Federal Council election The decision on Viola Amherd's successor will be made today
Martin Pfister or Markus Ritter? One of the two official centrist candidates is likely to be elected as the successor to Federal Councillor Viola Amherd on Wednesday morning. The race was wide open until the last minute.
12.03.2025, 04:30
12.03.2025, 04:31
SDA
Ritter has the advantage with the SVP, Pfister the advantage with the GLP - the other four parliamentary groups kept their strategy under wraps before election day. Markus Ritter therefore remains the slight favorite in the race to succeed Amherd. But Martin Pfister also has a chance.
The majority of the SVP parliamentary group, which holds 74 seats in parliament, is expected to vote for Ritter. The 57-year-old central St. Gallen National Councillor has the necessary leadership skills to tackle the problems in the Defense Department, the SVP announced. As a long-standing member of parliament, Ritter is familiar with the processes in federal Bern. He has shown in important dossiers that he can bring about viable solutions and alliances.
Meanwhile, the GLP parliamentary group, which can cast 12 votes, has more sympathy for Pfister. On the day before the Federal Council election, it too did not officially recommend one of the two centrist candidates, but indicated that 61-year-old Zug councillor Pfister was closer to the Green-Liberal positions than farmers' association president Ritter.
Left unhappy with the choice
Before the election, the SP, FDP and Green parliamentary groups merely announced that they would stick to the official ticket. However, there was a noticeable unease, particularly on the left, about the centrist election proposal.
It was not officially possible to find out whether Ritter or Pfister was more convincing at the hearings of the parliamentary groups. Unlike in substantive votes, the parliamentary groups are not likely to vote unanimously for one candidate or the other anyway.
Voting is by secret ballot. It is not known who voted for whom. It is said that the final arrangements are made the night before the Federal Council election at the Hotel Bellevue. Politicians, local celebrities, the media and onlookers then besiege the lobby and bar of the luxury hotel in Bern.
The SP and Green parliamentary groups want to meet again early Wednesday morning to decide whether or not to make an election recommendation. After that, we will have to wait and see. No major disruptive maneuvers are to be expected. Anyone who clears the absolute majority hurdle, i.e. can secure half of all valid votes plus one, will be elected.
