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In the second round of the Council of States elections in the canton of Fribourg, three candidates will compete against each other on November 12th.
The two previous Councilors Isabelle Chassot (center) and Johanna Gapany (FDP) are entering the race as favorites. They are challenged by Alizée Rey (SP).
SVP National Councilor Pierre-André Page’s decision not to take part in the second round of voting shaped the days after the first round of voting.
On October 22nd, Page came third in the Council of States elections. Without his withdrawal there could have been an election campaign with four candidates. This would have diluted the civil voice. All other candidates did not receive enough votes to be allowed to run again in the second round of voting.
Chassot is likely to be re-elected
58-year-old Isabelle Chassot, former state councilor and former director of the Federal Office of Culture, is considered the favorite. She received almost 7,000 more votes than the second-place candidate in the first round of voting. However, it remained far from absolute majority.
Legend:
Isabelle Chassot (center) after the first round of voting.
KEYSTONE/Cyril Zingaro
Chassot has been sitting in the small chamber for two years. At that time she won the replacement election for the outgoing Christian Levrat (SP) against the Social Democrat Carl-Alex Ridoré.
Not a walk in the park for Gapany
For Johanna Gapany the task becomes more difficult. In 2019, the 35-year-old from Bulle took the seat of the previous Council of States member Beat Vonlanthen (CVP today in the middle).
Legend:
Johanna Gapany (FDP) after the first round of voting.
KEYSTONE/Cyril Zingaro
She is now established in Bern, but some of her social positions could prevent voters from writing her name along with Isabelle Chassot’s on the ballot paper.
A predominantly middle-class canton doesn’t help Rey
Alizée Rey will benefit from a left-wing alliance that already existed before October 22nd.
Legend:
Alizée Rey after the first round of voting.
KEYSTONE/Cyril Zingaro
The agreement called for the withdrawal of the worst-placed candidate between the Greens Gerhard Andrey and Rey. However, the 36-year-old SP candidate is less well-known than her two competitors.
Rey’s goal could be difficult to achieve as Freiburg remains a predominantly middle-class canton. The SVP ultimately emerged as the strongest party in the National Council race.