Switzerland 1979 federal election
What was the result of the 1979 federal election in Switzerland?
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland and Free Democratic Party of Switzerland each won 51 of 200 seats. 48.0% of registered voters cast a ballot.
Switzerland- Held:
- Final result
- ParlGov, read 5 October 2026
Which parties won the most seats?
Final results from ParlGov, read : Social Democratic Party of Switzerland and Free Democratic Party of Switzerland each won 51 of 200 seats, more than any other party; 48.0% of registered voters cast a ballot, down 4.3 points on 1975.
- Social Democratic Party of Switzerland 51 −4 seats 24.4% −0.5 points
- Free Democratic Party of Switzerland 51 +4 seats 24.0% +1.8 points
- Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland 44 −2 seats 21.3% +0.2 points
- Swiss People's Party 23 +2 seats 11.6% +1.7 points
- Alliance of Independents 8 −3 seats 4.1% −2.0 points
- Liberal Party of Switzerland 8 +2 seats 2.8% +0.4 points
- Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland 3 0 seats 2.2% +0.2 points
- Autonomous Socialist Party 1 0 seats 1.7% +1.4 points
- Swiss Democrats 2 0 seats 1.3% −1.2 points
- Republican Movement 1 −3 seats 0.6% −2.4 points
- Green Party of Switzerland 1 0.6%
- Swiss Party of Labour 3 −1 seat 0.4% −2.0 points
- Seats won
- Change on the previous election at the right
- Share of the vote
- Share at the previous election
- Change in points at the right
Changes are against the Switzerland 1975 federal election, party by party.
- Free Democratic Party of Switzerland51
- Social Democratic Party of Switzerland51
- Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland44
- Swiss People's Party23
- Alliance of Independents8
- Liberal Party of Switzerland8
- Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland3
- Swiss Party of Labour3
- Progressive Organizations of Switzerland2
- Swiss Democrats2
- Agreement Jura1
- Autonomous Socialist Party1
- Green Party of Switzerland1
- Republican Movement1
- Unnamed party with one seat1
Key numbers
+4 seats
Seats gained by Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The largest gain in seats compared with 1975. Social Democratic Party of Switzerland lost 4 seats.
48.0%
Voter turnout
Down 4.3 points on 1975.
Seats and votes by party
| Party | Seats | ± seats | % | ± points | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Democratic Party of Switzerland | 51 | −4 | 24.4 | −0.5 | 447,990 |
| Free Democratic Party of Switzerland | 51 | +4 | 24.0 | +1.8 | 440,099 |
| Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland | 44 | −2 | 21.3 | +0.2 | 390,281 |
| Swiss People's Party | 23 | +2 | 11.6 | +1.7 | 212,705 |
| Alliance of Independents | 8 | −3 | 4.1 | −2.0 | 74,623 |
| Liberal Party of Switzerland | 8 | +2 | 2.8 | +0.4 | 51,258 |
| Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland | 3 | 0 | 2.2 | +0.2 | 40,744 |
| Autonomous Socialist Party | 1 | 0 | 1.7 | +1.4 | 31,128 |
| Swiss Democrats | 2 | 0 | 1.3 | −1.2 | 24,257 |
| Republican Movementwith Vigilants | 1 | −3 | 0.6 | −2.4 | 11,587 |
| Green Party of Switzerland | 1 | 0.6 | 11,583 | ||
| Swiss Party of Labour | 3 | −1 | 0.4 | −2.0 | 8,147 |
The other parties and groups
| Party | Seats | ± seats | % | ± points | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland | 0 | 0.3 | 4,626 | ||
| Progressive Organizations of Switzerland | 2 | +2 | 0.2 | −0.8 | 3,236 |
| Agreement Jura | 1 | ||||
| Unnamed party with one seat | 1 |
± is the change against the Switzerland 1975 federal election, party by party.
Votes by party
- Social Democratic Party of Switzerland 447,990
- Free Democratic Party of Switzerland 440,099
- Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland 390,281
- Swiss People's Party 212,705
- Alliance of Independents 74,623
- Liberal Party of Switzerland 51,258
- Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland 40,744
- Autonomous Socialist Party 31,128
- Swiss Democrats 24,257
- Republican Movement 11,587
- Green Party of Switzerland 11,583
- Swiss Party of Labour 8,147
- Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland 4,626
- Progressive Organizations of Switzerland 3,236
- Agreement Jura
- Unnamed party with one seat
ParlGov lists parties with at least 1 percent of the vote or 2 seats, so the rows do not add up to the valid votes.
ParlGov counts an alliance's votes and seats under its first party: such a row names the allies it counts.
How many people voted?
48.0% of the 3,864,285 registered voters cast a ballot (1,856,651 ballots), down 4.3 points on 1975. 1,833,191 of them were valid votes. The lowest turnout of this kind in our data, which begins in 1947.
How do the votes compare with the seats?
- Social Democratic Party of Switzerland24.4% of votes25.5% of seats
- Free Democratic Party of Switzerland24.0% of votes25.5% of seats
- Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland21.3% of votes22.0% of seats
- Swiss People's Party11.6% of votes11.5% of seats
- Alliance of Independents4.1% of votes4.0% of seats
- Liberal Party of Switzerland2.8% of votes4.0% of seats
- Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland2.2% of votes1.5% of seats
- Swiss Party of Labour0.4% of votes1.5% of seats
- Swiss Democrats1.3% of votes1.0% of seats
- Progressive Organizations of Switzerland0.2% of votes1.0% of seats
- Autonomous Socialist Party1.7% of votes0.5% of seats
- Green Party of Switzerland0.6% of votes0.5% of seats
The Gallagher index of disproportionality is 2.2 (0 when seats follow votes exactly); the effective number of parties is 5.6 by votes and 5.1 by seats; Social Democratic Party of Switzerland led Free Democratic Party of Switzerland by 0.4 points of the vote.
Time and source Data as of