Changes

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.<ref name="pp.134">Skenderovic, pp. 134.</ref> He was not re-elected in 2007<ref name="pp.134"/> 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).<ref name="pp.134"/> Despite its name, it is not a real conservative party and supports socially liberal 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.<ref name="pp.134">Skenderovic, pp. 134.</ref> He was not re-elected in 2007<ref name="pp.134"/> 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).<ref name="pp.134"/> Despite its name, it is not a real conservative party and supports socially liberal 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 1963, 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 1963, 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>[https://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>

From the 1991 federal election to the 2015 election, the SVP grew 250 percent.<ref>[https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/politik/wahlen.assetdetail.40151.html Nationalratswahlen 2015: Analyse]. ''bfs.admin.ch'' (in German). Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref>

From the 1991 federal election to the 2015 election, the SVP grew 250 percent.<ref>[https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/politik/wahlen.assetdetail.40151.html Nationalratswahlen 2015: Analyse]. ''bfs.admin.ch'' (in German). Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref>

The SVP is a national conservative party.<ref name="Nordsieck">Nordsieck, Wolfram (2015). [http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/switzerland.html Switzerland]. ''Parties and Elections in Europe''. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> The SVP supports [[small government]], the [[free market]], Swiss [[sovereignty]], and it opposes the encroachment of Swiss [[independence]], mass [[immigration]], [[Same-sex "marriage"|homosexual "marriage"]], and the [[welfare state]].<ref name="Nordsieck"/><ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/yes-or-no-_swiss-political-parties-reveal-their-colours/41640412 Swiss political parties reveal their colours]. ''Swissinfo''. September 11, 2015. Retrieved Ocotber 12, 2016.</ref> It supports [[Euroskeptic]] policies.

The SVP is a national conservative party.<ref name="Nordsieck">Nordsieck, Wolfram (2015). [http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/switzerland.html Switzerland]. ''Parties and Elections in Europe''. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> The SVP supports [[small government]], the [[free market]], Swiss [[sovereignty]], and it opposes the encroachment of Swiss [[independence]], mass [[immigration]], [[Same-sex "marriage"|homosexual "marriage"]], and the [[welfare state]].<ref name="Nordsieck"/><ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/yes-or-no-_swiss-political-parties-reveal-their-colours/41640412 Swiss political parties reveal their colours]. ''Swissinfo''. September 11, 2015. Retrieved Ocotber 12, 2016.</ref> It supports [[Euroskeptic]] policies.

Successful referendums that the SVP has sponsored include a 2009 initiative to ban the construction of any new minarets,<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/29/switzerland.minaret.referendum/index.html?iref=24hours Swiss vote to ban minaret construction]. ''CNN''. November 29, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> a 2010 initiative to expel foreigners who commit crimes,<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/2010-initiative_foreign-criminal-expulsion-law-set-for-october/42001678 Foreign criminal expulsion law set for October]. ''Swissinfo''. March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.<br>See also:

Successful referendums that the SVP has sponsored include a 2009 initiative to ban the construction of any new minarets,<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/29/switzerland.minaret.referendum/index.html?iref=24hours Swiss vote to ban minaret construction]. ''CNN''. November 29, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> a 2010 initiative to expel foreigners who commit crimes,<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/2010-initiative_foreign-criminal-expulsion-law-set-for-october/42001678 Foreign criminal expulsion law set for October]. ''Swissinfo''. March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.<br>See also:

*[https://www.thelocal.ch/20180606/switzerland-publishes-false-data-on-deportation-of-foreign-criminals Switzerland publishes false data on deportation of foreign criminals]. ''The Local''. June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.</ref> and a 2014 initiative to limit immigration by instituting quotas on it.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/swiss-voters-narrowly-back-referendum-curbing-immigration/a-17420367 Swiss voters narrowly back referendum curbing immigration]. ''Deutsche Welle''. February 9, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> It must be noted, however, that when implementing the 2010<ref>Raaflaub, Christian (January 6, 2016). [http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/-initiative_literal-implementation-causes-controversy/41863564 Deportation initiative back before voters]. ''Swissinfo''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> and 2014<ref>[http://www.thelocal.ch/20161216/svp-bern-capitulates-with-final-immigration-vote It's official: Switzerland defies referendum and won't impose EU immigration controls]. ''The Local''. December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> referendums, the Swiss government did not institute a strict implementation but diverged from the referendum and the intentions of the SVP.

*[https://www.thelocal.ch/20180606/switzerland-publishes-false-data-on-deportation-of-foreign-criminals Switzerland publishes false data on deportation of foreign criminals]. ''The Local''. June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.</ref> and a 2014 initiative to limit immigration by instituting quotas on it.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/swiss-voters-narrowly-back-referendum-curbing-immigration/a-17420367 Swiss voters narrowly back referendum curbing immigration]. ''Deutsche Welle''. February 9, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> It must be noted, however, that when implementing the 2010<ref>Raaflaub, Christian (January 6, 2016). [http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/-initiative_literal-implementation-causes-controversy/41863564 Deportation initiative back before voters]. ''Swissinfo''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> and 2014<ref>[http://www.thelocal.ch/20161216/svp-bern-capitulates-with-final-immigration-vote It's official: Switzerland defies referendum and won't impose EU immigration controls]. ''The Local''. December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> referendums, the Swiss government did not institute a strict implementation but diverged from the referendum and the intentions of the SVP.