SP reports highest party income as Swiss revenue falls

Swiss political parties took in slightly less money in 2025 than the previous year, with total revenue falling by CHF 1 million to CHF 24.6 million, SRF reported. The figures, compiled by the Swiss Federal Audit Office, include donations, membership fees and other income that parties must disclose each year.

The Social Democratic Party reported the highest income at CHF 7.9 million, followed by the FDP with CHF 4.8 million, the Swiss People’s Party with CHF 3.8 million and The Centre with CHF 2.7 million. Among the four parties represented in the Federal Council, the SP and FDP reported lower income than in the previous year, while the Swiss People’s Party and The Centre reported higher income.

The Greens reported CHF 1.8 million and the Green Liberal Party CHF 1.2 million. The EDU, EVP and Geneva Citizens’ Movement reported income below CHF 1 million.

Lega has not disclosed financing

The Lega has not yet disclosed its financing. The Federal Audit Office did not provide further information when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency.

Under the law, the authority must ask parties and other parties required to report for missing information and documents and set a deadline. If they fail to comply, the authority must report any offences identified during its review to the competent prosecution authority. Intentional violations of the law can result in a fine of up to CHF 40,000. Prosecution is handled by the cantons.

National parties must disclose donations

Since 2023, parties represented in the Swiss federal parliament have been required to disclose contributions and donations of at least CHF 15,000 per donor or legal entity per year to the Federal Audit Office. The register is published on the authority’s website and must show who provided each donation.

Parties must report membership and elected-office contributions, as well as income from events and services. Parliamentary group contributions are excluded. The disclosure requirement applies only to national parties, not cantonal or municipal sections.

The Federal Audit Office said the figures can vary significantly depending on how parties are organised. For example, membership fees paid to cantonal sections do not appear in the register. It said a party’s financing in a single calendar year therefore does not provide a complete picture of political financing.

Banks among major donors

UBS was among the companies and associations reporting contributions of at least CHF 15,000, mainly to centre-right parties. The bank gave CHF 417,000 to the Swiss People’s Party, CHF 284,000 to The Centre and CHF 85,000 to the Green Liberal Party. The SP, FDP and Greens reported no contribution from UBS.

All parties except the Green Liberal Party reported contributions from Raiffeisen. The highest amount was reported by The Centre, at around CHF 58,000, while the Greens reported CHF 22,167.

The SP reported the highest membership contributions, at CHF 2.2 million, followed by the EVP with CHF 500,000 and the Greens with CHF 400,000. The SP also reported the highest contributions from elected officials, at CHF 500,000, slightly ahead of the Swiss People’s Party and the Greens, which each reported around CHF 400,000. The Centre reported CHF 200,000.

The Federal Audit Office said these amounts depend not only on the number of members and elected officials but also on parties’ internal rules. Contributions from elected officials are also paid by judges to their parties.

Audit finds two EDU corrections

The Federal Audit Office said it conducted random checks of submissions from the SP, FDP, Greens and EDU, covering CHF 15.5 million in total. It found no issues with the first three parties.

It required two corrections from the EDU: the party had accepted nine donations from abroad totalling CHF 505 and had initially failed to include donations worth CHF 62,324 made through an online donation tool.

The Council of States was unable to decide on a motion to ban donations from systemically important banks after it was withdrawn. The National Council had rejected the proposal in March 2025.