Watching the US speaker, Kevin McCarthy, get elected after 15 rounds of voting, makes you wonder how other countries manage elections. Does the US really have the best democratic system in the world as many Republicans have suggested?
Switzerland is governed by a Federal Council, a collegial body consisting of 7 members. Like Congress in the United States, Switzerland’s Federal Assembly (Swiss Parliament) is divided into two chambers. These 7 Federal councillors are elected by the upper and lower chambers. Instead of the US Senate, Switzerland has a Council of States comprised of 46 members (representing the cantons). And Switzerland’s House of Representatives is referred to as the National Council with 200 seats (representing the people). So the Federal Assembly (Swiss Parliament) has a total of 246 members.
Instead of 50 states in the US, Switzerland has 26 cantons. These cantons are divided into more than 2,300 communes. As a result, the state powers are divided between the Confederation, the cantons and the communes.
Unlike the two-party system in the US, Switzerland has 11 parties represented in the Federal Assembly (Swiss Parliament). Those parties with the largest share of the popular vote are represented on the Federal Council.
The position of the President rotates among the 7 councillors on a yearly basis. The President of the Swiss Confederation in 2023 is Alain Berset. He was elected on the 7th of December 2022. And the Vice President of the Federal Council is Viola Amherd.
At this point, you might be wondering if Swiss people elect their yearly President. We do not. Unlike the US and many other countries, Swiss citizens do not directly elect the President. Keep in mind that the members of the Federal Assembly (Swiss Parliament) are elected by the people. And they in turn elect the members of the Federal Council and also the President.
Then, is being appointed the role of President in Switzerland a big deal? The fact is, he or she has no specific additional powers and remains equal to the other 6 councillors other than having the casting vote in the event of a split vote. In addition to presiding over the meetings of the Federal Council and serving as the representative abroad, the President remains the head of his or her department for which they were appointed.
Because of our annual rotation, most people around the world and many within Switzerland might not know the name of the current President. But, is that a bad thing? To be honest, being tuned in for the 15 rounds of voting for Speaker of the US House of Representatives had some entertainment value. I mean, who doesn’t think it’s amusing to watch heated exchanges between fellow Republican lawmakers? Those very people claiming to be outstanding citizens were showing an unusual side of themselves. It was a series of revelations in real time. Yet, although it was a fascinating display of non-cooperation, it is not how presumably most American people expect their leaders to govern.
Isn’t the point of elections to entrust officials with making decisions that directly affect your daily life? I would rather you do your job that I am paying you to do than to waste one week of useless tactics of self-aggrandizing.
Unlike the US, Swiss people have the right to vote on a variety of specific issues making the opportunities for democratic participation extremely high. In other words, it is not only the cantons that have a major influence but also the individual citizens themselves. Thanks to a direct democracy system, Swiss citizens have their say on decisions made at all political levels. Swiss citizens can overturn laws made by the parliament by launching a referendum in which citizens vote directly on policy questions rather than allowing elected delegates to decide. 50,000 signatures within 100 days of the official publication of a new law allows Swiss citizens to challenge a law. Consequently, if the majority of the voters reject the law, it is canceled.
Consensus is an important feature of Swiss political culture. Both majority and minority groups negotiate a way forward. It is not always smooth or straightforward but consensus-seeking is part of our DNA.
And unlike what many Republicans purport, the recent elections of the US speaker did little to promote pro-democratic sentiments worldwide.
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