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Should Swiss abroad be guaranteed seats in parliament?

The number of Swiss living abroad able to vote and stand in federal elections continues to increase. However, their chances of actually winning a seat in parliament remain negligible. Should a certain number of seats be reserved for the Swiss abroad? What is your view?

At the end of 2010, 695,101 Swiss citizens were registered in Swiss legations abroad, 1.5% more than the previous year. Of these, 538,243 are adults and thus have the right to vote and run for election in parliament.

In order to participate in voting or to run for office, they have to be registered at the Swiss legation in their country of residence and also be on the voting register of a municipality in Switzerland.

Political participation by the expatriate community is increasing steadily. At the end of 2010, 135,877 Swiss abroad had their names on voting registers at home, which represents a 4.5% growth in one year.

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Parties divided over how to woo expat votes

This content was published on Over the past few years, they have set up international branches, special websites, held political debates abroad and created electoral lists to promote expat candidates. “Few Swiss are aware of how many of their compatriots live abroad,” says Social Democratic parliamentarian, Hans-Jürg Fehr. “Anyone hazarding a guess will come up with a number much lower…

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Expatriates feel sidelined by Swiss politicians

This content was published on Despite the rising interest, Rudolf Wyder, director of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), says the importance of the expat community is not appreciated sufficiently. Back in 1992 when the vote by postal service was introduced, about 14,000 Swiss living abroad took part in ballots. But since then participation has increased steadily. At the…

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Swiss abroad get involved in electoral debate

This content was published on The internet platform for Swiss abroad is now looking forward to playing an active role in the debate on the federal elections later this year. The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) looks after the interests of Swiss expatriates worldwide, who are often referred to as “the fifth Switzerland”. Since last August when it launched…

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Manifesto promotes interests of Swiss abroad

This content was published on The response this initiative gets from the politicians at home is likely to influence the choices of over half a million expats with the right to take part in the ballot. Clearly determined to occupy a prominent place in federal politics, the Swiss abroad community is addressing itself directly to parties and candidates running for…

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