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Swiss party scrambles to fill council seats after election win

A stunning election victory turned into a recruitment nightmare. Can the SVP find three loyal candidates before time runs out?

In the image it is a hall and it has a lot of empty seats and in the front row a person sitting on...
In the image it is a hall and it has a lot of empty seats and in the front row a person sitting on one of the seat, in front of him there is a dais.

Swiss party scrambles to fill council seats after election win

The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) in Buchs, Aargau, faces an unusual challenge after securing eight seats in the local council but only having five willing candidates. The party now has until January 9 to find three more members who align with its values—or risk triggering by-elections for the empty positions.

The SVP’s shortfall follows the recent municipal elections, where voter support handed the party eight council seats. However, only five of its members agreed to take office, leaving three positions unfilled. Faction leader Dieter Stüssi acknowledged the rare scenario but expressed gratitude for the public’s trust in the party.

The SVP now has a tight window to recruit suitable candidates who match its principles. Failure to do so by January 9 will lead to by-elections for the remaining seats. The outcome will determine whether the party retains full control of its eight council positions or shares them with new contenders.

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