Political orientation.
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With parliament's December election of Ueli Maurer, the Swiss People's Party (SVP) will return to the seven-member Swiss Federal Council, starting in 2009.
On December 10, the Swiss parliament narrowly voted to install the 58-year-old Maurer, who has served as a member of the House of Representatives--representing Canton Zurich--since 1991. He received 122 votes out of a possible 243, the minimum number needed, after three rounds of voting.
Round 1
Fellow SVP-member Hansjorg Walter--put forward by parliament--receives 109 votes.
Former Justice Minister Christoph Blocher--put forward by the SVP as a second candidate--receives 54 votes, and immediately withdraws his name from the ballot. (Blocher held a seat on the Federal Council from 2004, until he was ousted at the end of 2007 in a surprise move by parliament, and replaced by Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.)
Maurer receives 67.
Round 2
Walter receives 121 votes.
Maurer receives 119.
Round 3
Walter again receives 121 votes. Maurer receives 122.
Following the election's outcome, online news source swissinfo reported Maurer said he is willing to collaborate with his colleagues in the multiparty Federal Council, where consensus making and providing a united front is key.
Maurer will begin his role as a federal councillor on January 1, where he will also function as minister of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports. He will replace Samuel Schmid, a member of the Conservative Democratic Party. Schmid announced his intention to resign from the Federal Council on November 12, following a number of health-related issues. Schmid has been a federal councillor since 2001.
In his farewell address, Schmid warned against "the penchant for polemics and polarisation" he sees as an emerging trend in Swiss politics.
"Polemics and polarisation are not fundamental to the political culture of this country," he said.
He also stated his wish for a return to "... common sense, humility and the insight into one's own imperfections" in both politics and society.
In other Federal Council news, Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz was approved by parliament to be president of the Federal Council during 2009...
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