Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland
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Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union (EDU) ( Council of States | 0 / 46 | |
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Cantonal legislatures | 19 / 2,609 | |
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The Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (German: Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union, EDU; French: Union Démocratique Fédérale, UDF; Italian: Unione Democratica Federale, UDF; Romansch: Uniun Democrata Federala, UDF) is a national-conservative[2] political party in Switzerland. Its ideology is politically conservative, Protestant fundamentalist, and right-wing populist.[3] It is similar to the Christian right in the United States, and its top goals were to promote "biblical values" and oppose other cultures and values.[3]
Founded in 1975, the party's current president is Hans Moser . The EDU is a minor political party that polls around 1% of the vote and holds one seat in the Swiss National Council as of 2019.
History
The EDU was founded in 1975 as a split of the
At the beginning of its existence, the EDU's platform was strongly influenced by the ideology of Otto Strasser, revolutionary nationalism and solidarism.[5] Despite being nationalistic and patriotic, the party supported socialist economic policies as opposed to capitalism or communism.[5] In the early 1980s, the EDU underwent an ideological shift, with fundamentalist Christianity and the Bible becoming the most important parts of its ideology.[5] It promoted socially conservative policies.[5] At the same time, the EDU adopted right-wing populist positions on issues such as immigration, integration into supranational unions, and Islam.[6] It adopted strongly pro-Israel views.[7]
In the 1970s and 1980s, support of the EDU grew particularly with conservative free-church groups, both traditional and newly established. The language of the EDU was influenced during this time by a directive and on the basis of interest in dispensationalism from an eschatological tone.[8]
In 1991, the EDU entered the
In May 2007 the party became a member of the European Christian Political Movement,[citation needed] which claims: "The source of these Christian values are the Bible and the Christian tradition. These sources are in itself not a political program. These sources call us to serve the people of Europe...".[12] The EDU is no longer listed as being a member of the ECPM.
The EDU received 1.3% of the popular vote in the
However, in the 2011 elections, the party lost its seat in the Swiss National Council, even though it still received the same percentage of the popular vote. In the 2019 elections the party won one seat in the Swiss National Council, regaining representation.
Ideology
The EDU is a politically conservative, Protestant fundamentalist, and right-wing populist party.[3] It is similar to the Christian right in the United States, and its top goals were to promote "biblical values" and oppose other cultures and values.[3] The party has also been described as "ultra-conservative."[13]
The EDU sees itself as a Christian party and uses the Bible as the guideline for its policies. On questions concerning the environment, the EDU stands rather center-left,[14] however with family, social, and educational policy, the EDU takes a conservative stance. The EDU want a debt-free state.
The EDU has close connections to free churches.[15]
Social policy
The EDU rejects equating homosexual and heterosexual marriages and is committed against abortion, euthanasia, and the exploitation of women by sexist advertising. Thus, the EDU calls that abortion should not be financed by public funds and suicide tourism should be prohibited. Also, the EDU is against heroin clinics and calls for a smoking ban in restaurants and bars. The EDU supports traditional families. The EDU is skeptical of the equalization of both genders, saying that is neglecting of children, and believes that the main caregivers of children are ideally the parents.[16][17] The EDU opposes the criminalization of homophobia.[18]
The EDU sponsored an unsuccessful[19] referendum, held on November 27, 2016, in the Canton of Zürich, that would have defined marriage as only between one man and one woman.[20]
Foreign policy
The EDU is critical of the
Environmental policy
In environmental policy, the EDU does not see the real problem as in climate change, but rather in the enormous consumption of resources and energy. Thus, the EDU supports a dedicated, time-limited incentive tax on the oil tax for fossil fuels and propellants and calls the replacement of the Climate Cent and the CO2 tax (gasoline, etc.). The proceeds of this incentive tax would go to renewable energy sources such as water, wind, and solar energy and would promote energy efficiency. In the long term, the EDU wants to phase out
Party presidents
- 1979–1989: Peter Rüst[9]
- 1989–1995: better source needed]
- 1995–2001: Christian Waber
- 2001–present: better source needed]
Election results
National Council
Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | 6,717 | 0.3% | 0 / 200
|
New |
1979 | 4,626 | 0.3% | 0 / 200
|
|
1983 | 7,590 | 0.4% | 0 / 200
|
|
1987 | 17,830 | 0.9% | 0 / 200
|
|
1991 | 20,395 | 1.0% | 1 / 200
|
1 |
1995 | 24,795 | 1.3% | 1 / 200
|
|
1999 | 24,355 | 1.2% | 1 / 200
|
|
2003 | 26,590 | 1.3% | 2 / 200
|
1 |
2007 | 29,914 | 1.3% | 1 / 200
|
1 |
2011 | 31,056 | 1.3% | 0 / 200
|
1 |
2015[25] | 29,701 | 1.2% | 0 / 200
|
|
2019 | 24,145 | 1.0% | 1 / 200
|
1 |
2023 | 31,513 | 1.2% | 2 / 200
|
1 |
Bibliography
- Skenderovic, Damir (2009). The radical right in Switzerland: continuity and change, 1945-2000. Berghahn Books. ISBN 978-1-84545-580-4.
References
- ^ Der Bund kurz erklärt (in German). Swiss Confederation. 2011. p. 21. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24.
- ^ a b c d Nordsieck, Wolfram (2015). "Switzerland". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Skenderovic 2009, p. 92.
- ^ a b Skenderovic 2009, p. 93.
- ^ a b c d Skenderovic 2009, p. 96.
- ^ Skenderovic 2009, pp. 97–99.
- ^ Skenderovic 2009, pp. 98.
- ^ Protestantische Parteien und evangelisch-konservative Christen Retrieved March 27, 2014
- ^ a b c Skenderovic 2009, p. 94.
- ^ a b c d Skenderovic 2009, p. 95.
- ^ Skenderovic 2009, p. 99.
- ^ "What makes us different | ECPM". Archived from the original on 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
- ^ "Switzerland: Same-sex marriage, transgender rights move a step forward". dw.com. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ Die zwei Gesichter der EDU NZZ Online 16 July 2009. Retrieved, 21 February 2014
- Swissinfo. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
There was no longer any need to invoke the Old Testament, or the eugenic fantasies of the Nazis – as the ultra conservative Federal Democratic Union, a party with close links to evangelical free churches, had done – in order to reject the revised law.
- ^ Kamf um Gleichstellung der Frau Berner Zeitung, 03-03-2010. Retrieved March 27, 2014 (German)
- ^ "Fokustag für die Familie in Bern - Kinder früh fördern – aber wie? - www.jesus.ch". jesus.ch. July 1, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
- Swissinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- Swissinfo. November 27, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- Swissinfo. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ EDU will Verzicht auf Atomenergie Bieler Tagblatt, April 2, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2014
- ^ "Editorial 194 - CHBAP". Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
- ^ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". Parlament.ch. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- ^ "Hans Moser - Vimentis Dialog". Vimentis.ch. 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- ^ "Election 2015 results in graphics". Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.