Parmelin tops popularity ranking as Keller-Sutter remains most influential

Guy Parmelin is the most popular member of Switzerland’s Federal Council, while Karin Keller-Sutter is still seen as its most influential, according to an SRG election barometer reported by SRF. The survey was conducted by the Sotomo research institute.

More than 60 percent of respondents described Parmelin, the economy minister, as likeable, putting him first in the popularity ranking for the first time. He also made the biggest gain in the influence ranking, rising 25 percentage points from the previous year. The survey was conducted before he announced that he would leave office at the end of 2026.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents named finance minister Keller-Sutter among the government members with the most influence. Although her score fell by 13 percentage points, she retained a clear lead. She also rose to third place in the popularity ranking. Recently, the Council of States backed her proposed new capital requirements for UBS.

Environment, transport and energy minister Albert Rösti ranked second for influence, but his popularity declined. Respondents were now about as likely to describe him as likeable as unlikeable. Justice minister Beat Jans remained among those seen as having little influence and fell from second to fourth place in the popularity ranking. His score was similar to Rösti’s; Jans has recently been at the centre of political debate over asylum policy.

Defence minister Martin Pfister was still not widely viewed as influential, though his score rose by four percentage points. He ranked second for popularity. Foreign minister Ignazio Cassis placed near the bottom for influence and last for popularity, despite a slight improvement. SRF said public criticism of the government’s foreign policy towards several countries may have contributed to his low popularity. Interior minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider again ranked last for perceived influence.

The survey also found that more than half of respondents had relatively high trust in several political institutions. The Council of States, the chamber representing the cantons, received the highest level of trust at 58 percent, followed by municipal executives at 55 percent and the Federal Council at 54 percent. Trust was 51 percent for cantonal governments and 49 percent for the National Council.