Social Democratic Party of Switzerland

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Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
Party Name in German Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz (SP)
Party Name in French Parti socialiste suisse (PS)
Party Name in Italian Partito Socialista Svizzero (PS)
Party Name in Romansh Partida Socialdemocrata de la Svizra (PS)
President Christian Levrat
Members of the Swiss Federal Council Micheline Calmy-Rey and Moritz Leuenberger
Founded 21 October 1888
Headquarters Spitalgasse 34
CH-3001 Berne
Political Ideology Social democracy, Centre-left
European Affiliation Party of European Socialists (observer)
International Affiliation Socialist International
Colours Red
Website www.sp-ps.ch
See also:
Politics & Government

Swiss Federal Council
Federal Chancellor
Federal Assembly
Council of States (members)
National Council (members)
Political parties
Elections (2003 - 2007)
Cantons - Municipalities
Voting

The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (also rendered as Socialist Party of Switzerland; German: Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz (SP); French: Parti socialiste suisse (PS); Italian: Partito Socialista Svizzero; Romansh: Partida Socialdemocrata de la Svizra) is a social-democratic party in Switzerland.

It was founded on October 21, 1888 and is one of the four leading coalition political parties in Switzerland. It is the left-most party with representatives in the Swiss Federal Council. It is also the second largest political party in the Swiss Parliament. The current members in the council are: Micheline Calmy-Rey and Moritz Leuenberger.

Social Democrats are considered the most pro-European party in Swiss politics.

Contents

[edit] Popular support

In 2003, it held 52 mandates (out of 200) in the Swiss National Council (first chamber of the Swiss parliament); 9 (out of 46) in the second chamber and 2 out of 7 mandates in the Swiss Federal Council (executive body). By 2005, it held 23,8% of the seats in the Swiss Cantonal governments and 23,2% in the Swiss Cantonal parliaments (index "BADAC", weighted with the population and number of seats). At the last legislative elections, 22 October 2007, the party won 19.5 % of the popular vote and 43 out of 200 seats. [1]

[edit] Presidents

1888-1889 Alexander Reichel
1890-1891 Albert Steck
1892-1894 Eugen Wullschleger
1894-1896 Wilhelm Fürholz
1897 Karl Zgraggen
1898 Paul Brandt
1898-1901 Otto Lang
1901-1902 Joseph Albisser
1902-1908 Gottfried Reimann
1909-1910 Eduard Kessler
1911 Hans Näher
1912-1916 Fritz Studer
1916-1917 Emil Klöti
1918 Jakob Gschwend
1919 Gustav Müller
1919-1936 Ernst Reinhard
1937-1952 Hans Oprecht
1953-1962 Walther Bringolf
1962-1970 Fritz Grüter
1970-1974 Arthur Schmid
1974-1990 Helmut Hubacher
1990-1997 Peter Bodenmann
1997-2000 Ursula Koch
2000-2004 Christiane Brunner
2004-2008 Hans-Jürg Fehr
Since 2008 Christian Levrat

[edit] Members of the Swiss Federal Council

1943-1951 Ernst Nobs
1951-1953 Max Weber
1959-1969 Willy Spühler
1959-1973 Hans-Peter Tschudi
1969-1977 Pierre Graber
1973-1983 Willy Ritschard
1977-1987 Pierre Aubert
1987-1993 René Felber
1983-1995 Otto Stich
1993-2002 Ruth Dreifuss
Since 1995 Moritz Leuenberger
Since 2002 Micheline Calmy-Rey

[edit] References

  1. ^ Nationalrat 2007

[edit] External links

  • www.sp-ps.ch: The Web site, only available in French and German.