Public discontent with the Federal Council climbs as a new poll lands
A national online survey conducted Sept. 16–17 by Tamedia/20 Minuten surveyed 14,800 Swiss residents about the performance of the Federal Council and Parliament. The results reveal a rising mood of discontent with the executive: 67% of respondents say they are unhappy with their work, up 17 points from two years earlier. Notably, every member of the seven-council executive scored below a long-standing midline of 4 on a 6-point scale, underscoring a broad erosion of public confidence as Switzerland edges toward the 2027 elections.
Why Keller-Sutter’s rating fell
According to Pascal Sciarini, a political science professor at the University of Geneva, multiple fault lines converge on Karin Keller-Sutter. “To the right, UDC voters criticize the government’s stance on EU bilateral agreements,” he notes. “But left-leaning voters are unhappy too, largely due to an austerity budget and the government’s perceived passivity on the Gaza war.” He adds that rising premium costs for health and other services contribute to a general sense of unease among households.
Parliament’s mood mirrors a broader frustration
Beyond the cabinet, the poll shows 63% of respondents dissatisfied with Parliament, up six points since the 2023 survey. The Greens lead the pack of critics (76%), followed by the Social Democrats (74%) and the Swiss People’s Party (68%). Supporters of the Free Democratic Party and the Centre report relatively higher satisfaction (61% and 53%, respectively), illustrating a political landscape where discontent crosses traditional boundaries.
Ratings of individual ministers
Individually, the best score goes to the most recent member to join the cabinet: Martin Pfister, at 3.89. Sciarini says Pfister is less polarizing and inherits a challenging portfolio, which can foster early sympathy. The UDC’s Guy Parmelin follows at 3.84, while Albert Rösti slips to 3.63. Karin Keller-Sutter—previously atop the ranking in February with 4.1—now sits at 3.51, a clear drop tied to the budget strategy and cantonal friction. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (3.14) of the Jura region and Beat Jans (3.31) from Basel round out the mid-pack. The lowest score goes to Ignazio Cassis at 3.01, down from 3.62 in February. Sciarini attributes Cassis’s subdued stance to cautious foreign policy choices, which critics say have limited engagement on both European matters and Gaza issues.
What this could mean for the 2027 elections
With the 2027 federal elections approaching, the poll paints a portrait of a fatigued electorate and a Parliament under heightened scrutiny. Parties may need to recalibrate their messages on economic policy, international relations, and social protections to address the concerns people express at the grocery store and in online forums alike. The data hints at a volatile campaign landscape where swings can occur as economic pressures and international tensions dominate public discourse.
Conclusion
In short, the Tamedia/20 Minuten findings confirm broad, cross-partisan discontent with the Federal Council and Parliament. For Keller-Sutter and her colleagues, the challenge is turning public concern into clear, credible leadership that resonates with voters as Switzerland navigates a complex geopolitical and economic moment ahead of the 2027 elections.
