grand council elections | March 27, 2022
Great tension in Bern: Tonight the canton will have a new government and a new parliament. Six previous members of the government will probably be re-elected; but the bourgeoisie and the red-green are fighting for the seventh seat.
On March 27, the government and parliament will be re-elected in the canton of Bern.Photo: Keystone, Peter Schneider
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In the canton of Bern, the government and parliament will be re-elected on Sunday. There is tension, although six of the seven members of the government can stand again and expect re-election. Because: The two big blocks in the canton, the civil and the red-green, are fighting for the seventh seat. Whoever wins the race is likely to have the majority in the government in the future.
Astrid Bärtschi (centre) will replace the civil side. The entrepreneur and party official wants to inherit the seat of party colleague Beatrice Simon, who is no longer running. If Bärtschi wins the election, the government will remain dominated by the middle classes. The left attacks the middle seat with the Bieler Mayor Erich Fehr (SP). Both Bärtschi and Fehr hope not only to score points in their own camp, but also in the political center.
Also political exotics among candidates
Six previous members want to remain in office. In the case of the commoners, these are Health Director Pierre Alain Schnegg, Construction and Traffic Director Christoph Neuhaus (both SVP) and Security Director Philippe Müller (FDP), in the red-green camp Justice Director Evi Allemann, Economic Director Christoph Ammann (both SP) and Education Director Christine Häsler (Greens).
A total of 18 women and men are running for election, including some political exotics. They are considered to have no chance. The middle ticket from the EPP and Green Liberals is also in danger of being crushed once again by the two large blocks in the majority election.
The candidates for the Haslital council elections met at the beginning of March for a podium.Photo: Rebekah Affolter
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There is great interest in a seat in the cantonal parliament: 2,214 women and men are applying for one of the 160 seats in the Grand Council, more than ever before. The proportion of women is almost 40 percent. The cantonal parliament is also dominated by the bourgeoisie. Four years ago, the seats were distributed as follows: SVP 46, SP 38, FDP 20, Greens 14, BDP 13, GLP eleven, EVP ten, EDU five, PSA (Left Autonomists in the Bernese Jura) two, Alternative Left one. The BDP has meanwhile merged with the CVP to form the Mitte party.
Polling stations open until 12 p.m
The party lists again this year include the names of a number of celebrities who want to get into politics. The best-known candidate in Switzerland is ex-ski racer Michael von Grünigen, who is running for the SVP. Opponents of the Corona measures are also on the “upright” list.
In the canton of Bern, the polling stations are open until twelve o’clock. The results of the government council election are expected between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The State Chancellery would like to announce the final result of the parliamentary elections between 8 p.m. and midnight. Then it will also be clear how the Bernjurassic Council will be composed in the future. The 24-strong body has decision-making powers in accordance with the special statute of the Bernese Jura and is the regional contact for the Bernese government.
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