2003 Swiss federal election
# 2003 Swiss federal election

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 19 October 2003. Although in Switzerland's political system, in which all four major parties form a coalition, it is very difficult to achieve a change of government, this election produced an upset with the strong showing of the right-wing, anti-European Union and anti-immigration Swiss People's Party. The left-wing parties, the Social Democrats and the Greens, also improved their positions. The losers were the parties of the centre and centre-right, the Christian Democratic People's Party and the Free Democratic Party.

In the aftermath of the elections Ruth Metzler-Arnold, one of the two Christian Democrats in the Federal Council was replaced by Christoph Blocher, the most influential politician in the Swiss People's Party.

## Electoral system

Switzerland has a bicameral legislature, the Federal Assembly (Assemblée Fédérale / Bundesversammlung / Asamblea Federale / Assemblea Federala).

* The National Council (Conseil National / Nationalrat / Consiglio Nazionale / Cussegl Naziunal) has 200 members, elected for four-year terms by proportional representation in multi-member constituencies corresponding to the 26 Swiss cantons and half-cantons.
* The Council of States (Conseil des Etats / Ständerat / Consiglio degli Stati / Cussegl dals Stadis) has 46 members elected for four-year terms from multi-member and single-member constituencies.

These elections were to the National Council and for most of the members of the Council of States.

All parties in Switzerland have different names in French, German and Italian, and conduct separate campaigns in the different language areas.

## Results

### National Council

| | Swiss People's Party | 560,750 | 26.68 | 55 | +11 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Democratic Party | 490,385 | 23.33 | 52 | +1 |
| | Free Democratic Party | 364,493 | 17.34 | 36 | –7 |
| | Christian Democratic People's Party | 301,652 | 14.35 | 28 | –7 |
| | Green Party | 156,226 | 7.43 | 13 | +5 |
| | Evangelical People's Party | 47,838 | 2.28 | 3 | 0 |
| | Liberal Party | 45,864 | 2.18 | 4 | –2 |
| | Federal Democratic Union | 26,590 | 1.26 | 2 | +1 |
| | Swiss Democrats | 20,177 | 0.96 | 1 | 0 |
| | Swiss Party of Labour | 14,595 | 0.69 | 2 | 0 |
| | Feminist and Green Alternative Groups | 11,153 | 0.53 | 1 | 0 |
| | Solidarity | 10,562 | 0.50 | 1 | 0 |
| | Christian Social Party | 7,539 | 0.36 | 1 | 0 |
| | Ticino League | 7,304 | 0.35 | 1 | –1 |
| | Freedom Party | 4,000 | 0.19 | 0 | 0 |
| | Other parties | 32,913 | 1.57 | 0 | – |
| Total | Total | 2,102,041 | 100.00 | 200 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,102,041 | 97.23 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 59,880 | 2.77 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,161,921 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 4,779,733 | 45.23 | | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver ||||||

**By constituency**

| Constituency | Seats | Electorate | Turnout | Party | Votes | Seats won |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Swiss People's Party | 778,770 | 6 |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Social Democratic Party | 474,727 | 3 |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 348,639 | 2 |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Free Democratic Party | 342,629 | 2 |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Green Party | 133,202 | 1 |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Evangelical People's Party | 116,864 | 1 |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Swiss Democrats | 32,175 | 0 |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Freedom Party | 5,070 | 0 |
| Aargau | 15 | 363,920 | 153,832 | Swiss Nationalist Party | 2,867 | 0 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1 | 36,047 | 17,789 | Free Democratic Party | 7,161 | 1 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1 | 36,047 | 17,789 | Swiss People's Party | 6,680 | 0 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1 | 36,047 | 17,789 | Social Democratic Party | 3,468 | 0 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1 | 36,047 | 17,789 | Others | 131 | 0 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 | 10,228 | 3,595 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 2,310 | 1 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 | 10,228 | 3,595 | Swiss People's Party | 725 | 0 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 | 10,228 | 3,595 | Others | 300 | 0 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Swiss People's Party | 144,624 | 2 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Social Democratic Party | 134,620 | 2 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Free Democratic Party | 108,566 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Green Party | 68,652 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 54,769 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Swiss Democrats | 14,707 | 0 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Evangelical People's Party | 14,554 | 0 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Non-Partisan 4Wb | 4,332 | 0 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 179,186 | 79,248 | Freedom Party | 1,107 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Social Democratic Party | 115,492 | 3 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Swiss People's Party | 52,574 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Free Democratic Party | 27,975 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Liberal Party | 23,873 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 18,612 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Green Party | 16,122 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Strong Alternative Basel | 9,893 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Evangelical People's Party | 8,080 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | People's Action | 4,425 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Swiss Democrats | 3,122 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 5 | 116,361 | 57,735 | Federal Democratic Union | 2,086 | 0 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Swiss People's Party | 2,180,961 | 8 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Social Democratic Party | 2,058,317 | 8 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Free Democratic Party | 1,089,897 | 4 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Green Party | 683,025 | 2 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Evangelical People's Party | 379,099 | 1 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Federal Democratic Union | 301,886 | 1 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Swiss Democrats | 196,458 | 1 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 172,639 | 1 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Romand List | 143,558 | 0 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Freedom Party | 77,436 | 0 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Independent Health Party | 64,081 | 0 |
| Bern | 26 | 685,159 | 288,679 | Action Jörg Stettler | 16,254 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 128,063 | 2 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Social Democratic Party | 108,437 | 2 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Swiss People's Party | 107,958 | 1 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Free Democratic Party | 64,369 | 1 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Christian Social Party | 52,766 | 1 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Green Party | 20,305 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Free List - Solidarity | 11,158 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Federal Democratic Union | 3,625 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Evangelical People's Party | 3,614 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Independent Movement | 2,644 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 164,210 | 74,547 | Direct Access | 1,694 | 0 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Social Democratic Party | 268,703 | 3 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Swiss People's Party | 198,586 | 2 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Liberal Party | 182,517 | 2 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 128,317 | 1 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Green Party | 121,762 | 1 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Free Democratic Party | 79,030 | 1 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Solidarity | 58,903 | 1 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Party of Labour | 29,195 | 0 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | Union of Swiss Patriots | 10,735 | 0 |
| Geneva | 11 | 219,984 | 101,081 | The Communists | 7,506 | 0 |
| Glarus | 1 | 24,934 | 6,304 | Social Democratic Party | 3,811 | 1 |
| Glarus | 1 | 24,934 | 6,304 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 701 | 0 |
| Glarus | 1 | 24,934 | 6,304 | Swiss People's Party | 334 | 0 |
| Glarus | 1 | 24,934 | 6,304 | Others | 831 | 0 |
| Grisons | 5 | 129,782 | 50,766 | Swiss People's Party | 81,012 | 2 |
| Grisons | 5 | 129,782 | 50,766 | Social Democratic Party | 59,624 | 1 |
| Grisons | 5 | 129,782 | 50,766 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 56,295 | 1 |
| Grisons | 5 | 129,782 | 50,766 | Free Democratic Party | 37,849 | 1 |
| Grisons | 5 | 129,782 | 50,766 | Federal Democratic Union | 4,484 | 0 |
| Jura | 2 | 48,356 | 22,552 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 17,517 | 1 |
| Jura | 2 | 48,356 | 22,552 | Social Democratic Party | 15,186 | 1 |
| Jura | 2 | 48,356 | 22,552 | Free Democratic Party | 7,243 | 0 |
| Jura | 2 | 48,356 | 22,552 | Swiss People's Party | 3,675 | 0 |
| Jura | 2 | 48,356 | 22,552 | Federal Democratic Union | 787 | 0 |
| Lucerne | 10 | 237,537 | 120,970 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 345,791 | 3 |
| Lucerne | 10 | 237,537 | 120,970 | Swiss People's Party | 280,566 | 3 |
| Lucerne | 10 | 237,537 | 120,970 | Free Democratic Party | 271,153 | 2 |
| Lucerne | 10 | 237,537 | 120,970 | Social Democratic Party | 130,694 | 1 |
| Lucerne | 10 | 237,537 | 120,970 | Green Party | 115,076 | 1 |
| Lucerne | 10 | 237,537 | 120,970 | CHance21 | 18,352 | 0 |
| Lucerne | 10 | 237,537 | 120,970 | Evangelical People's Party | 9,505 | 0 |
| Lucerne | 10 | 237,537 | 120,970 | Swiss Democrats | 4,137 | 0 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 105,235 | 59,925 | Social Democratic Party | 74,551 | 2 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 105,235 | 59,925 | Swiss People's Party | 57,279 | 1 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 105,235 | 59,925 | Free Democratic Party | 37,800 | 1 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 105,235 | 59,925 | Liberal Party | 36,808 | 0 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 105,235 | 59,925 | Green Party | 35,247 | 1 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 105,235 | 59,925 | Party of Labour | 7,655 | 0 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 105,235 | 59,925 | Solidarity | 5,630 | 0 |
| Nidwalden | 1 | 28,266 | 11,136 | Free Democratic Party | 7,888 | 1 |
| Nidwalden | 1 | 28,266 | 11,136 | Swiss Democrats | 912 | 0 |
| Nidwalden | 1 | 28,266 | 11,136 | Others | 111 | 0 |
| Obwalden | 1 | 22,900 | 10,471 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 6,402 | 1 |
| Obwalden | 1 | 22,900 | 10,471 | Swiss People's Party | 3,238 | 0 |
| Obwalden | 1 | 22,900 | 10,471 | Others | 2 | 0 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 48,022 | 30,349 | Social Democratic Party | 23,054 | 1 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 48,022 | 30,349 | Free Democratic Party | 16,923 | 1 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 48,022 | 30,349 | Swiss People's Party | 16,565 | 0 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 48,022 | 30,349 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 1,540 | 0 |
| Schwyz | 4 | 89,902 | 43,338 | Swiss People's Party | 72,419 | 2 |
| Schwyz | 4 | 89,902 | 43,338 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 38,894 | 1 |
| Schwyz | 4 | 89,902 | 43,338 | Social Democratic Party | 29,134 | 1 |
| Schwyz | 4 | 89,902 | 43,338 | Free Democratic Party | 25,471 | 0 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 166,052 | 78,689 | Social Democratic Party | 136,667 | 2 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 166,052 | 78,689 | Free Democratic Party | 129,086 | 2 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 166,052 | 78,689 | Swiss People's Party | 120,967 | 2 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 166,052 | 78,689 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 113,193 | 1 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 166,052 | 78,689 | Green Party | 32,283 | 0 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 166,052 | 78,689 | Evangelical People's Party | 6,445 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Swiss People's Party | 486,421 | 4 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 326,104 | 3 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Social Democratic Party | 270,353 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Free Democratic Party | 215,599 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Green Party | 103,868 | 1 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Evangelical People's Party | 22,118 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Federal Democratic Union | 16,457 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Swiss Democrats | 11,165 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Catholic People's Party | 6,129 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Animal Welfare is Human Protection | 6,054 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | Brave and Innovative, One for All | 4,957 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 291,445 | 124,786 | The East Swiss Party | 1,405 | 0 |
| Ticino | 8 | 198,992 | 96,760 | Free Democratic Party | 218,619 | 2 |
| Ticino | 8 | 198,992 | 96,760 | Social Democratic Party | 189,427 | 2 |
| Ticino | 8 | 198,992 | 96,760 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 180,320 | 2 |
| Ticino | 8 | 198,992 | 96,760 | Ticino League | 58,428 | 1 |
| Ticino | 8 | 198,992 | 96,760 | Swiss People's Party | 55,652 | 0 |
| Ticino | 8 | 198,992 | 96,760 | Green Party | 21,765 | 0 |
| Ticino | 8 | 198,992 | 96,760 | Risorgimento ticinese | 9,552 | 0 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Swiss People's Party | 151,591 | 3 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 60,764 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Social Democratic Party | 52,080 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Free Democratic Party | 43,909 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Green Party | 29,282 | 0 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Swiss Democrats | 10,879 | 0 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Evangelical People's Party | 10,020 | 0 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Federal Democratic Union | 7,145 | 0 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Catholic People's Party | 2,557 | 0 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 146,431 | 62,771 | Freedom Party | 1,147 | 1 |
| Uri | 1 | 25,513 | 11,323 | Free Democratic Party | 3,964 | 1 |
| Uri | 1 | 25,513 | 11,323 | Swiss People's Party | 3,384 | 0 |
| Uri | 1 | 25,513 | 11,323 | Green Party | 3,312 | 0 |
| Uri | 1 | 25,513 | 11,323 | Others | 160 | 0 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Social Democratic Party | 604,820 | 4 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Swiss People's Party | 567,015 | 4 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Free Democratic Party | 515,592 | 4 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Green Party | 315,430 | 2 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Liberal Party | 308,437 | 2 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Party of Labour | 187,388 | 2 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 128,878 | 0 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Solidarity | 73,483 | 0 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Federal Democratic Union | 49,225 | 0 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Evangelical People's Party | 18,365 | 0 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Swiss Democrats | 9,675 | 0 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | Future + Security | 7,268 | 0 |
| Vaud | 18 | 373,917 | 172,119 | The Right to Know | 6,843 | 0 |
| Valais | 7 | 190,121 | 101,344 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 259,846 | 3 |
| Valais | 7 | 190,121 | 101,344 | Social Democratic Party | 128,428 | 2 |
| Valais | 7 | 190,121 | 101,344 | Free Democratic Party | 114,910 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 190,121 | 101,344 | Swiss People's Party | 89,834 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 190,121 | 101,344 | Christian Social Party | 62,382 | 0 |
| Valais | 7 | 190,121 | 101,344 | Green Party | 17,443 | 0 |
| Zug | 3 | 67,318 | 35,418 | Swiss People's Party | 28,715 | 1 |
| Zug | 3 | 67,318 | 35,418 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 23,730 | 1 |
| Zug | 3 | 67,318 | 35,418 | Free Democratic Party | 23,178 | 0 |
| Zug | 3 | 67,318 | 35,418 | Alternative Kanton Zug | 14,095 | 1 |
| Zug | 3 | 67,318 | 35,418 | Social Democratic Party | 13,929 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Swiss People's Party | 4,103,136 | 12 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Social Democratic Party | 3,153,112 | 10 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Free Democratic Party | 1,995,988 | 5 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Green Party | 1,040,672 | 3 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 667,236 | 2 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Evangelical People's Party | 504,952 | 1 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Alternative List | 266,063 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Federal Democratic Union | 253,322 | 1 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Free Forum | 112,781 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Swiss Democrats | 106,877 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Hanf Ueli | 23,731 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Youth in Parliament! | 19,287 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Europe Party | 12,184 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Freedom Party | 11,364 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Humanist Party | 9,730 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Die-Jugend.ch | 4,206 | 0 |
| Zürich | 34 | 810,622 | 365,859 | Danowski | 3,631 | 0 |
| Source: Bundesblatt, 18 November 2003 ||||||||

### Council of the States

| | Christian Democratic People's Party | 15 | 0 |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Free Democratic Party | 14 | –3 |
| | Social Democratic Party | 9 | +3 |
| | Swiss People's Party | 8 | +1 |
| Total | Total | 46 | 0 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver ||||
