The UDC would once again be the big winner in the federal elections if they were held this fall. The other parties would obtain a result close to that of last year or would record a slight decline, according to a poll by the Sotomo institute.
The UDC would increase its electoral share by two percentage points compared to the federal elections of October 2023 and would achieve 29.9% of the votes, according to poll results released Monday. The party had already recorded an increase of 2.3 percentage points between the two previous federal elections.
The Socialist Party would rank second with 17.8% of the vote, a drop of 0.5 percentage points. The PLR and the Center would remain stable, with 14.3% and 14.1% respectively. The Greens (9.5%) and the Green Liberals (6.6%) would lose weight again, the first by 0.5 points and the second by 1 point.
A swipe to the right
The losses are, however, quite low, note the authors of the study. A shift to the right remains perceptible. Furthermore, the PLR does not seem to be reaping the benefits of its more precise positioning since last year: the liberal-radicals are still neck and neck with the Center to complete the podium.
On the other side of the electoral spectrum, the left is failing to capitalize on its successes during popular votes. The particularities of semi-direct democracy would explain this phenomenon, argue the authors of the study. It would allow voters to correct the shift to the right on a case-by-case basis.
Less green concerns
Respondents consider health insurance premiums to be the biggest challenge in Swiss politics. Half of them rank the premium burden among the three most important challenges. A third cite immigration and the free movement of people and 29% asylum policy. Next, with 26% and 24%, are the themes of climate change and the cost of living.
Climate change has lost importance in the eyes of those surveyed over the past two years. In 2022, 43% still considered it one of the country's major challenges. In 2024, there will be only 26%. This decrease contrasts with the stability of the immigration theme, which remained at a high level during the same period.
Health insurance premiums, but also social security, are considered significant challenges by all respondents. On the other hand, if 57% of UDC voters and 39% of PLR supporters consider immigration to be an important challenge, they are only 7% and 10% respectively among the base of the Vert-es and the PS. The situation is exactly the opposite when it comes to climate change.
Albert Rösti the most influential
Furthermore, regarding the popularity of federal councilors, Transport Minister Albert Rösti is considered by voters to be the most influential and is closely followed by Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter.
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>> Read also: Albert Rösti and Karin Keller-Sutter are the most influential federal councilors, the socialists lagging behind
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