Commission demands Federal Councillors should only be able to resign at the end of the legislature
In future, members of the Federal Council should no longer be able to resign at any time without extraordinary reasons. This is the demand of the responsible National Council committee.
21.02.2025, 16:17
21.02.2025, 17:49
SDA
According to the National Council committee responsible, members of the Federal Council should no longer be able to freely choose the date of their resignation. If there are no extraordinary reasons, resignations should only be possible at the end of the legislative period.
The proposal for a new regulation comes from Center Party President Gerhard Pfister. The National Council's Political Institutions Committee (SPK-N) narrowly approved the parliamentary initiative of the National Councillor from Zug by 13 votes to 12, as reported by the Parliamentary Services on Friday. The next step is for the responsible Council of States committee to take a position on the idea.
Pfister justifies his demand by arguing that the magic formula does not reflect the will of the electorate as well today as it did when it was introduced in 1959. If the Federal Assembly could fill several seats in the Federal Council after the elections, it would also be better able to take the will of the electorate into account.
Fixed term of office for more stability
In the event of resignations during the legislature, on the other hand, a majority of the Federal Assembly always has a power-political interest in not changing the distribution of Federal Council seats, according to Pfister.
A narrow majority of the National Council committee agreed with these arguments. It was of the opinion that establishing a fixed term of office would bring more calm and stability. Today, resignations during the legislature are relatively frequent. Early replacement elections caused a hectic pace and cost those involved unnecessary energy.
In addition, party tactics often play a role in such resignations today, for example when it comes to saving a seat for a party before the general elections.
The center strives for a second Federal Council seat
A minority in the SPK-N is of the opinion that Switzerland already has a very stable system of government and that no reforms are needed. "In addition, the conditions for an early resignation would be difficult to define," they said.
Pfister would also like to continue to allow resignations during the legislative period, particularly for personal reasons. The last time such a case occurred was in November 2022, when SP Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga announced her resignation at the end of the year after her husband suffered a stroke.
The outcome of the discussion on the rules for resignations from the Federal Council is also likely to have an impact on the future composition of the national government. According to its own statement, the center is aiming for a second Federal Council seat in the medium term. In the past decade, there have also been discussions about the magic formula in view of the Greens' electoral successes and the FDP's losses.
