Natalie Rickli declines to run for Federal Council

Natalie Rickli, a member of the Zurich cantonal government and of the Swiss People's Party (SVP), announced on social media on Monday that she will not run for the Federal Council seat left vacant by Guy Parmelin's resignation.

The Zurich politician had been seen as one of the most credible candidates, thanks to a record combining her past experience as a National Councillor with her current mandate in the cantonal government. Rickli thanked people for the many supportive messages she received over the past two weeks, called it an honour to have been mentioned as a candidate, and praised Parmelin's work.

While acknowledging that Zurich representation on the Federal Council would be "justified and important", Rickli explained that "precisely at this stage, Zurich, as the most populous canton, needs a stable government". A decisive factor is the 2027 cantonal elections, for which only three of the seven current executive members intend to run again. Rickli added that she wants to keep taking responsibility within the canton, and thanked the SVP's cantonal section for inviting her to run.

Rüegsegger also withdraws

André Rüegsegger, the 50-year-old Schwyz government councillor who heads the construction department, also stepped back on Monday. He cited personal and professional reasons, saying that becoming a Federal Councillor had never been one of his goals. In his case too, the cantonal party section had prompted him to consider a candidacy.

So far, only Geneva National Councillor Céline Amaudruz has officially declared her candidacy. The SVP has never had a woman on the Federal Council: the one earlier case, that of Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, elected in 2007 without being an official candidate, ended with her switching parties the following year.

Among the other names mentioned is Fribourg National Councillor Nicolas Kolly, who has said he is interested and will announce his decision soon. Other possible candidates include cantonal councillors Pierre Alain Schnegg (Bern) and Franz Ruppen (Valais), as well as National Councillors Thomas Aeschi, Thomas Matter and Franz Grüter.

SVP cantonal sections have until October 23 to submit candidacies to the search committee. The SVP parliamentary group will decide on the final ticket on November 20, while the Federal Assembly will elect Parmelin's successor on December 9. The person elected will take office on January 1.