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The Swiss Democrats (German: Schweizer Demokraten; French: Démocrates Suisses; Italian: Democratici Svizzeri; Romansh: Democrats Svizers) is a nationalist[1] political party in Switzerland. It was called the National Action against the Alienation of the People and the Home (German: Nationale Aktion gegen Überfremdung von Volk und Heimat; NA) until 1977 and the National Action for People and Home (German: Nationale Aktion für Volk und Heimat) until 1990, when it was renamed to its current name.[2]
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2016) |
Swiss Democrats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| German name | Schweizer Demokraten |
| French name | Démocrates Suisses |
| Italian name | Democratici Svizzeri |
| Romansh name | Democrats Svizers |
| President | Andreas Stahel |
| Members of the Federal Council | None |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Ideology | Swiss nationalism Euroscepticism |
| Political position | Right-wing to far-right[1] |
| Colours | Red |
| Website | |
| www | |
Swiss Federal Council Federal Chancellor Federal Assembly Council of States (members) National Council (members) Voting | |
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The Nationale Aktion was originally a far-right xenophobic movement pursuing an anti-immigration agenda, founded in 1961.[2] The party "emerged as a reaction to the influx of foreign workers", particularly Italians, during this time.[2] The party submitted several popular initiatives that supported reduced immigration, most notably one in June 1970 that narrowly failed.[2] Its first representative in the National Council was James Schwarzenbach, who was first elected in 1967.[2]
After a hostile split with Schwarzenbach in 1971, who formed the Republican Movement, the party lost most of its momentum during the 1970s.[2] It had a strong resurgence in the early 1980s,[3] and it won five seats in the 1991 federal elections, the most it had ever held.[2]
After another hostile split with former president Valentin Oehen in 1986, the party was renamed to its current name in 1990.[2] After 1998, the party lost nearly all significance in national politics because of the absorption of right-wing votes into the growing Swiss People's Party.[2]
In the 2003 federal elections, the party won 1.0% of the vote and one out of 200 seats in the National Council. This seat was lost in the 2007 elections, where the SD fell to 0.5% of the popular vote. After their severe election loss, the party congress decided not to disband but to continue competing in elections, striving to return to parliament.[citation needed]
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| Election | # of total votes | % of popular vote | # of seats won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 6,275 | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1971 | 63,781 | 3.2%  |
4 |
| 1975 | 47,796 | 2.5%  |
2 |
| 1979 | 24,257 | 1.3% |
2  |
| 1983 | 57,592 | 2.9% |
4 |
| 1987 | 49,104 | 2.5% |
3 |
| 1991 | 69,297 |
3.4% |
5 |
| 1995 | 59,613 |
3.1% |
3 |
| 1999 | 35,883 |
1.8% |
1 |
| 2003 | 20,177 |
1.0% |
1 |
| 2007 | 12,609 |
0.5% |
0 |
| 2011 | 0.2% |
0 | |
| 2015 | 3,052 | 0.1% |
0 |
| 2019 | 3,202 | 0.1% |
0 |
| 2023 | 2,030 | 0.08% |
0 |
Source:[6][better source needed]
- James Schwarzenbach (?–1971)
- Rudolf Weber (1971/72)
- Valentin Oehen (1972–1980)
- Hans Zwicky (1980–1986)
- Rudolf Keller (1986–2005)
- Bernhard Hess (2005–2012)
- Andreas Stahel (2012–)
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