Swiss election poll shows gains for parties at political extremes

Switzerland’s largest party, the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), and the left-wing Social Democratic Party (SP) are gaining support while centrist parties lose ground, according to an election poll published Friday. SRF reported the findings from the SRG election barometer, conducted by Sotomo, about a year before Switzerland’s federal elections.

The SVP recorded the biggest increase, while the SP gained one percentage point. SVP executive Manuel Strupler said the results showed voters were dissatisfied with asylum policy, bureaucracy and what he called submission to the European Union. SP co-president Mattea Meyer said her party was focusing on purchasing power, climate protection and equality.

The poll put the Liberal Democrats (FDP) down one percentage point and the Centre Party down 1.5 points. FDP co-president Benjamin Mühlemann warned against polarised political battles, while Centre Party president Philipp Matthias Bregy said his party was focused on constructive solutions. The Green Liberals (GLP) also lost support, although the drop was smaller than in the previous poll. GLP vice-president Patrick Hässig said the party stood for a strong Switzerland connected to Europe and for clean energy.

Green Party parliamentary group leader Greta Gysin said she expected the Greens to return to more than 10 per cent after the election. She also called for what she described as honest climate policy in the Federal Council, but said her party would not seek to challenge the governing parties in the upcoming replacement election for departing Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin.

Strupler praised Céline Amaudruz, the first official candidate mentioned in the race, and said fellow SVP politician Pascal Schmid would be suited to lead the Federal Department of Justice and Police if a reshuffle opened the post. Mühlemann criticised speculation that Social Democratic Federal Councillor Beat Jans could move to the economic affairs department. Bregy said he believed Defence Minister Martin Pfister might remain in his current department, while noting the decision was his and his six colleagues’ to make.