Free Republic

Blocher describes himself as a Swiss nationalist Swiss far-right leader Christoph Blocher has narrowly won a seat in government after a vote in parliament. The result marks a political transformation for the country, which has been under the same system of government since World War II. Mr Blocher's Swiss People's Party demanded a second cabinet seat after election success in October. Mr Blocher is known for his outspoken views on asylum seekers and immigrants, and is firmly opposed to the EU. Blocher's pledge Mr Blocher took 121 votes in a third round of voting in parliament on Wednesday, unseating...

Rightwing party wins Swiss poll Alison Langley in Zurich Monday October 20, 2003 The Guardian (UM) The rightwing Swiss People's party scored big gains in national elections yesterday, capturing 28% of the vote on an anti-immigrant platform and throwing into disarray the coalition government that has ruled Switzerland since 1959. It edged out the left-leaning Social Democrats to become the biggest party in the lower house of parliament, a Swiss television projection showed. The Social Democrats took 24% of the vote, up 1.7 points, while the Greens won four more seats. Both centrist parties came under pressure, with the liberal...

Swiss right in political avalanche SVP leader Christoph Blocher wants a cabinet seat The far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) has won the biggest share of the vote in parliamentary elections, throwing a decades-old system of consensus government into turmoil. The party won 11 extra seats in the lower house of parliament, taking its total in the 200-member parliament to 55. Exit polls put its support at 27%. The party, once the smallest of four governing parties in the Swiss coalition, is now the largest. SWISS PEOPLE'S PARTY Opposed to European Union membership Anti-immigration Accused of racism after saying drugs controlled...