IFES
 

Oct. 19, 2003 Held

Switzerland
Swiss Confederation
Election for Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale (Swiss National Council)

Results

Voter Participation


Cast Votes:2,161,921
Valid Votes:2,124,040
Invalid Votes:22,972
Voter
Turnout*

Vote Share by Party:

Party Seats Won Seats Change Votes

Swiss People's Party 55 - 561,817

26.73%

Socialist Party (Socialist Party) 52 - 490,388

23.33%

Radical Free Democratic Party 36 - 363,643

17.30%

Christian Democratic People's Party 28 - 302,355

14.38%

Green Party 13 - 155,511

7.32%

Liberal Party 4 - 45,864

2.18%

Swiss Evangelical Popular Party 3 - 47,839

2.28%
Election Results Modified: Sep 01, 2016

General Information

At stake in this election:

  • 200 seats in the National Council (Nationalrat / Conseil National / Consiglio Nazionale)

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President of the Confederation Pascal COUCHEPIN
  • Head of Government: President of the Confederation Pascal COUCHEPIN
  • Assembly: Switzerland has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung / Assemblée Federale) consisting of the Council of States (Standerat, Conseil des Etats / Consiglio degli Stati) with 46 seats and the National Council (Nationalrat / Conseil National / Consiglio Nazionale) with 200 seats.

Description of electoral system:

  • The President of the Confederation is appointed by the Federal Parliament to serve a 1-year term.
  • In the Council of States (Standerat/Conseil des Etats/ Consiglio degli Stati), 6 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms and 40 members are elected by plurality vote in multi-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms*. In the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale), 195 members are elected by open list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms and 5 members are elected by a plurality system to serve 4-year terms.**

* Single-member districts correspond to the former half-cantons whereas two-seat districts correspond to former full cantons. The electoral system is a two round system, with exception of Jura and Neuchâtel, where it is proportional representation.

** Seats are apportioned to each canton in proportion to its population. Voters have the option of panachage. The electoral system is proportional representation.

Main parties in the electoral race:

  • Party: Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC)
    • Leader: Ueli MAURER
    • Seats won in this National Council election: 55
    • Seats won in last National Council election: 45
  • Party: Social Democratic Party (SPS)
    • Leader: Christiane BRUNNER
    • Seats won in this National Council election: 52
    • Seats won in last National Council election: 52
  • Party: Radical Free Democratic Party (FDP)
    • Leader: Christiane LANGENBERGER
    • Seats won in this National Council election: 36
    • Seats won in last National Council election: 42
  • Party: Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP)
    • Leader: Philipp STAEHELIN
    • Seats won in this National Council election: 28
    • Seats won in last National Council election: 35
  • Party: Liberal Party (LPS)
    • Leader: Claude RUEY
    • Seats won in this National Council election: N/A
    • Seats won in last National Council election: 6
  • Party: Swiss Evangelical Popular Party (EVP)
    • Leader: N/A
    • Seats won in this National Council election: 4
    • Seats won in last National Council election: N/A
  • Party: Green Party (GPS)
    • Leader: N/A
    • Seats won in this National Council election: 13
    • Seats won in last National Council election: N/A
  • Party: Others
    • Seats won in this National Council election: 12
    • Seats won in last National Council election: N/A

Last Parliamentary election:

  • Parliamentary elections were last held on October 24, 1999.

Population and registered voters:

  • Population: 7,339,001 (2003)
  • Registered Voters: 4,708,440 (2003)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 3,751,085 (2003)

·         Is Switzerland a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (23 January 1987)

·         Has Switzerland ratified CEDAW: Yes (27 March 1997)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 50 (National Council); 11 (Council of States) following the 2003 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 3 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Switzerland a signatory to CRPD: No

·         Has Switzerland ratified CRPD: Yes, accession (15 April 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 1,100,850 (est.)

Election Modified: Jun 21, 2024

Most Recent Elections in Switzerland

With Participation Rates