Cantonal elections SO Solothurn people elect new government and parliament
The people of Solothurn are electing their government and parliament this Sunday. Three current members of government from the FDP, Center Party and SP are standing for re-election. The SVP is making its eighth attempt to win a seat in the executive for the first time.
09.03.2025, 04:30
09.03.2025, 07:43
SDA
Three of the five members of the executive are standing for re-election: Home Affairs Director Susanne Schaffner (SP), Finance Director Peter Hodel (FDP) and Landammann and Justice Director Sandra Kolly (center) want to continue governing.
Schaffner has been a member of the cantonal government since 2017, while Kolly and Hodel have been members of the executive since 2021. The trio can count on good election chances - everything else is open. The decision on the two vacant seats is likely to be made in the run-off election on 13 April.
Director of Economic Affairs Brigit Wyss (Greens) and Director of Education Remo Ankli (FDP) are not standing for re-election. The Greens first won a seat in the government eight years ago.
The FDP and the Greens want to defend their vacant seat: The FDP is running with Cantonal Councillor and Head of Communications Marco Lupi. He was President of Parliament in 2024. The Greens are entering the race with cantonal councillor and lawyer Daniel Urech. He was President of Parliament in 2020.
SVP has a woman on the starting ramp
The focus in the renewal election is on the SVP. The party has high hopes of winning a seat on the cantonal government for the first time. The SVP is the party with the most voters (28.7% in the National Council election) - but as a special case, it is not represented in the executive.
Candidate Sybille Jeker says she wants to help shape a "citizen-oriented, solution-oriented" policy. The cantonal councillor, mother of two children, embodies a different type than the candidates who have failed in series so far: The entrepreneur is more affable, seeks compromise - and she is a younger woman.
The SVP has failed in seven attempts to win the majority elections since 2001. It has also always failed in the Council of States elections. But this time the SVP could succeed - probably only in the run-off.
SP and centrists want a second seat
The center and SP are also in attack mode. They each want to win a second seat. The centrists are running with cantonal councillor and farmers' association managing director Edgar Kupper. Cantonal councillor and primary school teacher Mathias Stricker is set to win a second seat for the SP. He is President of the Solothurn Teachers' Association.
Five constituencies for 100 parliamentary seats
The people of Solothurn are also electing the 100 members of the cantonal council (parliament). The FDP, which sees itself as a "people's party", still has the strongest parliamentary group by a narrow margin. It is followed by the SVP, SP, Center, Greens, GLP and EVP.
The distribution of seats: FDP 22, SVP 21, SP 20, Center 20, Greens 10, GLP 6 and EPP 1. Four years ago, the FDP lost four seats, the SP three seats - while the SVP, Greens and GLP each gained three seats. Two members of a small party did not run again.
