This article contains the results of all elections relevant to the composition of the Swiss Council of States during the 45th legislative period (October 1995 - October 1999) . This includes the ordinary elections held together with the National Council elections on October 22, 1995, the replacement elections for council members who resigned or died during the term of office as well as the ordinary elections held on their own dates in the cantons of Graubünden, Zug, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Appenzell Innerrhoden, their winners (also) sat on the Council between 1995 and 1999.
Electoral system
More detailed on this: Council of States - electoral procedure
The election and term of office of the Council of States under the responsibility of the cantons are the responsibility of the cantons. In 1995 this resulted from the then applicable Federal Constitution of 1874, which tacitly assumed it.
Over time, however, a certain standardization developed. During the period in question, the Council of States was elected directly by the people in all cantons: in most cantons at the ballot box, in the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Obwalden and Nidwalden (until they were abolished in 1996) at the regional municipality . In Appenzell Ausserrhoden the ordinary elections took place in 1995 at the ballot box, the substitute election in 1998 in the Landsgemeinde. The councils of states of the canton of Jura were elected using proportional representation ( proportional representation ), in all other cantons the majority procedure ( majority voting ) applied. A system with two ballots usually applied: In the first ballot, a candidate must achieve the (differently calculated) absolute majority in order to be elected . In the second ballot, a relative majority is sufficient : then whoever received the most votes is elected.
In all cantons except Appenzell Innerrhoden, Graubünden, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Zug, the elections to the Council of States for the 45th legislative period took place together with the elections to the National Council on October 22, 1995. The last elections to the Council of States before October 22, 1995 are also listed for these cantons. This is because the winners of those elections sat in the Council of States during the 45th legislative period due to these electoral victories.
Ordinary election, 1st ballot (October 22, 1995)
Because no candidate achieved an absolute majority of 66,409 votes in the first ballot, a second ballot had to be scheduled.
Ordinary election, 2nd ballot (November 26, 1995)
Because no candidate had achieved an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot took place on November 28, 1999. The relative majority applied, which means that the candidate who received the most votes was elected.
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Otto Schoch (previously) |
FDP |
13,352 |
94.8% |
elected
|
|
Isolated |
726 |
5.2% |
|
Substitute election Schoch (April 27, 1997)
Because Council of States Schoch resigned, the Landsgemeinde elected his successor on April 27, 1997. The official FDP candidate Landammann Hans Höhener as well as Hans-Rudolf Merz, also FDP member, but nominated by a non-partisan civil committee and supported by the SVP, ran. In the Landsgemeinde, Paul Veuillemier (SP) and Cantonal Councilor Ruth Tobler were spontaneously proposed. After no clear majority could be determined in the second ballot, Merz clearly won in the third ballot.
|
candidate |
Political party |
Result
|
|
Hans-Rudolf Merz |
FDP 1
|
elected
|
|
Hans Höhener |
FDP |
eliminated in the 3rd ballot
|
|
Paul Veuillemier |
SP |
eliminated in the 1st ballot
|
|
Ruth Tobler |
|
eliminated in the 1st ballot
|
1 Not supported by the party
Ordinary election 1995 (April 30, 1995)
At the Landsgemeinde of April 30, 1995, the previous Council of States Carlo Schmid-Sutter was re-elected.
Ordinary election 1999 (April 24, 1999)
At the Landsgemeinde of April 24, 1999, the previous Council of States Carlo Schmid-Sutter was re-elected.
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
René Rhinow (previously) |
FDP |
41'259 |
69.3% |
elected
|
|
Peter Brunner |
SD |
9,151 |
15.4% |
|
|
Manfred Reist |
Green |
3,380 |
5.7% |
|
|
Isolated |
5,719 |
9.6% |
|
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Gian-Reto Plattner (previously) |
SP |
31,872 |
57.2% |
elected
|
|
Thomas Staehelin |
LDP |
18,715 |
33.6% |
|
|
Werner Furrer |
SD |
4,744 |
8.5% |
|
|
Isolated |
401 |
0.7% |
|
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
Ordinary election, 1st ballot (October 22, 1995)
In the 1st ballot only Anton Cottier achieved an absolute majority of 28,120 votes. A second ballot therefore had to be scheduled.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Anton Cottier (previously) |
CVP |
31,904 |
56.7% |
elected
|
|
Monique Pichonnaz Ogier |
FDP |
21,800 |
38.8% |
|
|
Pierre Aeby |
SP |
18,733 |
33.3% |
|
|
Madleine Duc |
CSP |
11,852 |
21.1% |
|
|
Jean-Luc Piller |
SVP |
6'091 |
10.8% |
|
Ordinary election, 2nd ballot (November 12, 1995)
In the first ballot only Anton Cottier achieved the absolute majority. Therefore a second ballot took place.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Pierre Aeby |
SP |
23,723 |
52.4% |
elected
|
|
Monique Pichonnaz Ogier |
FDP |
21,584 |
47.6% |
|
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
Substitute election Rhyner, 1st ballot (March 15, 1998)
Because Council of States Rhyner resigned, a replacement election took place in March 1998. In the first ballot none of the candidates achieved an absolute majority of 5,455 votes. A second ballot therefore had to be scheduled.
Substitute election Rhyner, 2nd ballot (March 29, 1998)
In the first ballot, no candidate had an absolute majority. Therefore a second ballot took place.
In the canton of Zug, the elections to the Council of States did not take place at the same time as the elections to the National Council until 2007, as in most of the other cantons, but a year earlier. Because both the election of September 25, 1994 and that of September 27, 1998 influenced the composition of the Council of States during the 1999/2003 legislative period, the results of both elections are listed.
Ordinary election 1994, 1st ballot (September 25, 1994)
In the first ballot only Christoffel Brändli achieved an absolute majority of 22,626 votes. A second ballot therefore had to be scheduled.
Ordinary election 1994, 2nd ballot (October 16, 1994)
In the first ballot only Christoffel Brändli achieved the absolute majority. Therefore a second ballot took place.
Ordinary election 1998 (September 27, 1998)
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
In the canton of Jura, the Council of States is elected according to proportional representation ( proportional representation ). So the number of votes of the parties is decisive first and then only within the party the number of votes of the individual candidates.
Ordinary election, 1st ballot (October 22, 1995)
In the first ballot, no candidate achieved an absolute majority of 53,701 votes. A second ballot therefore had to be scheduled.
Ordinary election, 2nd ballot (November 26, 1995)
If no candidate had achieved an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot had to be scheduled. Because only Franz Wicki and Helen Leumann-Würsch registered for this second ballot , these two candidates were chosen in a silent election .
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
Explanation etc.
Ordinary Election 1994 (April 24, 1994)
At the Landsgemeinde of April 24, 1994, the previous Council of States Peter-Josef Schallberger was re-elected.
Ordinary Election 1998 (March 15, 1998)
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Peter-Josef Schallberger (previously) |
CVP |
7,975 |
80.3% |
elected
|
|
Daniela Filliger |
independent |
1'959 |
19.7% |
|
Ordinary election (April 24, 1994)
At the Landsgemeinde of April 24, 1994, the previous Council of States Niklaus Küchler was re-elected.
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Kurt Schüle (previously) |
FDP |
14,385 |
46.4% |
elected
|
|
Bernhard Seiler (previously) |
SVP |
12,515 |
40.4% |
elected
|
|
Silvia Pfeiffer |
SP |
9,287 |
30.0% |
|
|
René Steiner |
independent 2
|
5,843 |
18.9% |
|
|
Rolf Zubler |
independent 2
|
4,007 |
12.9% |
|
|
Isolated |
970 |
3.1% |
|
2Nominated by a "Schaffhausen Council of States pro Switzerland" committee that opposed Switzerland joining the
EU . René Steiner was a councilor of the "Liberal Schaffhauser Action"
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Bruno Frick (previously) |
CVP |
14,907 |
75.1% |
elected
|
|
Hans Bisig (previously) |
FDP |
11,734 |
59.1% |
elected
|
|
Isolated |
3,177 |
16.0% |
|
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
Ordinary election, 1st ballot (October 22, 1995)
Because no candidate achieved an absolute majority of 46,060 votes in the first ballot, a second ballot had to be scheduled.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Dick Marty |
FDP |
33,528 |
36.4% |
|
|
Renzo Respini |
CVP |
31'497 |
34.2% |
|
|
Pierre Rusconi |
Lega |
18'221 |
19.8% |
|
|
Virginio Pedroni |
SP |
13,540 |
14.7% |
|
|
Sonja Crivelli |
PdA |
3,970 |
4.3% |
|
|
Gianfranco Soldati |
PdL 3
|
2,615 |
2.8% |
|
|
Lele Delcò |
independent |
1,029 |
1.1% |
|
|
Domenico Cerabona |
independent |
149 |
0.2% |
|
3 Polo della libertà ("Freedom Pole")
Ordinary election, 2nd ballot (November 12, 1995)
Because no candidate had achieved an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot took place on November 12, 1995. The relative majority applied, meaning that the two candidates who received the most votes were elected.
Ordinary election (October 22, 1995)
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Thomas Onken (previously) |
SP |
35,299 |
59.5% |
elected
|
|
Hans Uhlmann (previously) |
SVP |
33,586 |
56.6% |
elected
|
|
Ursula Brasey |
FDP |
16,188 |
27.3% |
|
|
Felix Huwiler |
FPS |
10,124 |
17.1% |
|
|
Uta Bollinger |
EPP |
8,552 |
14.4% |
|
|
Isolated |
986 |
1.6% |
|
Ordinary election, 1st ballot (October 22, 1995)
In the first ballot only Hans Danioth achieved an absolute majority of 4,735 votes. A second ballot therefore had to be scheduled. The CVP hired three candidates for the two seats to present a selection.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Hans Danioth (previously) |
CVP |
6,602 |
69.7% |
elected
|
|
Hansheiri Inderkum |
CVP |
4,226 |
44.6% |
|
|
Hans Stadler |
CVP |
4,042 |
42.7% |
|
|
Silvia Läubli |
SP |
2,140 |
22.6% |
|
|
Otto Odermatt |
independent |
215 |
2.3% |
|
|
Isolated |
424 |
4.5% |
|
Ordinary election, 2nd ballot (November 26, 1995)
In the first ballot, only Hans Danioth had an absolute majority. Therefore a second ballot took place.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Hansheiri Inderkum |
CVP |
4,232 |
50.9% |
elected
|
|
Hans Stadler |
CVP |
3,323 |
40.0% |
|
|
Walter A. Stöckli |
independent |
620 |
7.5% |
|
|
Isolated |
134 |
1.6% |
|
Ordinary election, 1st ballot (October 22, 1995)
Because no candidate achieved an absolute majority of 56,423 votes in the first ballot, a second ballot had to be scheduled.
4th "ASV - Les Verts alternatifs", at that time not yet a member of the Swiss Green Party
Ordinary election, 2nd ballot (November 5, 1995)
Because no candidate had achieved an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot took place. The relative majority applied, meaning that the two candidates who received the most votes were elected.
Ordinary election, 1st ballot (October 22, 1995)
In the first ballot, only Édouard Delalay achieved an absolute majority of 44,538 votes. A second ballot therefore had to be scheduled.
Ordinary election, 2nd ballot (October 29, 1995)
Because no candidate had achieved an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot took place on October 29, 1995. Peter Bloetzer was the only eligible candidate (in the canton of Valais only registered candidates are eligible). Since the Valais electoral law at that time did not provide for the possibility of a silent election , an election had to take place. The turnout was 11.1%.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Peter Bloetzer (previously) |
CVP |
16,799 |
100.0% |
elected
|
In the canton of Zug, the elections to the Council of States did not take place at the same time as the elections to the National Council until 2007, as in most of the other cantons, but a year earlier. Because both the elections on November 13 / December 18, 1994 and the one on October 25, 1998 influenced the composition of the Council of States during the 1995/1999 legislative period, the results of both elections are listed.
Ordinary election 1994, 1st ballot (November 13, 1994)
Because no candidate achieved an absolute majority of 14,163 votes in the first ballot, a second ballot had to be scheduled. Within the CVP, Urs B. Wyss ran against the official party candidate Martha Hitz-Würms.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Andreas Iten (previously) |
FDP |
14'069 |
49.7% |
|
|
Urs B. Wyss |
CVP 5 |
7,642 |
27.0% |
|
|
Martha Hitz-Würms |
CVP |
7,447 |
26.3% |
|
|
Susanna Fassbind |
MfZ / BL 6
|
4,912 |
17.3% |
|
|
Rosemarie Rossi Andean Mats |
SP |
4,862 |
17.2% |
|
|
André Graf |
SVP |
3,200 |
11.3% |
|
|
Doris fear Yilmaz |
independent |
2,697 |
9.5% |
|
5 Candidate against the will of his party
6th Courage for Zug / Colorful List
Ordinary election 1994, 2nd ballot (December 18, 1994)
In the first ballot, no candidate had an absolute majority. Therefore a second ballot took place. The CVP replaced its candidate Martha Hitz-Würms, who did poorly in the first ballot, with Peter Bieri.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Andreas Iten (previously) |
FDP |
12,706 |
54.9% |
elected
|
|
Peter Bieri |
CVP |
8,721 |
37.7% |
elected
|
|
Urs B. Wyss |
CVP 7 |
7,975 |
34.5% |
|
|
Susanna Fassbind |
MfZ / BL 8
|
4,871 |
21.1% |
|
|
Rosemarie Rossi Andean Mats |
SP |
4,174 |
18.0% |
|
7th Candidate against the will of his party
8th Courage for Zug / Colorful List
Ordinary Election 1998 (October 25, 1998)
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Peter Bieri (previously) |
CVP |
18,131 |
65.7% |
elected
|
|
Rolf Schweiger |
FDP |
16,823 |
61.0% |
elected
|
|
Urs Birchler |
SP |
7,522 |
27.3% |
|
|
Hans Durrer |
SVP |
5,823 |
21.1% |
|
Ordinary election, 1st ballot (October 22, 1995)
In the 1st ballot only Monika Weber achieved an absolute majority of 135,565 votes. A second ballot therefore had to be scheduled.
Ordinary election, 2nd ballot (November 26, 1995)
In the first ballot only Monika Weber achieved the absolute majority. Therefore a second ballot took place. With the exception of Vreni Spoerry, all official applicants withdrew their candidacies.
|
candidate |
Political party |
be right |
% |
Result
|
|
Vreni Spoerry |
FDP |
172'119 |
87.9% |
elected
|
|
Isolated |
23,621 |
12.1% |
|
Substitute election Weber (June 7, 1998)
Because Councilor Weber resigned, a replacement election took place in June 1998.
Individual evidence
Unless otherwise stated, the information in the article refers to http://www.portal-stat.admin.ch/nrw/files/de/02.xml , table «Council of States elections: results of the candidates, 1991–2007» (see below -d-17.02.02.02). The results of substitute elections based on the file http://www.parlament.ch/d/wahlen-abstimmen/parlamentswahlen/staenderatswahlen/Documents/staenderatswahlen-45-legislatur.pdf . The voting shares were calculated on the basis of the valid ballot papers (without invalid or empty ones) in http://www.parlament.ch/d/wahlen-abstimmen/parlamentswahlen/staenderatswahlen/Documents/staenderatswahlen-45-legislatur.pdf ; This procedure was deviated from in the canton of Schaffhausen, where this number of valid votes was not known; here the proportion of votes was calculated based on the votes cast.
-
↑ Christoph Lanz, Art. 150 N 5, in: Bernhard Ehrenzeller et al. (Ed.), The Swiss Federal Constitution. Commentary, 2nd edition, Dike, Zurich / St. Gallen 2008, p. 2323.
-
^ Appenzeller Zeitung , April 28, 1997
-
↑ NZZ , April 28, 1997
-
^ Appenzeller Zeitung, April 26, 1997
-
^ Tribune de Genève , October 11 and 12, 1995
-
↑ Daniel Schloeth et al., Eidgenössische Wahlen 1995 - election campaign and election results in the cantons of Zurich, Schaffhausen and Glarus, Studies on Political Science, No. 296, p. 99
-
↑ https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/nrw95/list/cand/TI5_k2.html
-
^ Neue Zürcher Zeitung , October 23, 1995
-
↑ https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/nrw95/list/cand/VD9_k2.html
-
↑ https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/nrw95/list/cand/VD15_k2.html
-
↑ http://www.zug.ch/behoerden/staatskanzlei/kanzlei/abstimmen-und-wahlen/abstimmen-kantonal/2007
-
↑ NZZ November 14, 1994
-
↑ https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/nrw95/list/cand/ZG8_k2.html
-
↑ NZZ , December 19, 1994
-
↑ NZZ December 19, 1994
-
↑ https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/nrw95/list/cand/ZG8_k2.html
-
↑ https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/nrw95/list/cand/ZH4_k2.html
