PolitPro

Switzerland EDU/UDF: Latest polls, election results and positions

Last Election
1.2 %
Election 2023 · 2 Seats
Advertisement Prefer ad-free? Get PolitPro+ now

Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union at a glance

Federal Democratic Union
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Conservative Eurosceptic Founded 1979

The Federal Democratic Union (EDU) is a socially conservative, Christian fundamentalist party in Switzerland. It sees itself as the political voice for citizens who wish to consistently align state action with biblical principles and a traditional family model.

Values and Ideology
The foundation of the EDU is a theocentric worldview. The party views the Bible not merely as a private guide but as a binding basis for civil society and legislation. This informs a view of humanity that emphasizes personal responsibility, yet is strictly embedded within divine creation orders. The stewardship of creation, the protection of unborn life, and the rejection of moral liberalization shape its understanding of nation and society. In this logic, the state's role is to protect Christian values and uphold the autonomy of the traditional family.

Political Priorities
The EDU's political agenda is centered on an unwavering Christian-ethical stance. Core demands include the fight against abortion and euthanasia, as well as the rejection of same-sex marriage. Economically, the party generally advocates for fiscally conservative positions, calling for tax cuts and a lean government, yet combines this with a strong focus on agriculture and national sovereignty. Its target audience comprises devout Christians of various denominations and conservative circles who oppose the creeping secularization of society and strictly reject EU accession and international integration.

Role in the Political System
Within the Swiss political system, the EDU operates as an ideological niche party with significant mobilization power on moral-ethical issues. Strategically, it makes extensive use of direct democratic instruments, particularly the popular referendum, to delay socio-political reforms or force fundamental debates. Although it cooperates with the SVP on specific issues, it maintains its independence by prioritizing religious tenets over purely pragmatic power politics. Its relationship with state institutions is shaped by the conviction that human law must be subordinate to divine law, which often places it in fundamental opposition to prevailing liberal trends.
Political Alignment
Conservative
Social
EDU
Market
Progressive
All Parties
Advertisement Prefer ad-free? Get PolitPro+ now

EDU/UDF: Key issues and ideological profile

EDU/UDF Other Parties
Advertisement
Main topics of EDU/UDF:: Society (Core Topic), Migration (Core Topic), Social Affairs (Minor Topic), Economy (Minor Topic), Environment (Minor Topic)

EDU/UDF: What does the party stand for? Positions compared

Position 2024

Economy & State

Should income and wealth be redistributed? Tends to reject stronger redistribution and emphasizes personal responsibility. Stance
How should the state manage its available budget? Tends towards austerity and debt reduction. Stance
Should the local economy be protected? Advocates clear priority for local economy and protectionism. Stance

Society & Values

What is more important: freedom or security? Advocates strong security measures, even at the cost of personal freedoms. Stance
Should the equality of women be promoted? Rejects state equality measures. Stance
Should LGBTQ+ equality be advanced? Clearly rejects state equality measures. Stance
Should same-sex marriage be allowed? Strictly rejects same-sex marriage. Stance
What role should religions play in politics? Wants strong religious influence on state decisions. Stance
Should policy focus on urban or rural areas? Prioritizes rural regions and their development. Stance

Environment & Globalization

What is more important: environmental protection or economy? Prioritizes economic growth over ecological goals. Stance
What is more important: climate protection or economy? Prioritizes economic growth over climate protection. Stance

Migration & Integration

How should immigration policy be regulated? Advocates strict immigration rules and limited immigration. Stance
How should immigrant integration be shaped? Desires a culturally homogeneous society with clear guiding cultures. Stance
Should ethnic minorities be granted more rights? Advocates legal equality without specific minority promotion. Stance
What role should nation-states play? Wants strong, independent nation-states with clear borders. Stance

Democracy & Institutions

How should power be distributed? Tends towards stronger leadership by individuals. Stance
How independent should the judiciary be? Emphasizes judicial independence with minimal oversight. Stance
How should the state be organized: centralized or federal? Supports decentralization with clear regional competencies. Stance
Positions of EDU/UDF: Should income and wealth be redistributed? Tends to reject stronger redistribution and emphasizes personal responsibility. How should the state manage its available budget? Tends towards austerity and debt reduction. Should the local economy be protected? Advocates clear priority for local economy and protectionism. What is more important: freedom or security? Advocates strong security measures, even at the cost of personal freedoms. Should the equality of women be promoted? Rejects state equality measures. Should LGBTQ+ equality be advanced? Clearly rejects state equality measures. Should same-sex marriage be allowed? Strictly rejects same-sex marriage. What role should religions play in politics? Wants strong religious influence on state decisions. Should policy focus on urban or rural areas? Prioritizes rural regions and their development. What is more important: environmental protection or economy? Prioritizes economic growth over ecological goals. What is more important: climate protection or economy? Prioritizes economic growth over climate protection. How should immigration policy be regulated? Advocates strict immigration rules and limited immigration. How should immigrant integration be shaped? Desires a culturally homogeneous society with clear guiding cultures. Should ethnic minorities be granted more rights? Advocates legal equality without specific minority promotion. What role should nation-states play? Wants strong, independent nation-states with clear borders. How should power be distributed? Tends towards stronger leadership by individuals. How independent should the judiciary be? Emphasizes judicial independence with minimal oversight. How should the state be organized: centralized or federal? Supports decentralization with clear regional competencies.
All Parties

EDU/UDF: Election results in Switzerland since 1945

2023 22 October 2023 Vote share 1.2 % +0.1 Seats 2 +1 2019 20 October 2019 Vote share 1.1 % -0.1 Seats 1 +1 2015 18 October 2015 Vote share 1.2 % -0.1 Seats 0 ±0 2011 23 October 2011 Best result Vote share 1.3 % ±0.0 Seats 0 -1 2007 21 October 2007 Best result Vote share 1.3 % ±0.0 Seats 1 -1 2003 19 October 2003 Best result Vote share 1.3 % ±0.0 Seats 2 +1 1999 24 October 1999 Best result Vote share 1.3 % ±0.0 Seats 1 ±0 1995 22 October 1995 Best result Vote share 1.3 % +0.3 Seats 1 ±0 1991 20 October 1991 Vote share 1.0 % +0.1 Seats 1 +1 1987 18 October 1987 Vote share 0.9 % +0.6 Seats 0 ±0 1979 21 October 1979 Worst result Vote share 0.3 % Seats 0
EDU/UDF: Election results in Switzerland since 1945 1979: 0.3 %, 1987: 0.9 %, 1991: 1.0 %, 1995: 1.3 %, 1999: 1.3 %, 2003: 1.3 %, 2007: 1.3 %, 2011: 1.3 %, 2015: 1.2 %, 2019: 1.1 %, 2023: 1.2 %

All elections since 1945 in which EDU/UDF participated. Click a row to see election details.

All Elections

EDU/UDF in government: the record since 1945

1947 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Today
Led government Involved in government Not in government
No government involvement to date

EDU/UDF has not been involved in any government since 1947.

All Elections

More from PolitPro

API & Data Access Access our data programmatically – for editorial teams, think tanks, and teams that need Election Trends directly in their workflow. Research Data Use our prepared datasets for research and teaching. App & Community Discuss current polls in a growing, respectful political community.

Data & Feedback

Political data changes daily. Noticed outdated info, a number, or a date? Write to us – preferably with a source, so we can quickly verify the change.

Report Correction Feedback Survey (1 Minute)

Support PolitPro

Your support protects PolitPro from the influence of lobby groups and parties.

Data Basis & Transparency

PolitPro

PolitPro combines scientific data and current poll values to make politics tangible for everyone. We use datasets from leading research projects and supplement them with our own research, analyses, and algorithms. This way, we make complex political contexts understandable and accessible to all. Supported by AI.

Advertisement Prefer ad-free? Get PolitPro+ now