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Pierre-Yves Maillard (SP) and Pascal Broulis (FDP) are considered as good as elected. But they are not untouchable.
Both seats of the Council of States of the canton of Vaud are vacant. Neither Green Adèle Thorens nor FDP man Olivier Français will run again. The top favorites for their successor are two heavyweights: Pierre-Yves Maillard from the SP and Pascal Broulis from the FDP.
Maillard – national heavyweight
For 15 years Maillard and Broulis worked hand in hand in the government of the canton of Vaud. It was said in Lausanne that the two state councilors hardly exchanged a word in private. However, they could govern. There is a technical term for their type of political give and take: the dynamic compromise.
Legend:
Pierre-Yves Maillard has been President of the Swiss Trade Union Confederation (SGB) since 2019.
KEYSTONE/Anthony Anex
Pierre-Yves Maillard is now the top trade unionist and is well known throughout the country. For the 55-year-old, the Council of States is one of the last political offices he has not yet held. He was SP Vice President, Canton, State and National Council. He lost the Federal Council election in 2011 to Alain Berset.
Broulis – Local hero in the role of favourite
Pascal Broulis is also a celebrity. However, almost exclusively in Vaud. In 20 years of government he has rehabilitated the ailing finances of the third largest Swiss canton. That earned him respect. However, he has no experience at national level.
Legend:
Pascal Broulis is on a list with SVP national councilor Michael Buffat.
KEYSTONE/Jean-Christophe Bott
The two long-serving Vaud politicians are not the only ones on their lists. SVP national councilor Michael Buffat joins FDP man Broulis. The list is also supported by the Center Party. The bourgeois parties with their “Alliance Vaudoise” are trying to build on the cantonal electoral successes of last year. At that time, local hero Buffat was beaten by newcomer Valérie Dittli.
Green hope for comeback
Links-Green also competes with an all-men ticket. In addition to SP man Maillard, the Green Raphaël Mahaim is on the ticket. The lawyer moved up to the National Council last year.
He is aggressive in the election campaign and argues that the canton of Vaud could counterbalance the middle-class majority in Bern with a left-green composition in the Council of States. Just like from 2007 to 2015, when Géraldine Savary and Luc Recordon, an SP woman and a Green represented the canton.
No women on the favorites tickets, but…
Men dominate the lists of favorites in the Council of States. Will the Vaud voters appreciate this? Several outsiders sense their chance: For example, the Green Liberal national councilor Céline Weber and the Lausanne city parliamentarian Anaïs Timofte from the Labor Party are entering the race.
The candidacy of Angela Zimmermann from the Young Greens caused a stir. Her candidacy could split votes in the Green camp.
These women see their chances
In the bourgeois camp there would also have been a women’s candidacy with good chances. National Councilor Jacqueline De Quattro – also a former State Councilor – wanted to run for the FDP. As well as having national experience, De Quattro is fluent in German, Swiss German, Italian and English.
Legend:
FDP National Councilor Jacqueline De Quattro was beaten by Pascal Broulis in the nomination process.
KEYSTONE/Anthony Anex
Despite clear advantages, she lost out to the popular Pascal Broulis in the internal nomination process. It is therefore important to note that if Broulis should, contrary to expectations, fail in this election, it would be particularly bitter for the FDP.