Julien Wicki, a socialist candidate, secured victory in Yverdon-les-Bains’ municipal election on Sunday, defeating independent Ruben Ramchurn, a former member of the Swiss People’s Party (UDC), by a margin of 642 votes. Wicki received 3,916 votes (51.97%) to Ramchurn’s 3,274 (43.45%), according to official results released by the city.
The election followed a contentious campaign marked by online threats and insults, with some elected officials requiring light police protection, reflecting a deeply polarized atmosphere in the Vaud canton city. Ramchurn, who ran under the banner of “Yverdon pour tous,” garnered significant support despite lacking endorsement from any established political party. He campaigned heavily on addressing the issue of open drug dealing, presenting himself as a figure willing to confront the problem directly.
Wicki’s win maintains the left’s dominance on the Yverdon municipal council, preserving a composition of five left-leaning seats – three from the Socialist Party (PS) and two from the Green Party – alongside two seats held by the center-right Free Democratic Party (PLR). The election was called following the death of socialist Jean-Claude Ruchet in October 2024.
Turnout for the second round of voting reached 36.73%, an increase from the 33.9% participation rate in the first round held on February 11, 2025. In the first round, Wicki led with 2,745 votes, although Ramchurn received 2,152. Gildo Dall’Aglio, representing a right-leaning alliance, was eliminated in the first round with 1,711 votes and did not endorse either candidate for the second round.
Ramchurn’s strong showing, despite the absence of traditional right-wing support, indicates a significant level of dissatisfaction among voters with the existing political establishment. His campaign resonated with those seeking a more assertive approach to tackling issues like drug trafficking and public order. Wicki, in a statement following the results, described his win as “an immense pride” and acknowledged the intensity of the campaign.
The composition of the Yverdon executive will now be: Pierre Dessemontet (PS) as syndic, Carmen Tanner (Green Party) as co-syndic, Brenda Tuosto (PS), Julien Wicki (PS), Benoist Guillard (Green Party), François Armada (PLR) and Christian Weiler (PLR).
