Current:Home > InvestSwiss elect their parliament on Sunday with worries about environment and migration high in minds-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Swiss elect their parliament on Sunday with worries about environment and migration high in minds
View Date:2024-12-23 21:13:18
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss voters this weekend elect a parliament that could reshape Switzerland’s executive branch at a time when key concerns include migration, rising healthcare costs and climate change, which has shrunk the country’s Alpine glaciers.
Final ballots will be collected Sunday morning after the vast majority of Swiss made their choices by mail-in voting. Up for grabs are both houses of parliament.
The main stakes, if pollsters turn out to be right, are whether two Green parties fare worse than they did in the last election in 2019, and whether the country’s centrist party might land more seats in parliament’s lower house than the free-market party — boosting their position in the executive branch.
Polls suggest that the Swiss have three main preoccupations in mind: Rising fees for the obligatory, free market-based health insurance system; climate change, which has eroded Switzerland’s numerous glaciers; and worries about migrants and immigration.
The vote could be a bellwether about how another set of Europeans is thinking about right-wing populist politics and the need to spend money and resources to fight global warming at a time of rising inflation that has pinched many pocketbooks — even in well-to-do Switzerland.
The vote for the legislature, which happens every four years, will ultimately shape the future composition of the Alpine country’s executive branch: The Federal Council — which includes President Alain Berset, who has decided to leave government at year-end.
The Swiss president is essentially “first among equals” in the seven-member council, who each hold portfolios as government ministers and take turns each year holding the top job – which is essentially a ceremonial one to represent Switzerland abroad.
Berset, a Socialist, will be succeeded next year by centrist Viola Amherd. The four biggest parties are represented on the council, and they are the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, the Socialists, the free-market Liberals — each with two seats — and the Center party, with one.
Once chosen by parliament, council members — known colloquially as “department chiefs” — can stay in office for life, or as long as they want.
So the council’s composition rarely changes a lot: Berset’s departure means his seat will be up for grabs among his Socialist siblings.
And if the Center party outscores the free-market Liberals, they could swipe one of the Liberals’ two seats on the council.
The two-two-two-one balance of seats in the Federal Council is known as Switzerland’s “magic formula” — which is aimed to dilute the prospects that individual personalities get too much power, and to ensure balance in the way government is run.
Add to that Switzerland’s direct democracy, by which voters go to the polls — usually four times a year — to vote on any number of policy decisions. Those referendum results require parliament to respond.
More broadly, Switzerland has found itself straddling two core elements to its psyche: Western democratic principles like those in the European Union – which Switzerland has refused to join — and its much vaunted “neutrality” in world affairs.
A long-running and intractable standoff over more than 100 bilateral Swiss-EU agreements on issues like police cooperation, trade, tax and farm policy, has soured relations between Brussels and Bern - key trading partners.
The Swiss did line up with the EU in slapping sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. The Federal Council is considering whether to join the EU and the United States in labeling Hamas a terror organization. Switzerland has joined the United Nations in labeling Al-Qaida and ISIS as terrorists.
Switzerland, with only about 8.5 million people, ranks 20th in world economic output, according to the IMF, and it’s the global hub of wealth management: where the world’s rich park much of their money, to benefit from low taxes and a discreet environment.
veryGood! (25735)
Related
- Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia Explains Why She’s Not Removing Tattoo of Ex Zach Bryan’s Lyrics
- Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Starting a Family With Wife Alba Baptista
- November 2024 full moon this week is a super moon and the beaver moon
- Mike Tyson impresses crowd during workout ahead of Jake Paul fight
- Why was Jalen Ramsey traded? Dolphins CB facing former team on 'Monday Night Football'
- The Best Gifts for People Who Don’t Want Anything
- Ex-Duke star Kyle Singler draws concern from basketball world over cryptic Instagram post
- TikToker Campbell “Pookie” Puckett Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Jett Puckett
- Jack Del Rio leaving Wisconsin’s staff after arrest on charge of operating vehicle while intoxicated
- Rare Alo Yoga Flash Sale: Don’t Miss 60% Off Deals With Styles as Low as $5
Ranking
- California voters reject measure that would have banned forced prison labor
- Denzel Washington Will Star in Black Panther 3 Before Retirement
- Residents urged to shelter in place after apparent explosion at Louisville business
- Why Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams May Be Rejoining the George R.R. Martin Universe
- Bo the police K-9, who located child taken at knifepoint, wins Hero Dog Awards 2024
- Opinion: Chris Wallace leaves CNN to go 'where the action' is. Why it matters
- Target will be closed on Thanksgiving: Here’s when stores open on Black Friday
- Monument erected in Tulsa for victims of 1921 Race Massacre
Recommendation
-
Beyoncé has released lots of new products. Here's a Beyhive gift guide for the holidays
-
Hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field can be fixed for about $55M in time for 2026 season, per report
-
Roster limits in college small sports put athletes on chopping block while coaches look for answers
-
Powerball winning numbers for November 11 drawing: Jackpot hits $103 million
-
Atmospheric river to bring heavy snow, rain to Northwest this week
-
Britney Spears reunites with son Jayden, 18, after kids moved in with dad Kevin Federline
-
As CFP rankings punish SEC teams, do we smell bias against this proud and mighty league?
-
'Underbanked' households more likely to own crypto, FDIC report says