Switzerland: Far-right rise capped as greens advance

Switzerland: Far-right rise capped as greens advance

Projected 2011 results (red) vs. 2007 results (blue)

Via the Local:
Switzerland's dominant far-right party suffered a dip in electoral support for the first time in 20 years on Sunday as smaller parties recorded gains.

The Swiss People's Party (SVP) had aimed to better its 2007 score of 28.9 percent, but its split with the more moderate Conservative Democratic Party (BDP) since the last election is expected to have left it with seven fewer seats.

This time, it is projected to have polled just 25.9 percent, marking the first time in 20 years that it has recorded a drop in support.

"It's a defeat. We had a target of 30 percent," vice-chairman of the party Christoph Blocher told Swiss television.

"We cannot always win, win, win," he added, noting that new parties had chipped away his party's support.

(source)