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The starting point in Geneva is left versus right. But the bourgeois parties are fragmented.
A new government will be elected in the canton of Geneva on April 2nd. 23 candidates on 13 different lists are running for the seven seats in the first ballot of the State Council elections.
Four incumbent state councilors have entered the race again: Thierry Apothéloz (SP), the two Greens Antonio Hodgers and Fabienne Fischer and Nathalie Fontanet (FDP).
The government is currently composed as follows: 2 SP, 2 Greens, 1 Center, 1 FDP and 1 MCG.
Commoners fragmented
SP, center party the Mouvement Mouvement Citoyens Genevois (MCG) must defend a seat with new candidates.
For the first ballot, the SP and the Greens have entered into an alliance and are running with a joint list. The bourgeois could not agree on an alliance – although they had set themselves the goal of breaking the red-green majority in the government. However, the declared goal will be difficult to achieve without bourgeois solidarity.
Maudet and Bartassat are also candidates
Two former Geneva government members are also at the start: ex-CVP State Councilor Luc Barthassat and ex-FDP State Councilor Pierre Maudet.
Barthassat was not re-elected in the 2018 general election. Maudet lost his position in the 2021 by-election, which he himself had brought about by resigning.
Both politicians have each founded their own party in view of this election.
In view of the large number of candidates, not all seats will be filled in the first ballot. A possible second ballot will take place on April 30th.