Switzerland: Opinion poll by Sotomo on 11/11/2024

The Swiss Parliament, known as the Federal Assembly, consists of two chambers: the National Council (200 seats) and the Council of States (46 seats). The National Council is elected using proportional representation within the cantons, while the Council of States is generally elected through a majority system. A unique feature is the ability for voters to "panachage" and "cumulate": voters can mix candidates from different party lists or vote twice for a single candidate. This provides citizens with significant influence over the individual composition of parliament.

Switzerland does not have an explicit national electoral threshold, such as the 5% hurdle found in other countries. Instead, an implicit threshold (natural quorum) exists based on the number of seats allocated to each canton. In smaller cantons with only one or two seats, a very high percentage of votes is required to win a mandate, whereas in larger cantons like Zurich, a relatively small share of the vote can be sufficient to secure representation in the National Council.

Government formation in Switzerland follows a unique model of consensus rather than a traditional coalition vs. opposition dynamic. The Federal Council (the executive branch) consists of seven equal members elected by the Federal Assembly. For decades, its composition has been guided by the "magic formula," which ensures that the largest political parties are proportionally represented. This system of concordance aims to reach political solutions through broad consensus and stability rather than fluctuating majority coalitions.

This overview shows all parties that, based on current polling, have a realistic chance of entering parliament in Switzerland or significantly shape the political debate. Classifying their political orientation is essential for understanding bloc formation and the mathematically possible majorities in the next parliament.