Hard Right Party Wins Swiss Election

20/10/2003| IslamWeb

Christoph Blocher's right wing, anti-immigration, Swiss People's Party is set to become the country's dominant political force after parliamentary elections yesterday. The result reflects a lurch to the right in voter sentiment and could shift the balance of power in Switzerland. Blocher said it was an historic result and that no party had won such a large proportion of the vote for 70 years. He added that the SVP's rivals should now accede to its demand for a second cabinet seat under the country's traditional power-sharing coalition arrangement. According to predictions the SVP will end up with 27.7 per cent of the vote ahead of the Social Democrats. Both centrist parties came under pressure with the liberal Free Democrats at 16 per cent and the Christian Democrats at almost 13 per cent. Significantly the SVP made strong gains in the traditionally liberal and French-speaking west of the country. The outcome points to increasing concerns of rising unemployment and a falling standard of living. The SVP also reinforced Switzerland's isolation by campaigning against closer ties with EU neighbours. Official results are due today. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Zurich billionaire industrialist Christoph Blocher, Swiss People's Party leader, greets supporters in a Zurich restaurant. (AFP/Jean-Philippe Ksiazek)