All Switzerland elections

2003 Swiss Federal Election

The formula breaks

19 October 2003 · The SVP era · 200 seats, 24 for a majority

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 19 October 2003. Although in Switzerland's political system, in which all four major parties form a coalition, it is very difficult to achieve a change of government, this election produced an upset with the strong showing of the right-wing, anti-European Union and anti-immigration Swiss People's Party.

Federal Council before

Federal Council (continued)

Largest force

Swiss People's Party

55 of 200 seats

Turnout

45.2%

The result

Share of the National Council
Swiss People's Party55+11
560,75026.7%
Social Democratic Party52+1
490,38523.3%
Free Democratic Party36+7
364,49317.3%
Christian Democratic People's Party28+7
301,65214.3%
Green Party13+5
156,2267.4%
Liberal Party4+2
45,8642.2%
Evangelical People's Party30
47,8382.3%
Federal Democratic Union2+1
26,5901.3%

7 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.