Swiss Review 1/2019

Swiss Review / January 2019 / No.1 19 Politics JÜRG MÜLLER The Federal Council elections were ex- ceptional – and yet they were also characterised by normality and con- solidation. The elections were excep- tional in that, for the first time in his- tory, twowomenwere simultaneously elected to the national government. What is more, this occurred after just one round of voting. The election was marked by normality and consolida- tion in the sense that no intrigues took place and no surprise candidateswere proposed. In addition, nobody chal- lenged the entitlement to seats of the Christian Democrats (CVP) and The Liberals (FDP). In times of unstable government majorities throughout Europe, Switzerland has set an exam- ple of calm normality and stability. However, this does not mean that the Federal Council elections of 5 De- cember 2018 did not stir up any dust during the run-up. Following the res- ignations of Johann Schneider-Am- mann (FDP) andDoris Leuthard (CVP) in September (see “Swiss Review” of November 2018), the topic received a great deal of media attention. Karin Keller-Sutter fromSt. Gallen, member of the Council of States and former Cantonal Councillor, was the FDP’s undisputed top candidate right from the start. The CVP’s initial situation was less clear. It too faced calls for a fe- male candidate from the outset, but male candidates were also put for- ward. Two dual candidacies Since it has been customary for some time to present a selection of at least two candidates to the Federal Assem- bly, even the Liberals with their undis- puted top candidate saw themselves forced to put forward a dual candidacy. Hans Wicki, a member of the Council of States from Nidwalden, volun- teered. He did not have the slightest chance, but at least was able to en- hance his level of recognition. After in- ternal negotiations, the CVP finally decided to present the National Coun- cillor fromValais and formermayor of Brig-Glis, Viola Amherd, and the Can- tonal Councillor of Uri, Heidi Z’Grag- gen as their candidates. For a time the public debate saw the two women running neck-and-neck. Therefore it was a big surprise that Amherd won the first voting round with 148 votes, while Z’Graggen re- ceived just 60 votes. There were no major differences between the two candidates, but once again the old rule came into play whereby the Federal Assembly gives preference to individ- uals it knows from their work in par- liament. No one expected any sur- prises when it came to Keller-Sutter; she was also elected in the first voting round with 154 votes. Her competitor Wicki achieved 56 votes, a respectable result. Threefold normality The Federal Council elections demon- strate a consolidationof normality and stability in three ways. First of all, the right of women to adequate rep- resentation in the highest state au- thority has become universally ac- cepted across party lines. Secondly, peace has returned since the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has got its two seats in the Federal Council; spiteful debates about the “real”magic formula no longer play a role in Federal Coun- cil elections. And thirdly, the two newly elected Federal Councillors scarcely affect the politicalmechanics within the Council: the key political positions of the conservative-liberal Karin Keller-Sutter hardly differ from those of her predecessor Johann Sch- neider-Ammann. The same goes for Vi- ola Amherd who, like the outgoing Federal CouncillorDoris Leuthard, ad- dresses social-liberal issues as a classic centrist politician. Amherd is consid- ered to be economically liberal, while also socio-politically open, and is seen as belonging to the leftwing of theCVP. No landmark elections 5 December was definitely not a land- mark election. In fact, this already took place in September 2017. On that occa- sion, the conservative-liberal FDP pol- itician Ignazio Cassis replaced his re- signing party colleague Didier Burkhalter. Burkhalter, who is anopen- minded politician, was often able to balance thenominal right-wingmajor- Exceptional – yet normal In December 2018, two women were simultaneously elected to the Federal Council for the first time – and for the first time, a woman heads the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport. Yet these elections do not constitute a decisive turning point. Celebrations in Valais after the elec- tion of Viola Amherd. It was not yet known that she would be- come Switzerland’s first female defence minister. Photo: Keystone