2015 Swiss Federal Council election

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An election for all seven members of the Federal Council, the Government of Switzerland, was held on 9 December 2015, following the federal election on 19 October 2015, for the 2016–2020 term.^[1]

Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, a member of the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD), announced she would not run for reelection after the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) won a record 29.4% of the vote, whilst her own party received 4.1% of the vote.^[2][3] The SVP/UDC was widely expected to fill her seat in the election; it chose Thomas Aeschi (Zug), Guy Parmelin (Vaud) and Norman Gobbi (Ticino) as candidates for the seat, with Aeschi being the favourite at the time.^[4][5]

Guy Parmelin, of the SVP/UDC, was ultimately elected by the Federal Assembly on 9 December 2015.^[1] Parmelin, a farmer and winegrower from Bursins in the canton of Vaud, became the first Federal Councillor of the Swiss People's Party from the French-speaking part of Switzerland.^[1][6]

There was a minor cabinet reshuffle after the election, as newly elected Federal Councillor Parmelin was selected to become head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, replacing fellow SVP/UDC member Ueli Maurer, who became head of the Federal Department of Finance.^[7] The SVP/UDC regained its second seat on the Federal Council, which it had lost in 2008, when the newly created BDP/PBD split from the SVP/UDC.

Incumbents, in descending order of seniority, including political party affiliation and department at the time of the election:

• Doris Leuthard (CVP/PDC), from Aargau, head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications,
• Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (BDP/PBD), from Grisons, head of the Federal Department of Finance (did not run for reelection),
• Ueli Maurer (SVP/UDC), from Zürich, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports,
• Didier Burkhalter (FDP.The Liberals), from Neuchâtel, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs,
• Simonetta Sommaruga (SPS/PSS), from Bern, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police,
• Johann Schneider-Ammann (FDP.The Liberals), from Bern, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research,
• Alain Berset (SPS/PSS), from Fribourg, head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs.

Source showing only the final tallies in favour of the winner of each seat:^[1]

Doris Leuthard (CVP/PDC) was reelected in the first round of voting.

Ueli Maurer (SVP/UDC) was reelected in the first round of voting.

Didier Burkhalter (FDP.The Liberals) was reelected in the first round of voting.

Simonetta Sommaruga (SPS/PSS) was reelected in the first round of voting.

Johann Schneider-Ammann (FDP.The Liberals) was reelected in the first round of voting.

Alain Berset (SPS/PSS) was reelected in the first round of voting.

Guy Parmelin (SVP/UDC) was elected to the Federal Council after three rounds of voting.