Grand Council of Valais election, 2009
Encyclopedia
The 2009 election to the Grand Council was held in the canton of Valais
, Switzerland
, on 1 March 2009. All 130 members of the Grand Council
were elected for four-year terms.
The centre-right
maintained its control on the canton, with the Christian Democratic People's Party
remaining by far the largest party, with 54 seats: down four from 2005. The classical liberal
Free Democratic Party
and the Social Democratic Party
each lost two seats, leaving them on 28 and 17 respectively. The Christian Social Party
gained one seat, tying them with the Social Democrats on 17 overall. The main winners were the national conservative
Swiss People's Party
, who doubled their number of seats to twelve. The Green Party
added one seat, winning two overall.
After the election, the two overtly Christian parties, the centre-right Christian Democratic People's Party and centre-left Christian Social Party, formed a bloc in the Grand Council together, which gives them an outright majority. However, the three members of the Christian Social Party from French-speaking Lower Valais, rejected the alliance, and joined the Social Democrats and Greens in the 'Alliance of the Left' .
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, on 1 March 2009. All 130 members of the Grand Council
Grand Council of Valais
The Grand Council of Valais is the legislature of the canton of Valais, in Switzerland. Valais has a unicameral legislature. The Grand Council has 130 seats, with members elected every four years....
were elected for four-year terms.
The centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
maintained its control on the canton, with the Christian Democratic People's Party
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
remaining by far the largest party, with 54 seats: down four from 2005. The classical liberal
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
and the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
each lost two seats, leaving them on 28 and 17 respectively. The Christian Social Party
Christian Social Party (Switzerland)
The Christian Social Party is a political party in Switzerland. The CSP is more social democratic than the CVP. With the moderate Christian left as its background, the CSP commits itself to social democratic and environmentalist political solutions...
gained one seat, tying them with the Social Democrats on 17 overall. The main winners were the national conservative
National conservatism
National conservatism is a political term used primarily in Europe to describe a variant of conservatism which concentrates more on national interests than standard conservatism as well as upholding cultural and ethnic identity, while not being outspokenly nationalist or supporting a far-right...
Swiss People's Party
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
, who doubled their number of seats to twelve. The Green Party
Green Party of Switzerland
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:...
added one seat, winning two overall.
After the election, the two overtly Christian parties, the centre-right Christian Democratic People's Party and centre-left Christian Social Party, formed a bloc in the Grand Council together, which gives them an outright majority. However, the three members of the Christian Social Party from French-speaking Lower Valais, rejected the alliance, and joined the Social Democrats and Greens in the 'Alliance of the Left' .