Hopefuls galore vie for parliament seats

A record number of candidates is hoping to win a seat in Switzerland’s parliamentary elections on October 18. There will be more women too, but the country still lags behind many others in this respect. About 3,800 hopefuls are in the running for a seat in the House of Representatives, while another 160 are competing for a place in the Senate. This is up 10% on the previous elections in 2011 and sets a new record in the history of modern day Switzerland, according to the Federal Chancellery. The reasons for the steep rise are varied. Experts point out that the electorate has grown in terms of quantity over the past four decades and with it the number of candidates. There are also more parties catering for different political opinions. And increased competition among parties and the system of tactical alliances allows for additional electoral lists. Switzerland has become more politicised and the rise of the conservative right Swiss People’s Party ...