Swiss General Elections 2011 (Elections to the Federal Council)

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Which one of these parties is the racist one again? and which ones have seats in that group of 7 people that run the country?

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

I went to wikipedia. CVP and SVP switched a seat a few years ago, before that it was decades of the same. In effect the government is a grand coalition, somewhat like they have in Northern Ireland, except in Switzerland, all the parties are actually keen on the idea.

Is any party strong with any ethnicity? IE has anyone been able to win more than their "share" of French, Italian, or Romansch voters?

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

I found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Switzerland_largest_parties_in_cantonal_parliaments.svg


If I understand it, Green is SVP, while the FDP is Blue, they are Liberal in the British sense? and Orance is CVP which is a Christian Democratic party, somewhat like Canada's Red Tories, IIUC.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

the left parties do very well in the French areas, but the Greens seem to have eaten into the vote of the Socialists. Perhaps that's why they are not ahead

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

what the hell is the "Green liberal party" ?

Seems very similar to the Green Party of Ontario (which I support) which is Eco-Capitalist, as opposed to Eco-Socialist, which most Euro-Greens seem to be.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

For those who want to see how the Swiss parties fared in cantonal elections (and to my surprise such people exist ), wikipedia offers a neat overview. It's in German, but if you know what the abbrevations stand for you will be able to interpret the figures.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kantonsparlament#Neuenburg

This is exactly what I was looking for! Let me turn it into a table and post it here.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Canton Names:
Blue text means it is French speaking, red German, green Italian. Purple is bi-lingual French and German. Grey is multi-lingual including Romanch.
Orange background means Protestant, Green is Catholic, and Blue is mixed.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

SVP is at half strength in French areas (incl bi-lingual)
SP and CVP are both 1/3rd stronger in French areas
GP is double strength in areas that are French only
FDP is 1/3rd stronger in French areas
SVP is at 1/4th strength in Italian areas

GP are at half strength in Catholic areas
SP is at 2/3rd strength in Catholic areas
CVP is at 1/3rd strength in Protestant areas
CVP is at 15% strength areas that are Protestant only

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Is any party strong with any ethnicity? IE has anyone been able to win more than their "share" of French, Italian, or Romansch voters?

Well Teddy, the SVP does best with German voters, but they still do well enough among the French to be a truly "National" party. Italian regions are a bit more difficult where voters tend to vote for smaller SVP-like Parties, that have a tendency to work with the SVP.

The CVP is a Catholic party, and does poorly in Protestant areas.

The Greens do well in both French areas and Protestant areas; in the French-Protestant canton they are tied for second!

There are a few other peaks and dips in support, but these are the only ones that seem truly notable.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

I don't regard the SVP as a xenophobic party.

Okay, give me your best argument
 

The party's main goal when it comes to policy on foreigners is, roughly, the reduction of the number of immigrants, a more severe punishment of foreign criminals and/or their expulsion.

Uh. If I added them fancy dictionary symbols, this could be a textbook definition of Xenophobia.

Given that more than 20% of the Swiss populace are foreigners, and foreigners account for more than the half of crimes committed in the country, these views are completely justifiable in my opinion.

Justifiable does not equal non-xenophobic.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Pagebreak!

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

+ and - from the last election right? What kind of seat count would this be

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Seat projection (National Council):

SVP: 55 (-2)
SPS: 44 (+1)
FDP: 31 (-4)
CVP: 28 (-3)
GPS: 13 (-7)
BDP: 8 (+3)
GLP: 12 (+9)

a disaster for the Green Party.

http://www.sf.tv/

So if I understand it...

55 Nationalist Conservatives
44 Socialists
31 Liberals
28 Christian Democrats
13 Greens
8 Moderate Conservatives
12 Eco-Capitalist / Blue Greens

As an Eco-Capitalist / Blue Green I consider this a good result!

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Also, what are the chances that they'll offer 1 seat to each party?

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

54 - SVP - G - Right-wing Conservative
45 - SPS - G - Socialism and Social Democracy
30 - FDP - G - Liberal
38 - CVP - G - Christian Democratic
15 - GPS - X - Left-wing Green
12 - GLP - X - Right-wing Green
9 - BDP - g - Moderate Conservative
2 - EVP - Social Conservative
2 - LdT - Regionalist and Right-Wing
1 - PdA - Communist
1 - CSP - Christian Left
1 - MCG - Regionalist and Right-Wing



G = Part of the "four parties" that "make up the 'government' of Switzerland"
g = Holds a seat in the 7 member "government" council but is not "entitled" to one based on the "Magic formula"
X = Traditionally an "Opposition" party