Swiss Right-Wing Justice Minister Blocher not reelected

[Grisu]

Blocher ousted by Swiss parliament

Controversial Justice Minister Christoph Blocher has lost his seat in cabinet in a major political upset.
The two chambers of parliament, meeting to elect the seven-member government, chose Blocher's party colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf instead following last-minute horse-trading among the parties.
The joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate had been expected to confirm the seven members of the cabinet unchanged for the next four-year term.
The first four ministers were elected without incident but when it came to Blocher, the house was split. Blocher secured 111 votes, while 116 parliamentarians voted for wildcard candidate Widmer-Schlumpf. The majority was 120.
In a second round Widmer-Schlumpf garnered 125 votes out a possible 242, defeating the justice minister. She has yet to accept the nomination.

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I can't say that I'm unhappy with this, though I fear that the SVP might get some more symathy from it. But I do hope the Widmer accepts the seat

 

[mitsho]

It is kinda sad that a thing like this which is regarded as a might-be historical moment in Swiss History (because the Concordance could end, started 1950-something) is really neglected outside.

Guys, you don't understand. If (option a) the SVP choses to go into opposition, she could (perhaps!) block political life in Switzerland to a large extent, halting somethings completely and slow other things down even more! She might not succeed in doing that (option b) or she might back down (option c) and everything is as before and there will be a decrease of black sheeps. (that assumption might be over the top, but I would say it be the beginning of the end).

m

 

[Grisu]

yeah, I expect this to get much less interational press than the black sheep stuff, even though its implications for switzerland are much greater.

I doubt that they could block political life (they have, after all only 30% and much less in the small chamber), but they could through some sand into our gears for sure.
But I think electing another SVP representative (and not the green guy whose name I forgot) was a smart move. That way the SVP can't claim that the parliament is not doing the peoples' will since they are still represented in the federal council (if they still wish to be so), they just didn't elect the people the SVP wanted elected....there's too many Zürcher in the Bundesrat anyway

 

[skadistic]

How will this effect chocolate?

 

[I'm Cleo!]

Or watches?

Cleo

 

[mitsho]

a) The SVP can (could perhaps) influence via referendums. Oh sweet direct democracy. If they take one against everything the government decides, it takes 1-1 1/2 year for every decision. Now, they can't really do that, but they can to a large extent.

b) Chocolate and watches won't be much effected, but there is a bigger possibility of a more moderate climate in Switzerland and thus being more open to the EU and thus some changes on Chocolate and watches...

m

 

[Masquerouge]

It is kinda sad that a thing like this which is regarded as a might-be historical moment in Swiss History (because the Concordance could end, started 1950-something) is really neglected outside.

Guys, you don't understand. If (option a) the SVP choses to go into opposition, she could (perhaps!) block political life in Switzerland to a large extent, halting somethings completely and slow other things down even more! She might not succeed in doing that (option b) or she might back down (option c) and everything is as before and there will be a decrease of black sheeps. (that assumption might be over the top, but I would say it be the beginning of the end).

m

So Switzerland might pull a Belgium?

 

[mitsho]

It depends. You need around 100'000 signings for something to be voted on. (There are various types of these calls onto the people to vote so it varies). The question now is if the SVP is able to mobilize that number all the time [apart from inner-parliamentar opposition]! In a recent one, the SVP got the double amount so she really might. Tomorrow at 8 am, Miss Widmer-Schlumpf (her father was in the government as well once) will announce her decision. Following things might happen:

a) she accepts, and the SVP shuts her and BR Schmid (the other "old" SVP-member of the government) out of the party. This means opposition and nobody really can tell what will happen then.

b) she accpets, but the SVP doesn't shut her out (which is unlikely as they already kicked BR SChmid theoretically out as he already took his vow (he was reelected with a glorious result)).

c) she doesn't accept and a new election will take place where I) the middle-left elects a second CVP (Christian Social Democrat) to the BR (Schwaller) or II) BR Blocher (the right one) gets elected. (as it is clear that the SVP only accepts Blocher and the Middle-Left is too weak.

More tomorrow at 8 am.

m

 

[Grisu]

Personally, I hope she accepts. that way the SVP can't say that the strength of the SVP is not represented in the BR (well, they can and will, but their claim would be much weaker). If she declines and the federal assembly elects someone else (non-SVP), then they will have all the ammunition at their hands to paint themselves as victims yet again.

let's see

 

[Grisu]

Update:

Widmer-Schlumpf accepts, Smurfette mischief is now offically member of the federal council.

The SVP promptly announced that they don't consider the members of the federaly council from their own party (Schmid and Widmer-Schlumpf) as members of their parliamentary party anymore.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

linky

 

[philippe]

haha= you guys suck at democracy
(extreme-right (not) in a government?!?)

 

[mitsho]

Everybody is in the government

 

[Grisu]

I wonder if there's really going to be a split in the party

 

[Winner]

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I can't say that I'm unhappy with this, though I fear that the SVP might get some more symathy from it. But I do hope the Widmer accepts the seat

This is actually interesting - does it mean that the Swiss exceptional political system is finally breaking down?

 

[Grisu]

This is actually interesting - does it mean that the Swiss exceptional political system is finally breaking down?

depends what part of the swiss political system you're referring to

What might be possible is that we could drift more towards a coalition vs. opposition system, like it's present in most states. In that way, you are right, the unique concordance system where all major parties are represented in the government might vanish (though I think it's still much too early to tell). But that depends a lot on how many of the SVP delegates actually follow the way the SVP (basically the zürich wing) does things. Or if they actually will split off in parliament.

It's a gamble, but ultimatly I thinkt the SVP themselves and Blocher in particular brought this upon themselves, since the kept doing opposition politics despite being in the government. They refused to honour the "Kollegialitätsprinzip" time and again and thus got the bill presented.

edit: as to the split. two cantonal parties of the SVP have already announced that they won't follow the national party into opposition, and it's expected that at least Graubünden party follows them.