Council of States election campaign

31 May 2011. Switzerland is facing hotly contested elections this autumn. The seats in the Council of States are particularly strongly coveted. In the Canton of St.Gallen, a neck-and-neck race is expected between five candidates: the Swiss Popular Party (SVP) is aiming at a seat in the small chamber with National Councillor and Party Chairman Toni Brunner. The Christian Democrat Party (CVP) is the only party to enter the lists with a present Councillor of State, namely Eugen David. The Greens intend to take advantage of the present mood by sending in National Councillor Yvonne Gilli. The Liberal Radical Party (FDP) is backing cantonal minister Karin Keller-Sutter to defend the seat left by Erika Forster, who has retired. Finally, the Social Democrat Party (SP) is fielding National Council and Trades Union Chairman Paul Rechsteiner.

The audience can ask questions

On 9 June, all five candidates for the Council of States will meet for the first time in a public debate in the HSG’s Audimax. The discussion will be chaired by St.Galler Tagblatt editor Stefan Schmid. The event will be open to the general public, admission will be free. After the discussion, the audience will have an opportunity to ask the candidates questions.

Organised by the Alt-Zofingia

The event is organised by the Alt-Zofingia St.Gallen. The Alt-Zofingia St.Gallen is a section of Switzerland’s Alt-Zofingervereins and unites the previous active members of the Zofingia fraternity in the Canton of St.Gallen and neighbouring places. The Zofingia is Switzerland’s biggest student fraternity to wear uniform colours.