Rickli's announcement

Natalie Rickli, a member of the Zürich cantonal government for the SVP, said on Monday, 19 October, on Instagram that she would not stand to succeed Guy Parmelin on the Federal Council. Media reports had described her as one of the favourites for the succession, and she had already received public support from Geneva executive councillor Pierre Maudet. In the days before the announcement, criticism had emerged that she was too thin-skinned. In her post she said the canton of Zürich needs a stable government in difficult times, and that she will concentrate on her cantonal office, for which she runs again in April 2027. Rickli has headed the Zürich health directorate since May 2019.

“The canton of Zurich, as the largest canton, needs a stable government in these challenging times.”

Her reasoning

In an interview with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Rickli explained the decision at length. She said a candidacy would have let her draw on about thirty years of political experience, from municipal and cantonal parliaments to almost twelve years in the National Council, and that the cantonal SVP had asked her to run. Her main argument concerned the Zürich government itself: only three of its seven members stand again in April 2027, and she is the only centre-right member doing so. Asked whether she would have liked the post after all, she answered that had she wanted it, she would have put herself forward now. Asked about Zürich's absence from the Federal Council for four years, she said it was naturally a factor she had considered. She summed up her choice as a sensible one.

“One can say it is a decision of reason.”

The field of candidates

Céline Amaudruz, a Geneva National Councillor and SVP vice-president, was the first to announce an official candidacy. Zürich National Councillor Thomas Matter told SonntagsBlick that he is "thinking about it", and he and his wife are discussing the question, although he had promised her when he entered the National Council 12 years ago that the Federal Council would never be a topic. Vaud National Councillor Yvan Pahud, 46, has ruled himself out, citing the timing, his role as president of the municipality of Sainte-Croix and his wish to spend more time with his family. The Lucerne SVP wants to send Franz Grüter, an entrepreneur who has sat in the National Council since 2015, and he is weighing whether to stand. Further candidates were expected to declare in the week of 19 October.

What comes next

The deadline for candidacies runs until Friday, 23 October. Rickli will stay in the Zürich government, where she is one of three of the seven members seeking re-election in April 2027.

In her Instagram post she also pointed followers to wie-gehts-dir.ch, a website offering support for people with psychological problems. As of Monday, Amaudruz was the only candidate to have announced an official bid.