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SRF Data evaluated who launched how many initiatives and who was successful with them.
One stands out: Green National Councilor Meret Schneider has submitted 45 motions in the last four years. A motion almost every month. “I’m doing well with it, but I’m not particularly proud of it,” said the Zurich native.
Schneider usually calls for new rules in food policy, for example when importing food. However, it is rarely successful. Almost half of their motions have been dealt with so far. Only two demands received a majority in both councils.
They often don’t have a majority in parliament.
The low success rate also comes from the fact that they make green initiatives or demands for animal protection. “They often don’t have a majority in parliament,” says Schneider. And then she doesn’t always care about the majority. Sometimes she just wants to generate attention for a topic.
The most successful movement
Andri Silberschmidt from the FDP is significantly more successful. He submitted eight motions, three quarters of which were accepted. There is also a parliamentary initiative that both councils followed. Silberschmidt is therefore the most successful motioner in the National Council. “I try to include topics that really need to be solved and are not just good for a headline,” says Silberschmidt. And it is important to organize majorities in other parties early on. Advances without a chance could not be the goal.
I like what’s possible.
Submitting dozens of proposals without much success is just something that concerns the administration. “I like what’s possible,” says Silberschmidt. However, it has another advantage: pole parties such as the Greens, the SP and the SVP are very active. However, their initiatives are generally more difficult than those from the FDP and Center factions.
The experienced ones do without
13 parliamentarians have not yet submitted a motion in the current legislature. These include political heavyweights like Markus Ritter from the Center Party.
As an individual, I never submit a proposal.
The president of the farmers’ association is considered one of the most influential politicians in the Federal Palace. He says that proposals are often “foam rackets” and that they simply achieve “nothing”.
“As an individual, I never submit a proposal; it takes far too long,” explains Ritter. He prefers to look for majorities in the commissions for his concerns. This leads to success sooner and, above all, faster.
The proposals submitted are therefore suitable because they can be presented during the election campaign. In the end, however, they only represent part of parliament’s work.