The Cantonal Calculus: Marco Chiesa Joins the Race for the Federal Council

The departure of Guy Parmelin from the Federal Council has set off the customary political arithmetic in Bern. Marco Chiesa, the Ticinese member of the Council of States and former national president of the Swiss People’s Party, has formally declared his availability for the executive seat. While Ticino already claims a sitting cabinet minister in Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, Chiesa's home canton section has officially submitted his candidacy to the party’s selection committee, pitching a strategy anchored in medium-term regional representation.

Chiesa’s bid rests heavily on institutional experience. Currently overseeing finance, legal affairs, and IT as a municipal councilor in Lugano, his political career spans local government, four years in the National Council, and a seat in the Council of States since 2019. Having led the national party from 2020 to 2024, he argues that representing a linguistic minority requires a thorough understanding of all Swiss regions, languages, and political cultures. According to Chiesa, an ideal ticket for the party would pair his candidacies with a contender from German-speaking Switzerland.

The selection committee faces a crowded field before nominations close on Friday at noon. From French-speaking Switzerland, Geneva National Councilor Céline Amaudruz has declared her candidacy and is viewed as a formidable candidate. Bern’s cantonal government president Pierre Alain Schnegg has also entered the contest, while Solothurn National Councilor Rémy Wyssmann, a lawyer and lecturer, launched a more unexpected bid. Other prominent figures are weighing their options: Zug National Councilor Thomas Aeschi remains a recognized candidate, though his prospects face headwinds following the election of Martin Pfister from the same canton.

Financial executive and National Councilor Thomas Matter is evaluating a run, as is Valais State Councilor Franz Ruppen, who was suggested by Esther Friedli and plans to announce his decision shortly. Aargau National Councilor Benjamin Giezendanner has likewise indicated openness should the party approach him. The SVP parliamentary group is scheduled to finalize its official candidate ticket on November 20, setting up the ultimate election by the Federal Assembly on December 9.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com