The leader of the populist, rightwing Swiss People’s party (SVP) has promised more pragmatism and “less political correctness” after it won Sunday’s election with an improved vote share of 29%. “I believe the people have given the politicians a clear mandate,” Marco Chiesa, the SVP president, told 24 Heures newspaper. “Less political correctness, more of what really bothers people: 10 million inhabitants, a reliable energy supply, independence,” he said. The Radical-Liberals lost one seat, leaving them with 28, the Greens lost five (23), and the Liberal Greens lost six (10). Pascal Sciarini, a political scientist at the University of Geneva, said the current international context also boosted the populist party.

Source: The Guardian October 23, 2023 19:37 UTC