2009 Swiss Federal Council election

2009 Swiss Federal Council election
← 2008 16 September 2009 2010 →
 
Nominee Didier Burkhalter Urs Schwaller Christian Lüscher
Party Free Democrats Christian Democrats Free Democrats
Electoral vote 129 106 4
Federal Councillor before election

Pascal Couchepin
Free Democrats

Elected Federal Councillor

Didier Burkhalter
Free Democrats

A by-election to the Swiss Federal Council was held in Switzerland on 16 September 2009,[1] after incumbent Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin (Free Democratic Party, FDP/PLR) announced his intention to retire on 31 October 2009.

Some saw the election as an important decision regarding whom the "fourth seat" in the Federal Council belonged to (the FDP or the CVP), and as an indirect political decision regarding whether the SP or the SVP would have more influence in the future.[2]

Didier Burkhalter (FDP/PLR) was elected to succeed Couchepin in the fourth ballot.

  1. ^ "Gefährlicher Flirt mit der Mitte - NZZ". Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 21 June 2009 – via NZZ.
  2. ^ Hermann, Von Michael; Leuthold, Heiri (10 September 2009). "Der umstrittene vierte Sitz im Siebnergremium Bundesrat". Neue Zürcher Zeitung – via NZZ.