Government elections Solothurn – A duel between CVP and FDP – News

The outcome of the Solothurn government election is not surprising, at least not at first glance. The three former government members Remo Ankli (FDP), Brigit Wyss (Greens) and Susanne Schaffner (SP) are confirmed in the first vote. The above bonus is a well-known phenomenon. Remo Ankli achieves the best result as a member of the government with the longest service.

Second place for Green Brigit Wyss is not a matter of course. Wyss obviously benefited from an official election recommendation from the trade association: the green economy director is also valued by traditionally middle-class merchants.

Susanne Schaffner (SP) as health director managed to be re-elected as third in the first ballot, despite her relatively restrictive Corona course. Obviously, this has the support of a majority.

Can CVP occupy both seats?

Therefore, the two vacant CVP seats will only be filled on the second ballot. This leaves the question of whether CVP can defend these two seats. The group should probably secure a seat without any problems. Because the president of the CVP cantonal party, Sandra Kolly, reached fourth place today. So he starts from pole position in the second vote in April.

Behind them, party colleague Thomas A. Müller and FDP candidate Peter Hodel, both from the same constituency in Niederamt, are in a melee race. It is difficult to say which of the two has better cards in April. One of the deciding factors will be whether CVP and FDP can sufficiently mobilize their own party base in the second vote.

Müller, a CVP man, cannot expect left-wing support either. He describes himself as someone who is politicizing “on the right wing of CVP.” Furthermore, it is questionable whether left-wing voters will go to the polls in April: their two governing council seats are already dry.

The SVP fails due to unknown candidacy

The question of how the SVP behaves in the second vote is also important. His own candidate, Richard Aschberger, finished last: the party failed for the fifth time in the fight for a seat in the Solothurn government.

This time the SVP does not fail because of a politician who is too polarizing, but because of a face that is too unknown. Even within his own party, the Grenchen municipal council was not known to everyone before this election campaign.

Legend:

Sandra Kolly (CVP, left) starts from pole position until the second vote, Richard Aschberger (SVP) is last.

Keystone

Conclusion: CVP will probably be able to defend one of its two seats without problems. The exciting question is who will get the second vacancy. The SVP has another very difficult position: the question of whether it will run in the second ballot remains unanswered on Sunday.

The race is run by FDP and CVP, ie Peter Hodel and Thomas Müller. There will probably be a “Niederämter duel” on the second ballot.

Marco Jaggi

deputy Head of the regional editorial office Aargau Solothurn

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Marco Jaggi has worked for SRF in Aarau and Solothurn since 2010. He is the deputy editor-in-chief, but also oversees the editorial office in Solothurn, where he worked as a journalist prior to SRF. Among other things, as editor-in-chief of the private station in Solothurn “Radio 32”.