Populist Right set to sweep Swiss polls

BERN: Right-wing populists looked set to sweep Switzerland’s general election as the votes were being counted Sunday following a campaign fuelled by anti-mass migration rhetoric and pledges to combat “woke madness”. The polling stations closed at noon (1000 GMT), the vast majority of Swiss voters having posted in their ballots over the past four weeks.

“It was too late to send it by post but given that it's important, I told myself I would still come today,” voter Melanie Salamin told AFP at a polling station in the capital Bern.

“It’s our chance and then we can’t complain, we mustn’t wail: we are asked for our opinion and so we give it.”


The wealthy European country of 8.8 million people voted for all 200 seats in the National Council lower house of parliament and all 46 in the Council of States upper chamber.

A first results projection, giving percentages only, is expected at around 4 pm (1400 GMT), with a seat projection two hours later. Muriel Meister went to her local polling station in Bern in person.

“I told myself that it sets a good example for the children and that it was more tangible than sending an envelope in the mail,” she told AFP. The Council of States, which represents the cantons that make up Switzerland, is dominated by the centre-right party The Centre, and the right-wing party called FDP.