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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 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.

Under the de-facto leadership of strong conservative businessman [[Christoph Blocher]],<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 138-141.</ref> the SVP became the largest party in Switzerland. 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 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 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> However, mostly in the 1990s, the conservative faction took control of the national party.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 132-135.</ref> During the same period, the SVP grew dramatically in size, making large increases in its budget and expanding its representation and reach to all 26 cantons.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 133, 142.</ref>

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> However, mostly in the 1990s, the conservative faction took control of the national party.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 132-135, 141.</ref> During the same period, the SVP grew dramatically in size, making large increases in its budget and expanding its representation and reach to all 26 cantons.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 133, 142.</ref>

Arguably the most important action of the SVP was its successful opposition of Swiss entry into the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992. As a strong conservative, Blocher strongly opposed Swiss integration with, and thus a loss of sovereignty to, outside powers, and he was able to convince the national party to adopt his position.<ref name="pp.135">Skenderovic, pp. 135.</ref> The referendum to join the EEA failed, a major success for Blocher and the SVP, and a majority of SVP members voted with Blocher, strengthening his position in the party.<ref name="pp.135"/> Since then, opposition to European integration and loss of national sovereignty has been "a main issue" for the SVP, and in the coming years it sponsored several other conservative national initiatives, which usually were not successful.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 135-138.</ref>

Arguably the most important action of the SVP was its successful opposition of Swiss entry into the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992. As a strong conservative, Blocher strongly opposed Swiss integration with, and thus a loss of sovereignty to, outside powers, and he was able to convince the national party to adopt his position.<ref name="pp.135">Skenderovic, pp. 135.</ref> The referendum to join the EEA failed, a major success for Blocher and the SVP, and a majority of SVP members voted with Blocher, strengthening his position in the party.<ref name="pp.135"/> Since then, opposition to European integration and loss of national sovereignty has been "a main issue" for the SVP, and in the coming years it sponsored several other conservative national initiatives, which usually were not successful.<ref>Skenderovic, pp. 135-138.</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> However, the SVP grew dramatically in size, becoming the largest party by 1999 with 22.5 percent of the vote.<ref>[http://www.politik-stat.ch/nrw1999CH_de.html 1999 federal election results]. ''politik-stat.ch''. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> The SVP continued to increase in the 2003 and 2007 elections.<ref name="2003 results">[http://www.politik-stat.ch/nrw2003CH_de.html 2003 federal election results]. ''politik-stat.ch''. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.politik-stat.ch/nrw2007CH_de.html 2007 federal election results]. ''politik-stat.ch''. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref>

===Largest party in Switzerland and strong right-wing force===

===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 received 26.7 percent of the popular vote, by then clearly the largest party in the nation.<ref name="2003 results"/> 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>

The SVP received 29.4 percent of the vote in the 2015 federal election and 65 seats in the 200-seat National Council, a record amount for the party.<ref name="SlideToRight">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/11939953/Anti-immigration-party-wins-Swiss-election-in-slide-to-the-Right.html Anti-immigration party wins Swiss election in 'slide to the Right']. ''The Telegraph'' (originally by ''Reuters''). October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> No Swiss political party had exceeded the SVP's share of the vote in at least a century, and no party received more seats in the National Council since 1965, when the number of seats was established at 200.<ref name="SlideToRight"/> In the same election, [[leftist]] parties lost a large number of seats.<ref name="SlideToRight"/><ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/10/19/swiss-parliament-shifts-to-right-in-vote-dominated-by-migrant-surge/ Swiss Parliament Shifts To Right In Vote Dominated By Migrant Surge]. ''Breitbart'' (by ''AFP''). October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref>

The SVP received 29.4 percent of the vote in the 2015 federal election and 65 seats in the 200-seat National Council, a record amount for the party.<ref name="SlideToRight">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/11939953/Anti-immigration-party-wins-Swiss-election-in-slide-to-the-Right.html Anti-immigration party wins Swiss election in 'slide to the Right']. ''The Telegraph'' (originally by ''Reuters''). October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> No Swiss political party had exceeded the SVP's share of the vote in at least a century, and no party received more seats in the National Council since 1965, when the number of seats was established at 200.<ref name="SlideToRight"/> In the same election, [[leftist]] parties lost a large number of seats.<ref name="SlideToRight"/><ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/10/19/swiss-parliament-shifts-to-right-in-vote-dominated-by-migrant-surge/ Swiss Parliament Shifts To Right In Vote Dominated By Migrant Surge]. ''Breitbart'' (by ''AFP''). October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref>