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Will the surge of the Greens actually have an impact on Swiss politics?

For the first time, the Green Party could get a seat in the seven-seat Federal Council, the coalition that governs Switzerland. But how will this change Swiss politics?

Published: 21 October 2019 10:35 CEST
Will the surge of the Greens actually have an impact on Swiss politics?
Members of the Green Party react to the election results. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

With this historic win of 17 new seats, the Green Party, traditionally an underdog of Swiss politics, now has 28 seats in the Federal Assembly, slightly edging out the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) and the leftist Social Democrats. 

A smaller environmental party, Liberal Greens, scored nine additional seats, for a total of 16.

However, the SVP, which has 53 seats, still retains its top position in the Federal Assembly.

The surge in the popularity of the Green Party indicates the shift in voters' priorities from issues such as immigration and asylum, which were major concerns in the 2015 elections, to climate change and other environmental issues.

It also reflects a trend of Green victories sweeping parliaments of other European nations this year. 

Now the question is, will the rise of the Greens have any significant impact on Swiss politics?

According to political scientist Andreas Ladner, there is no outright winner in Swiss elections because no single political party is allowed to wield too much unilateral power.

“If you want to understand the Swiss system you have to know this culture. We are a small country. We don't like strong leaders. It is more important to integrate everybody into government, into political responsibilities,” he told BBC.

Under Switzerland's unique political system, the election decides the 200 lower house lawmakers and 46 senators elected to four-year terms, but the make-up of the executive Federal Council will not be decided until December. 

The country's so-called “magic formula” sees the council's seven cabinet positions divided among the four leading parties. The presidency rotates each year.

The system is based on compromise and collegiality among all parties, meaning that politicians must work together for common good rather than create dissension and conflict.

Also, the always-present threat of a referendum – which allows Swiss voters to approve or reject a proposed or existing legislation – creates a high degree of consensus among lawmakers of different political persuasions.

So, while the Greens will have more of a voice in the parliament for the next four years, the final say in all matters will still belong to the Swiss voters.

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POLITICS

Vital Swiss role as US-Iran go-between, as tensions soar

Washington and Tehran have not had diplomatic relations for decades, but before Iran's attack on Israel they had direct communications through "the Swiss channel".

Published: 15 April 2024 23:19 CEST
Vital Swiss role as US-Iran go-between, as tensions soar

Switzerland represents US interests in Iran, and at times of soaring tensions its role as go- between takes on heightened importance.

The Swiss foreign ministry refused Monday to divulge what actions the country had taken in connection with Iran’s weekend attack on Israel.

But US and Iranian officials alluded to the important role Switzerland was playing as an intermediary.

As Washington engaged in whirlwind efforts prior to the attack to prepare for the expected violence, it sent “a series of direct communications through the Swiss channel”, a senior administration official told AFP.

Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian armed forces’ chief of staff, was more explicit, telling state television that “we sent a message to America through the Swiss embassy that if it cooperates with Israel in their next potential actions, their bases will not be secure”.

 Maintaining relations 

Switzerland, renowned for its neutrality, has been representing US interests in Iran since Washington broke off relations with Tehran after the 1980 hostage crisis, a year after the Iranian revolution.

In its role as the so-called protecting power, Switzerland has for decades allowed the two feuding nations to maintain a minimum of diplomatic and consular relations.

The Swiss embassy in Tehran handles all consular affairs between the United States and Iran, including passport requests, altering civil status and consular protection for US citizens in Iran.

Under the protecting power mandate, Switzerland allows “states to maintain low-level relations and provide consular protection to nationals of the other state concerned”, the foreign ministry explains on its website.

“Switzerland can either offer to act as a go-between on its own initiative or can fulfil this function at the request of the parties concerned, provided that all those involved agree,” it added.

Switzerland has often had to play the go-between role.

The country has on several occasions in recent years mediated in prisoner exchanges between Iran and the United States.

Iran’s interests in the United States are meanwhile represented by Pakistan.

Switzerland also exercises a range of other protecting power mandates.

It represents Iran’s interests in Egypt and Canada.

And it represented Iran’s interests in Saudi Arabia for five years before the two countries resumed diplomatic relations last year.

Saudi has not yet formally terminated Switzerland’s protecting power mandate, so Bern still handles its consular services in Iran.

And until 2015, it represented US interests in Cuba and Cuban interests in the United States.

Switzerland first acted as a protecting power in the 19th century. It looked after the interests of the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Grand Duchy of Baden in France during the 1870-71 Franco- Prussian War.

During World War II, Switzerland’s neutral status paved the way for it to be the main protecting power, representing the interests of 35 states, including the major warring powers, with more than 200 individual mandates.

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