[REVISION HISTORY]

Céline Amaudruz and others enter race for Federal Council

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2026-10-26 06:43 UTC → 2026-10-26 08:12 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Céline Amaudruz, a National Councilor and Vice President of the Swiss People's Party (SVP), has officially declared her candidacy to succeed Guy Parmelin on the Swiss Federal Council. Her bid is bolstered by supporters in the Romandie region seeking to preserve French-speaking representation in the government. As the race intensifies ahead of the December 9 parliamentary vote, Amaudruz faces scrutiny over her political record, a 2016 driving under the influence incident, and her status as a mother of two young children. Critics have raised questions regarding her ability to balance family life with the role, a discourse some observers have characterized as a gendered double standard compared to male politicians. Following the application deadline on October 23, approximately seven to eight candidates have emerged. Alongside early applicants Amaudruz and Rémy Wyssmann, new contenders include Pierre Alain Schnegg, Jean-Pierre Gallati, Franz Ruppen, Marco Chiesa, Michael Graber, and Thomas Aeschi, the latter proposed by the Zug SVP. Thomas Matter has announced he will not seek the seat. Internal tensions have surfaced regarding Amaudruz’s candidacy. While she could become the first SVP woman in the Federal Council representing French-speaking Switzerland, she faces opposition from German-speaking SVP members. Critics have characterized her as arrogant and raised concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, noting that several of her political motions align closely with her professional background in the banking sector. New scrutiny has emerged regarding her professional independence and corporate mandates. The ~~SVP parliamentary~~ Ethos Foundation has recommended her removal as chair of the board at Groupe Minoteries, citing a lack of independence due to significant family stakes in the group ~~is scheduled~~ and concerns regarding ‘overboarding,’ or holding too many mandates. Ethos also noted potential conflicts regarding her parliamentary motions related to ~~nominate its official ticket by November 20, following an internal party commission review.~~ FINMA.

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