Switzerland: Parties at a glance

Parties in comparison

Liberal

Socialist

Capitalist

Conservative

SVP SP FDP G CVP GLP BDP EVP

Explanation of the chart

The graph shows the economic orientation of the parties on the X-axis from left to right. The further left, the more actively the state should intervene via taxes, regulations and redistribution. The further to the right, the less the state should intervene.

On the Y-axis from top to bottom, the parties are categorized according to their life models. The further up a party, the more it prioritizes liberal lifestyles over traditional views and material goods. The further down, the more a party aligns itself with traditional lifestyles and sees the state as the moral authority for living together.

Data was collected through the 2019 Chapel Hill Expert Survey by more than 400 policy experts. Party positions may change over time. Therefore, the chart serves only as an overview and cannot make statements about specific political topics.

Ryan Bakker, Liesbet Hooghe, Seth Jolly, Gary Marks, Jonathan Polk, Jan Rovny, Marco Steenbergen, and Milada Anna Vachudova. 2020. “2019 Chapel Hill Expert Survey.” - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

SVP/UDC

Swiss People's Party

SVP/UDC (Schweizerische Volkspartei / Union démocratique du centre) is a right-wing party and currently represented in parliament with 53 MPs. The party advocates strict immigration policy, wants a strong nation-state, and advocates consistent crime fighting.

Compared to the last election, SVP/UDC scores an increase of +2.1 and comes in at 27.7%.

All information at a glance: SVP/UDC
Name	Schweizerische Volkspartei / Union démocratique du centre
Translation	Swiss People's Party
Political orientation	Right-wing
Current poll value	27.7 (+2.1 since last election )
Core topics	Strict immigration policy Strong nationalism Against multiculturalism Strict crime control

SP/PS

Social Democratic Party

SP/PS (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz / Parti socialiste suisse) is a center-left party that is currently represented in the parliament with 39 MPs. The party advocates liberal lifestyles, favors financial redistributions from rich to poor, and wants more government intervention in the economy.

In current polls, SP/PS is getting 17.3% of the vote - an increase of +0.5 since the last election.

All information at a glance: SP/PS
Name	Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz / Parti socialiste suisse
Translation	Social Democratic Party
Political orientation	Centre-left
Current poll value	17.3 (+0.5 since last election )
Core topics	Advocates liberal lifestyles Redistribution from rich to poor More government intervention in markets/economy More investment in public services

FDP/PLR

FDP. The liberals

FDP/PLR (FDP. Die Liberalen / PLR. Les Libéraux-Radicaux) is a liberal party that is currently represented in parliament with 29 seats. The party wants less government intervention in the economy, is against too much regulation of markets, and wants tax cuts.

Current polls have FDP/PLR coming in at 14.6% - a loss of -0.5 since the last election.

All information at a glance: FDP/PLR
Name	FDP. Die Liberalen / PLR. Les Libéraux-Radicaux
Translation	FDP. The liberals
Political orientation	Liberal politics
Current poll value	14.6 (-0.5 since last election )
Core topics	Less government intervention in markets/economy Less regulation of markets Tax cuts Against redistribution from rich to poor

G/LV

Green Party

G/LV (GRÜNE Schweiz / les VERTES) is a green party and currently represented in parliament with 28 MPs. The party advocates liberal lifestyles, wants more government intervention in the economy, and puts environmental protection above economic interests.

Current polls show G/LV at 10.7. That's a loss of -2.5 compared to the last election.

All information at a glance: G/LV
Name	GRÜNE Schweiz / les VERTES
Translation	Green Party
Political orientation	Environment & Climate
Current poll value	10.7 (-2.5 since last election )
Core topics	Advocates liberal lifestyles More government intervention in markets/economy Environmental protection more important than economic growth Redistribution from rich to poor

CVP/PDC

Christian Democratic People's Party

CVP/PDC (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz / Parti démocrate-chrétien) is a center-right party that is currently represented in the parliament with 25 MPs. The party favors the promotalization of political decisions, advocates consistent crime fighting, and wants a strong nation-state.

All information at a glance: CVP/PDC
Name	Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz / Parti démocrate-chrétien
Translation	Christian Democratic People's Party
Political orientation	Centre-right
Core topics	More promotionism Against multiculturalism Strict crime control Strong nationalism

GLP/PVL

Green Liberal Party

GLP/PVL (Grünliberale Partei Schweiz / Parti vert’libéral Suisse) is a liberal party that is currently represented in the parliament with 16 MPs. The party advocates liberal lifestyles, has a dream of an open world without borders, and puts environmental protection above economic interests.

In the current election trend, GLP/PVL comes in at 7.5%, losing -0.3 compared to the last election.

All information at a glance: GLP/PVL
Name	Grünliberale Partei Schweiz / Parti vert’libéral Suisse
Translation	Green Liberal Party
Political orientation	Liberal politics
Current poll value	7.5 (-0.3 since last election )
Core topics	Advocates liberal lifestyles Open world without borders Environmental protection more important than economic growth More civil liberties

BDP/PBD

Conservative Democratic Party

BDP/PBD (Bürgerlich-Demokratische Partei Schweiz / Parti bourgeois démocratique Suisse) is a center-right party that is currently represented in parliament with 3 seats. The party favors the promotalization of political decisions, advocates strict immigration policy, and advocates consistent crime fighting.

All information at a glance: BDP/PBD
Name	Bürgerlich-Demokratische Partei Schweiz / Parti bourgeois démocratique Suisse
Translation	Conservative Democratic Party
Political orientation	Centre-right
Core topics	More promotionism Against multiculturalism Strict immigration policy Strict crime control

EVP/PEV

Evangelical People's Party

EVP/PEV (Evangelische Volkspartei der Schweiz / Parti évangelique suisse) is a center-left party that is currently represented in parliament with 3 seats. The party favors traditional lifestyles, wants to invest more in public services, and wants more regulation of markets.

In the current election trend, EVP/PEV reaches 2.1% of the votes.

All information at a glance: EVP/PEV
Name	Evangelische Volkspartei der Schweiz / Parti évangelique suisse
Translation	Evangelical People's Party
Political orientation	Centre-left
Current poll value	2.1 (0 since last election )
Core topics	Prefers traditional lifestyles More investment in public services More regulation of markets More government intervention in markets/economy

PDA/PST

Swiss Party of Labour

PDA/PST (Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz / Parti suisse du Travail) is a left party that is currently represented in the parliament with 2 MPs.

All information at a glance: PDA/PST
Name	Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz / Parti suisse du Travail
Translation	Swiss Party of Labour
Political orientation	Left-wing

EDU/UDF

Federal Democratic Union / Union Démocratique Fédérale

EDU/UDF (Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union) is a right-wing party that is currently represented in the parliament with 1 MPs.

All information at a glance: EDU/UDF
Name	Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union
Translation	Federal Democratic Union / Union Démocratique Fédérale
Political orientation	Right-wing

LEGA

League of the Tessins

LEGA (Lega der Tessiner / Ligue des Tessinois) is a right-wing party and currently represented in parliament with 1 MPs.

All information at a glance: LEGA
Name	Lega der Tessiner / Ligue des Tessinois
Translation	League of the Tessins
Political orientation	Right-wing

DM/LC

The Center

DM/LC (Die Mitte / Le Centre) is a center-right party from Switzerland.

In current polls, DM/LC comes in at 14.7%. Compared to the election, that's an increase of +14.7.

All information at a glance: DM/LC
Name	Die Mitte / Le Centre
Translation	The Center
Political orientation	Centre-right
Current poll value	14.7 (+14.7 since last election )

Piratenpartei

Pirate Party Germany

Piratenpartei is a left party from Switzerland.

All information at a glance: Piratenpartei
Name	Piratenpartei
Translation	Pirate Party Germany
Political orientation	Left-wing