sistemi politik i zvicrës-the swiss political system (ligjerate nga seraina rugger)

7/28/2019 Sistemi Politik i Zvicrs-The Swiss Political System (ligjerate nga Seraina Rugger)

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Overview Introduction: Switzerland Federalism Direct Democracy Political Parties in Switzerland

The Swiss Political System

Seraina Ruegger1

May 23, 2013

[email protected] Ruegger

The Swiss Political System 1 / 2 8


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Overview

1. Introduction: Switzerland

2. Federalism

3. Direct Democracy

4. Political Parties in Switzerland

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Quelle: Eidgenssische Volkszhlung 1990, BFSSource: Recensement fdral de la population 1990, OFS Bundesamt fr Statistik / Office fdral de la statistique, ThemaKart, Neuchtel 2002 / K00.13

Thematische Karten Cartes thmatiquesBFSOFSUST

rtoromanischromanche

deutschallemand

d./a.

rtoromanischromanche

deutschallemand

r.

d./a.

d./a.

deutschallemand

SH

ZH

ZG

BS

LU

BE

TI

VD

FR

NE

GE

GR

SO

BL AG

AR AI

SZ

OW

SG

VS

JU

TG

NW

GL

UR

0 25 50 km

DeutschAllemand

Franzsisch

Franais

ItalienischItalien

RtoromanischRomanche

SprachregionenRgions linguistiques

Kantone und Sprachregionen der SchweizLes cantons et les rgions linguistiques de la Suisse

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Facts: Switzerland

. 4 regionally concentrated ethnic groups: German-speaking (65.6%)

French-speaking (22.8%), Italian-speaking (8.4%), Rumansh-speaking (0.6%)

. Population = 8 million, 20% foreigners

. GDPpc = $45417, average monthly salary = $5600

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Separation of Powers

. Executive branch: Federal Council 7 members (ministers), collective Head of State elected by National Assembly (legislative branch) President of the Confederation elected in rotation for 1-year

term, primus inter pares coalition of 4 major parties (2 SPS, 2 FDP, 2 SVP, 1 CVP)

Magic formula 2:2:2:1

informally consociational Constitutional convention: principle of collegiality

the Councillors are not supposed to publicly criticize oneanother, even against their own personal opinion or that oftheir political party

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The Swiss Federal Council

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O i I d i S i l d F d li Di D P li i l P i i S i l d


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Separation of Powers

. Legislative branch: Parliament

2 houses: National Council

200 members elected under proportional representation, depending on the

population of each canton

Council of States 46 representatives (2 from each canton and 1 from each

half-canton) majority vote

4 year terms

. Judicative branch

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O i I t d ti S it l d F d li Di t D P liti l P ti i S it l d


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Swiss Federalism

. Sub-national administrative units: 23 cantons, 6 half-cantons

. bottom-up

. Cantons have own political structures (executive, legislative,

judicative). Task sharing:

federal administration federal law, foreign policy, civil & criminal law, monetary

policy, army etc.

cantonal administration direct taxes, police, education, public health, welfare etc.

. 3 legal jurisdictional levels: commune, canton, federation

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The Swiss Cantons

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Direct Democracy

Civic rights at federal level:

. Referendum overturn parliamentary decision 50000 signatures against law within 100 days national vote with simple majority decision

. Constitutional Referendum parliament proposes a constitutional modification national vote with double majority decision (national majority

+ majority of cantonal votes)

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The Swiss Political System 10/28



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Direct Democracy

Civic rights at federal level:

. Initiative

constitutional amendment 100000 signatures for proposed amendment within 18 months parliament can suggest counter-proposal national vote with double majority decision (national majority

+ majority of cantonal votes)

183 initiatives since 1891, 20 successful

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Examples of recent Popular Initiatives

2002 UN-membership, yes 54,6% (1986: no 75,7%)

2009 Against the construction of minarets, yes 57.5%2012 6 weeks vacations, yes 33,5%

2013 Against rip-off salaries, yes 67.9%

9.6.2013 Direct election of Federal Council

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y

The Voting Process

. approximately 4 times per year (voting over referendums andinitiatives, elections)

. paper ballot polling booths over weekend, by mail (majority), via internet

(new) manually counted

. communal, cantonal and federal issues polled simultaneously

. voter turnout usually below 50%

Interesting:Federal level: womens suffrage since 1971Canton Appenzell-Innerrhoden: since 1990

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y

Special Case: Die Landsgemeinde

. Cantonal assembly in Glarus and Appenzell-Innerrhoden

. Gathering of all eligible citizens of the canton on a certain dayin the year in the open air

. Hand vote over constitutional amendments, laws and biggerexpenditures

Most simple form of direct democracy

. Critique:

no secret vote logistical problems no precise count of votes

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Special Case: Die Landsgemeinde

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Political Parties with seats in the National Assembly (2011)

Swiss PeoplesParty

SVP/UDC Right-wing Nationalconservatism

26.6% 54

Social DemocraticParty

SPS/PSS Left-wing Social democracy 18.7% 46

FDP.The Liberals FDP/PLR Centre-right Classical liberalism 15.1% 30

ChristianDemocraticPeoples Party

CVP/PDC Centre Christian democracy 12.3% 28

Green Party GPS/PES Left-wing Green politics 8.4% 15

ConservativeDemocratic Party

BDP/PBD Centre-right Conservatism /economic liberalism

5.4% 9

Green Liberal Party GLP/PVL Centre Green liberalism 5.4% 12

EvangelicalPeoples Party

EVP/PEV Centre Christian democracy 2.0% 2

Ticino League LdT Right-wing Regionalism /Right-wing populism

0.8% 2

Geneva CitizensMovement

MCG Right-wing Regionalism /Right-wing populism

0.4% 1

Christian SocialParty

CSP/PCS Left-wing Christian left 0.3% 1

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Social Democratic Party

. Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz / Parti socialistesuisse/ Partito Socialista Svizzero

. Founded: 1888

. President: Christian Levrat

. 18.7%

. 2 Federal Councillors (Alain Berset, Simonetta Sommaruga)

. Ideology: social-democratic strong state and public service against economic liberalization social progressivism environmental protection pacifism open foreign-policy, EU-membership




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FDP.The Liberals

. FDP.Die Liberalen / PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux / PLR.ILiberali

. Founded: 2009 (FDP 1894)

. President: Philipp Muller

. 15.1%

. 2 Federal Councillors (Didier Burkhalter, JohannSchneider-Ammann)

. Ideology: liberalism economic freedom low taxes civil liberties cooperation with the EU through bilateral treaties




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Christian Democratic Peoples Party

. Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz / Partidemocrate-chretien / Partito popolare democratico svizzero

. Founded: 1912

. President: Christophe Darbellay

. 12.3%

. 1 Federal Councillor (Doris Leuthard)

. Ideology: christian democratic social market economy social security (moderate) social conservatism




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Swiss Peoples Party

. Schweizerische Volkspartei / Union democratique du centre /Unione Democratica del Centro

. Founded: 1971

. President: Toni Brunner

. 26.6%

. 1 Federal Councillor (Ueli Maurer)

. Ideology: national conservative, right-wing populist conservative society, no welfare-state supply-side economics strict neutrality, euroscepticism opposition to immigration, stricter asylum laws no governmental measures for environmental protection strong role of Swiss army




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Conservative Democratic Party

. Burgerlich-Demokratische Partei Schweiz / Parti bourgeoisdemocratique Suisse / Partito borghese democratico Svizzera

. Founded: 2008

. President: Martin Landolt

. 5.4%

. 1 Federal Councillor (Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf)

. moderate splinter group from Swiss Peoples Party

. Ideology: conservative




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Swiss Parties on the Political Landscape



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Party Financing in Switzerland

. Difference to many other countries: No party financeregulations

. No federal law on private funding of parties and campaigns very intransparent

. Law on parliamentary resources support of members of federal councils and fractions: Sfr.

94500 per fraction + 17500 per member




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Party Financing in Switzerland

. According to their statutes parties use the following sources: memberfees donations earnings from the selling of products and services

contributions from the fraction contributions from parliamentarians and judges

. Many Swiss enterprises support political parties Usually without publishing the criteria 2012, bank Credit Suisse supported parties according to their

parliamentary mandates with 1m each 2012, bank UBS supports only economically liberal parties with

1m each




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Party Financing in Switzerland: Annual Budget of the

Swiss Peoples Party




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Party Financing in Switzerland: Annual Budget of the

Social Democratic Party of Zurich




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Questions?


sistemi politik i zvicrës-the swiss political system (ligjerate nga seraina rugger)

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