Story perspectives

Parliamentary Group Votes on SVP’s Guy Parmelin Seat List

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 12:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

SVP has eight candidates—seven men and one woman—from German, French and Italian cantons for Guy Parmelin’s seat.
National Council members Thomas Aeschi, Michael Graber, Rémy Wyssmann and Céline Amaudruz are candidates.
Council of States member Marco Chiesa and cantonal councilors Jean-Pierre Gallati, Franz Ruppen, Pierre Alain Schnegg also run.
Parliamentary group will vote on the list on November 20, 2026, with Caspar Baader chairing hearings.

History

Historical Context

Swiss women gained federal suffrage in 1971, yet the Federal Council stayed all-male until Elisabeth Kopp entered in 1984. In March 1993 the Social Democratic Party nominated Ruth Dreifuss and Christiane Brunner; Dreifuss won on the third ballot with 144 votes, becoming the SP’s first female councillor and the first Jewish member. Since then each council has included a woman, so the 2026 vote tests legacy.

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Story summary

SVP has eight candidates—seven men and one woman—from German, French and Italian cantons for Guy Parmelin’s seat.
National Council members Thomas Aeschi, Michael Graber, Rémy Wyssmann and Céline Amaudruz are candidates.
Council of States member Marco Chiesa and cantonal councilors Jean-Pierre Gallati, Franz Ruppen, Pierre Alain Schnegg also run.
Parliamentary group will vote on the list on November 20, 2026, with Caspar Baader chairing hearings.

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