Liberalism in Switzerland
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This article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Switzerland. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
Introduction
In the nineteenth century the radicalism of Freisinn became the dominant political force in Switzerland, which remained for a long time in the twentieth century. Both the major Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz/Parti Radical-Démocratique Suisse, member LI, ELDR) and the minor Liberal Party of Switzerland (Liberale Partei der Schweiz/Parti Libéral Suisse, member LI) were right-of-center liberal parties that merged into FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen/PLR.Les Libéraux-Radicaux, observer LI, member ALDE) in 2009.
Timeline
Regeneration
From Liberal Democrats to Liberal Party of Switzerland
- 1893: The moderate liberals established the Liberal Democrats (Liberaldemokraten), but most German-speaking liberals joined in 1894 the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
- 1913: The party is renamed Liberal Democratic Party (Liberaldemokratische Partei)
- 1961: The party is reorganised into the Liberal Democratic Union of Switzerland (Liberaldemokratische Union der Schweiz)
- 1977: The party is renamed Liberal Party of Switzerland (Liberale Partei der Schweiz/Parti Libéral Suisse)
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
- 1894: The Radicals (Freisinn in German) became a dominant factor in Swiss politics and established as a party the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz/Parti Radical-Démocratique Suisse)
- 1896: A faction formed the ⇒ Extreme Left
- 1918: A conservative faction of the party seceded as the Farmers', Traders' and Citizens' Party
- 1941: The Zürich branch joined the ⇒ Democratic Party of Switzerland
- 1971: The Zürich branch of the ⇒ Democratic Party of Switzerland rejoined the party
From Extreme Left to Democratic Party of Switzerland
- 1896: The left wing of the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland established the Extreme Left (Äußerste Linke)
- 1905: The Extreme Left organised itself as the social liberal Democratic Party of Switzerland (Demokratische Partei der Schweiz)
- 1941: A Zürich faction of the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland joined the party
- 1971: The Zürich branch of the party returned to the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland, while the Glarus and Grisons branches merged into the Swiss People's Party
Ring of Independents
- 1936: Gottlieb Duttweiler formed the Ring of Independents as a social-liberal party
- 1999: The party disbanded
Liberal leaders
- Freisinn: Ludwig Snell - Alfred Escher