked set to overtake one of the parties in the coalition government, the Christian Democrats (CVP), and could for the first time get a seat in the coalition that governs Switzerland. |
| "It is not a green wave, it is a tsunami, a hurricane," deputy party leader Celina Vara told Swiss radio. | "It is not a green wave, it is a tsunami, a hurricane," deputy party leader Celina Vara told Swiss radio. |
| The centre-left Socialists looked set to take second place with 16.5% of the votes, and the centre-right Liberals (FDP) were on track to come in third with 15.2%. | The centre-left Socialists looked set to take second place with 16.5% of the votes, and the centre-right Liberals (FDP) were on track to come in third with 15.2%. |
| If the two Green parties are able to overcome policy differences and unite, they would represent a potent political force. | If the two Green parties are able to overcome policy differences and unite, they would represent a potent political force. |
| As is usual in Switzerland, no single party is expected to secure a majority. | As is usual in Switzerland, no single party is expected to secure a majority. |
| For decades, the seven-seat Federal Council has been dominated by the same four main parties: the SVP, the Social Democrats, the FDP liberals and the CVP, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva. | For decades, the seven-seat Federal Council has been dominated by the same four main parties: the SVP, the Social Democrats, the FDP liberals and the CVP, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva. |
| The SVP, which is set to remain the largest party in parliament, has campaigned for over a decade on two key messages: restrictions on immigration and asylum seekers, and limiting non-EU member Switzerland's ties with Brussels. | The SVP, which is set to remain the largest party in parliament, has campaigned for over a decade on two key messages: restrictions on immigration and asylum seekers, and limiting non-EU member Switzerland's ties with Brussels. |
| But these issues were scarcely mentioned in the election campaign, and climate change dominated as the single most important issue. | But these issues were scarcely mentioned in the election campaign, and climate change dominated as the single most important issue. |
| All year, climate strikes have been taking place in the country, culminating in a huge rally in Bern in September that drew 100,000 people. | All year, climate strikes have been taking place in the country, culminating in a huge rally in Bern in September that drew 100,000 people. |
| The Swiss have only to look up to see the effects of climate change: the Alpine glaciers are melting, and rock and mud slides are threatening mountain communities, our correspondent says. | The Swiss have only to look up to see the effects of climate change: the Alpine glaciers are melting, and rock and mud slides are threatening mountain communities, our correspondent says. |
| But the election campaign was about more than just a rise in support for green parties. | But the election campaign was about more than just a rise in support for green parties. |
| A record 40% of candidates for the national council were women (as were more than a third of those standing for the second house, the chamber of states). | A record 40% of candidates for the national council were women (as were more than a third of those standing for the second house, the chamber of states). |
| In June this year, hundreds of thousands of women across Switzerland took to the streets to call for equal pay and conditions, and an end to discrimination. | In June this year, hundreds of thousands of women across Switzerland took to the streets to call for equal pay and conditions, and an end to discrimination. |