The political balance in Fribourg shifted after the UDC became the leading political force by vote share in a French-speaking Swiss canton for the first time, according to reporting by the NZZ.
Fribourg election results
During Sunday’s cantonal elections, the UDC secured 22.2% of the vote, rising from 17.3% in 2021, as reported by the NZZ. This result marks a sharp contrast to its fourth-place standing in the canton five years prior. Meanwhile, the right-wing Entente fribourgeoise secured the top five positions in the first round of the Council of State election. Incumbent PLR candidates Romain Collaud and Didier Castella finished closely with 44,217 votes (55.9%) and 43,789 votes (55.35%) respectively, while Centre candidate Marie-France Roth Pasquier also cleared the absolute majority with 41,977 votes (53.06%). Markus Julmy of Le Centre captured 48.41% of the vote, and incumbent UDC councillor Philippe Demierre took 46.89%.
Did You Know? In the Gruyère district, which was traditionally won by the PLR and saw rapid population growth in Bulle, the UDC rose to become the primary political force despite not having a local section there at the start of the 2000s, according to data from the État de Fribourg.
Left-wing candidates followed in the rankings, led by district prefect Lise-Marie Graden at 43.89% and green incumbent Sylvie Bonvin-Sansonnens at 41.23%, with remaining candidates from the left alliance trailing behind. Voter turnout for the ballot reached 36.09%.
Demographic growth and party gains drive UDC success
Fribourg National Councillor Nicolas Kolly attributes the party’s gains to the canton’s rapid demographic growth over the past twenty years, which he argues amplified the UDC platform on immigration control, as cited by the NZZ. Former La Liberté editor-in-chief Louis Ruffieux suggested that the PLR inadvertently helped strengthen the UDC by forming an alliance with Le Centre, as reported in the same coverage.
Expert Insight: The UDC’s breakthrough in a French-speaking canton breaks a long-standing regional barrier, and the party is progressing more broadly in French-speaking Switzerland ahead of federal elections in one year.
With federal elections approaching in one year, the UDC’s status as the top political force in Fribourg could encourage the party to challenge the PLR for its Fribourg seat in the Council of States, according to the NZZ.
Remaining council seats
The remaining four seats on the Council of State will be decided in a run-off election scheduled for November 29, featuring contests between right-wing and left-wing candidates.
Questions about the Fribourg cantonal elections
When did the Fribourg cantonal elections take place?
The cantonal elections were held on Sunday, as reported by the NZZ.
Which candidates secured election to the Council of State in the first round?
Incumbent PLR politicians Romain Collaud and Didier Castella, alongside Centre candidate Marie-France Roth Pasquier, secured election in the first round.
When will the run-off elections for the remaining government seats occur?
The remaining four positions on the Council of State will be contested between the right and the left on November 29.
How might this change in Fribourg's political makeup influence upcoming federal races across western Switzerland?
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