Thomas Matter withdraws from race to succeed Guy Parmelin
Friday 23rd October 2026 on 08:30 in
Switzerland
Swiss People’s Party (SVP) National Councillor Thomas Matter will not run to succeed Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, SRF reported.
The 60-year-old from Zurich told the party leadership he would not apply, citing the importance of the decision and the short deadline, according to the Zurich cantonal SVP.
Four other politicians have declared their candidacies: Céline Amaudruz of Geneva, Rémy Wyssmann of Solothurn, Pierre Alain Schnegg of Bern and Marco Chiesa of Ticino.
The SVP Upper Valais is due to provide information at 10 a.m. about possible candidacies by Michael Graber and Franz Ruppen. Ruppen was elected to the Valais cantonal government, and Graber took his place in the National Council.