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The '''Swiss People's Party''' or '''Democratic Union of the Centre''' ([[German]]: ''Schweizerische Volkspartei'' - SVP, [[French]]: ''Union Démocratique du Centre'' - UDC, [[Italian]]: ''Unione Democratica di Centro'' - UDC, [[Romansch]]: ''Partida Populara Svizra'' - PPS) was founded in 1971 by the merger of the Farmers, Artisans, and Citizens’ Party—generally known as the Agrarian Party—with the Democratic Party. It has pursued [[conservative]] social and economic policies, including lower taxes and reduced spending, as well as the protection of Swiss agriculture and industry. The party has also opposed Swiss membership in international bodies such as the [[United Nations]], which Switzerland did not join until 2002.
The '''Swiss People's Party''' or '''Democratic Union of the Centre''' ([[German]]: ''Schweizerische Volkspartei'' - SVP, [[French]]: ''Union Démocratique du Centre'' - UDC, [[Italian]]: ''Unione Democratica di Centro'' - UDC, [[Romansch]]: ''Partida Populara Svizra'' - PPS) was founded in 1971 by the merger of the Farmers, Artisans, and Citizens’ Party—generally known as the Agrarian Party—with the Democratic Party. It has pursued [[conservative]] social and economic policies, including lower taxes and reduced spending, as well as the protection of Swiss agriculture and industry. The party has also opposed Swiss membership in international bodies such as the [[United Nations]], which Switzerland did not join until 2002.
Over the course of several recent elections, it has continually grown in power and (as of 2008) holds the most parliamentary seats of any party at the federal level. Its policies emphasize free market economics, low taxes, neutrality regarding foreign affairs, a tough stance on crime and a reduction of unwanted immigration. The party has enjoyed repeated success in mobilizing popular majorities for referenda and popular initiatives, often managing to set the political agenda against strong opposition from establishmnet elites.
Over the course of several recent elections, it has continually grown in power and (as of 2016) holds the most parliamentary seats of any party at the federal level. Its policies emphasize free market economics, low taxes, neutrality regarding foreign affairs, a tough stance on crime and a reduction of unwanted immigration. The party has enjoyed repeated success in mobilizing popular majorities for referenda and popular initiatives, often managing to set the political agenda against strong opposition from establishmnet elites.
==History==
==History==
In 1971, the BGB merged with two cantonal Democratic Parties, and the same year the name was changed to the Swiss People's Party (SVP).<ref name="pp.128">Skenderovic, pp. 128.</ref> The two Democratic Parties were politically centrist and socially liberal, so the merger shifted the SVP as a whole towards the political center, even though there were internal ideological debates.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 128, 129.</ref> The merger was intended to increase the SVP's voting base, but it did not increase its electoral performance, remaining around 11 percent.<ref name="pp.128"/>
In 1971, the BGB merged with two cantonal Democratic Parties, and the same year the name was changed to the Swiss People's Party (SVP).<ref name="pp.128">Skenderovic, pp. 128.</ref> The two Democratic Parties were politically centrist and socially liberal, so the merger shifted the SVP as a whole towards the political center, even though there were internal ideological debates.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 128, 129.</ref> The merger was intended to increase the SVP's voting base, but it did not increase its electoral performance, remaining around 11 percent.<ref name="pp.128"/>
===Growth===
===Shift to the right and rise of Christoph Blocher===
In 1977, [[Christoph Blocher]], a 36 year-old businessman, was elected president of the Zürich branch of the SVP.<ref name="pp.130">Skenderovic, pp. 130.</ref> Under the leadership of Blocher, a strong [[conservative]], the Zürich SVP broke from the rest of the party<ref name="pp.130"/> and adopted a bold right-wing conservative agenda.<ref name="pp.131">Skenderovic, pp. 131.</ref> In the 1979 elections, the Zürich SVP increased their share of the vote from 11.3 to 14.5 percent, the best result in 50 years.<ref name="pp.131"/>
In the 1980s and 1990s, there was a divide between the moderate Bern wing and the new Conservative right-wing Zürich wing.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 129.</ref>
The SVP and its predecessors had "showed remarkable stability" in "electoral support" until the 1990s.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 127.</ref>
The SVP and its predecessors had "showed remarkable stability" in "electoral support" until the 1990s.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 127.</ref>
===Largest party in Switzerland and strong right-wing force===
After the 2003 election, after the SVP achieved another record victory, it received a second seat on the Federal Council with [[Christoph Blocher]] holding that seat. He was not re-elected in 2007 and was replaced by Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. Schlumpf and her colliege, Samuel Schmid, were politically moderate and were expelled by the party soon afterward,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7141897.stm Far-right leaves Swiss government]. ''BBC News''. December 13, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> forming the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP). Despite its name, it is not a real conservative party and supports socially liberals policies, as well as Swiss integration into the EU. Due to scandals, Schmid resigned and was replaced by conservative SVP-member Ueli Maurer in 2009,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7775051.stm Swiss far-right win cabinet post]. ''BBC News''. December 10, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> and in 2015, the SVP regained its second seat after Schlumpf resigned due to a poor election result for her party and a record election result for the SVP.<ref>Mombelli, Armando (December 10, 2015). [http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/cabinet-elections_how-will-new-ingredients-change--magic-formula--/41825058 People’s Party gains second seat in cabinet]. ''Swissinfo''. Retrieved October 10, 2016.</ref>
After the 2003 election, after the SVP achieved another record victory, it received a second seat on the Federal Council with [[Christoph Blocher]] holding that seat. He was not re-elected in 2007 and was replaced by Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. Schlumpf and her colliege, Samuel Schmid, were politically moderate and were expelled by the party soon afterward,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7141897.stm Far-right leaves Swiss government]. ''BBC News''. December 13, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> forming the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP). Despite its name, it is not a real conservative party and supports socially liberals policies, as well as Swiss integration into the EU. Due to scandals, Schmid resigned and was replaced by conservative SVP-member Ueli Maurer in 2009,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7775051.stm Swiss far-right win cabinet post]. ''BBC News''. December 10, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> and in 2015, the SVP regained its second seat after Schlumpf resigned due to a poor election result for her party and a record election result for the SVP.<ref>Mombelli, Armando (December 10, 2015). [http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/cabinet-elections_how-will-new-ingredients-change--magic-formula--/41825058 People’s Party gains second seat in cabinet]. ''Swissinfo''. Retrieved October 10, 2016.</ref>