Right-Wing Populist Wins Seat In Swiss Cabinet

Just weeks after the right-wing Swiss People's Party swept to victory in October's elections, the party has won a second seat in the cabinet, Switzerland's executive body on Wednesday. It's a development that alters the face of Swiss politics for the first time in 44 years.

A cat among the pigeons

The appointment of industrialist billionaire Christoph Blocher, best known for his outspoken views on asylum seekers and immigrants and his criticism of the EU, marks the most serious political upset in Switzerland in years.

Estimated to be the ninth-richest person in Switzerland, the 63-year-old populist politician's arrival in the cabinet certainly puts the cat among the pigeons. The same four parties have governed Switzerland since 1959 with what's called "a magic formula" -- a seven-member cabinet carved up between two socialist ministers (SP), two radicals (FDP), two Christian Democrats (CVP) and one member of the Swiss People's Party (SVP).

Blocher responded to his appointment by saying "I will do everything in my power within this government to solve the problems facing this country -- and which I believe to be more serious than so far assumed."

Blocher's election gives his party two seats instead of their usual one, while the Christian Democrats have lost the seat held by Justice Minister Ruth Metzler-Arnold -- leaving just one woman in the cabinet, Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey. Metzler-Arnold described the move as "a black day for women and the younger generation."

Appointment stirs protests

Many agreed, with some 2,500 demonstrators taking to Switzerland's streets to protest at Blocher's appointment.

Although conflicting policies will be inevitable, Blocher maintains he will not rock the traditional consensus and that he can work within the coalition.

Observers are keen to see if the increase in the isolationist People's Party power will have an impact on Swiss policy. While many are concerned by the increased extremist presence within the cabinet, others believe that anchoring this sort of firebrand party within government will keep its more controversial policies from spreading further.

Swing to the right

In recent years, the People's Party has moved increasingly to the right, doubling its support in the process. In October's elections, the party scooped 27.7 percent of the votes, the highest share of the vote for a political party in Switzerland in some 60 years.

With asylum applications in Switzerland rising by over 25 percent in 2002, the country has seen a recent rise in xenophobia. In the run-up to the general elections, the People's Party drew criticism for its inflammatory, anti-immigration campaign. When the UN's refugee body condemned the campaign's message, which appeared to blame the country's rising crime rate on asylum seekers, a series of posters that featured what critics described as racist caricatures were withdrawn.

After Wednesday's vote, Hildegard Fessler from the Socialists said "Mr Blocher...marginalizes minorities and fans the flames of xenophobia", adding that "he breaches values important to the Swiss people, such as tolerance."

Nonetheless, Blocher 's party seems to have touched a national nerve. It was the increased support for the People's Party reflected in the general elections that prompted them to demand greater representation in parliament.

But his power may be restrained by the country's traditional referendum system.

Restraints of referendum system

The Swiss government is required to hold referendums on controversial issues if campaigners have collected 100,000 signatures -- a tradition which helps limit a single party's effectiveness in pushing through their own agenda.

Until now, Blocher has used this to his own advantage. In 1986, he founded the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (CINS) and organized campaigns and referendums to maintain Swiss neutrality and keep the country out of international organizations such as the UN. (Swiss voters finally approved the country's entry into the international body in 2002.) The ultra-conservative SVP has also frequently used the referendum system to counter government policy on issues including European integration and immigration.

It is not yet clear which portfolio Blocher will be given, but he's been widely tipped as finance minister. If so, he's expected to push ahead with reforms aimed at reducing low economic growth, cutting taxes and tackling the country's growing unemployment problem. He's also announced he'll be stepping down as chief executive of the Swiss plastics and chemicals giant EMS Chemie, the company with which he made his fortune, by the end of the year.