Aeschi looks set for SVP ticket as Parmelin successor race narrows

Thomas Aeschi appears almost certain to secure a place on the Swiss People’s Party’s ticket to succeed Guy Parmelin, while the party still faces questions over its other candidates, SRF reports. The party’s parliamentary group will choose its official ticket in just over a week, with two or possibly three places available for eight contenders.

Political scientist Sean Müller said Aeschi was likely to be selected because his colleagues had elected him parliamentary group leader and kept him in the post. The party leadership reportedly favours him.

The other names in the race are Geneva National Council member Céline Amaudruz, Ticino Council of States member Marco Chiesa, Solothurn National Council member Rémy Wyssmann, Valais National Council member Michael Graber, Valais State Councillor Franz Ruppen, Bern government president Pierre Alain Schnegg and Aargau government member Jean-Pierre Gallati.

Müller said the SVP would need to give the Federal Assembly a genuine choice. Who else makes the ticket could significantly affect Aeschi’s chances of election, he said.

Amaudruz is considered the strongest candidate from French-speaking Switzerland. Chiesa’s cantonal party points to his experience as SVP president. Wyssmann, a lawyer and lecturer, is seen as a surprise candidate. Graber announced his ambitions shortly before the application deadline, while Ruppen entered the race after being proposed by Esther Friedli. Schnegg is from the Bernese Jura and speaks French and German.

Aeschi’s chances may have fallen after the election of Martin Pfister, who is also from Zug, according to the candidate information published by SRF.