Swiss Federal Council election, 2009
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Pascal Couchepin
Free Democrats
Didier Burkhalter
Free Democrats
A by-election to the Swiss Federal Council was held in Switzerland on 16 September 2009, after incumbent Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin (Free Democratic Party, FDP/PLR) announced his intention to retire on 31 October 2009.
Some saw the election as an important decision regarding whom the "fourth seat" in the Federal Council belonged to (the FDP or the CVP), and as an indirect political decision regarding whether the SP or the SVP would have more influence in the future.
Didier Burkhalter (FDP/PLR) was elected to succeed Couchepin in the fourth ballot.
The election is a contest between the center-right Free Democrats and the centrist Christian Democrats, who both claim to be entitled to the free Council seat. The right-wing Swiss People's Party and the left-wing Social Democratic Party's support, however, will decide the outcome.
The FDP will attempt to retain Pascal Couchepin's seat. Representative Didier Burkhalter (Neuchâtel) announced his candidacy on 8 July 2009, followed by the Genevan representatives Christian Lüscher on 9 July and Martine Brunschwig Graf on 12 July, as well as Pascal Broulis (Vaud) on 6 August. Party president Fulvio Pelli, while not officially putting himself forward, stated that he would stand in the election if nominated by his party.
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