In the upcoming 2027 elections for the Vaud Council of State, the PLR Vaud has confirmed that its three incumbent ministers—Christelle Luisier, Frédéric Borloz, and Isabelle Moret—will be the party’s sole candidates seeking re-election. According to party announcements made during the political rentrée press conference in Lutry, no surprise internal candidacies were submitted ahead of the Monday evening deadline. The party will present these joint tickets alongside Jean-François Thuillard of the UDC during the upcoming party congress scheduled for September 10.
Electoral Alliances and Exclusions Involving Le Centre
The PLR Vaud is actively building alliances across the political spectrum for the upcoming legislative race. According to vice-president Luc-Olivier Stramke, discussions with the UDC Vaud are well underway to establish a joint electoral strategy, with talks involving other center-right parties continuing over the coming weeks. Party president Florence Bettschart-Narbel confirmed that the Green Liberals, who have designated Virginie Cavalli as their single candidate from Lausanne, are also participating in these collaborative discussions.
At the same time, the PLR Vaud has drawn a firm red line regarding potential partnerships with Le Centre. According to statements reported by Keystone-ATS, the party explicitly excludes any alliance with Le Centre if Valérie Dittli seeks a second term on the government. The party president clarified that discussions with Le Centre would only reopen if the political formation presents a candidate other than Ms. Dittli.
Did You Know? Valérie Dittli, the youngest member of the Council of State, faced a direct party deadline to declare her intentions regarding her second-term candidacy.
Social Policy Reform and State Bureaucracy
During the recent press briefing, the PLR Vaud outlined its primary legislative focus for the final year of the term: halting the accumulation of bureaucratic hurdles and social assistance programs. The party plans to submit a formal postulat to the Grand Council demanding a comprehensive, cross-cutting evaluation of social benefits to eliminate redundancies and address threshold effects that discourage employment re-entry.
According to Florence Bettschart-Narbel, social policy must function as a bridge toward independence rather than a mere metric of distributed provisions. “A social policy must not be evaluated by the number of benefits distributed, but by its capacity to allow individuals to regain sustainable autonomy through work, training, and integration,” she stated during the briefing.
Internal Party Divisions on the 12% Tax Cut Initiative
Ahead of the September 27 cantonal vote on the popular initiative known as the “12% Tax Cut for All,” the PLR Vaud finds its leadership and base taking differing stances. Vice-president Gregory Bovay defended the text by arguing that it returns purchasing power to the middle class, artisans, and hospitality workers, contrasting it with the left’s characterization of the measure as a tax break for the wealthy.
Despite this official framing, a notable split persists within the party. The Council of State—including the three PLR ministers—along with a significant portion of PLR deputies in the Grand Council, formally recommends rejecting the initiative. Conversely, the grassroots membership of the PLR voted overwhelmingly in favor of the measure during a party congress held in late June.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the PLR Vaud candidates for the 2027 Council of State elections?
The three incumbent ministers standing for re-election are Christelle Luisier (finance), Frédéric Borloz (schools), and Isabelle Moret (economy).
What is the PLR Vaud’s stance on an alliance with Le Centre?
The PLR Vaud explicitly excludes any alliance with Le Centre if Valérie Dittli runs for a second term, though talks would resume if Le Centre nominates a different candidate.
How does the party view the upcoming 12% tax cut vote?
While the party’s grassroots voted heavily to support the initiative in June, the government and most PLR Grand Council deputies formally recommend rejecting it.
? How do you view the balance between grassroots party decisions and the official positions taken by incumbent government ministers?
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