SVP Opens Federal Council Succession as Natalie Rickli Weighs Bid to Succeed Guy Parmelin

Parmelin departure opens race for succession

Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin announced on 2 October 2026 that he will not run in the upcoming Federal Council elections, initiating the selection of his successor within the Swiss People's Party (SVP). The party leadership has established a deadline of 23 October 2026 for interested candidates to submit their applications ahead of the parliamentary vote in December. Following his announcement, Parmelin publicly named three figures as potential successors: Geneva National Councillor Céline Amaudruz, St. Gallen Councillor of States Esther Friedli, and Zurich Government Councillor Natalie Rickli. The public endorsement drew criticism from within party ranks, including from Schaffhausen Councillor of States Hannes Germann, who argued that an outgoing member of the executive should remain neutral during candidate selection.

It does not particularly befit a Federal Councillor to recommend candidates for the succession.

Female frontrunners and internal party debate

The impending vacancy has renewed discussion surrounding the representation of women within the SVP, which is the sole governing party in Switzerland that has never held a seat in the Federal Council through a female member. The party last included a woman on its official nomination ticket in 2000, when Zurich Government Councillor Rita Fuhrer lost to Samuel Schmid. Among the prospective candidates, Céline Amaudruz has served in the National Council since 2011, previously led the Geneva cantonal section for six years, and currently serves as vice president of the federal party. While Lucerne National Councillor Vroni Thalmann stated that individual competence must take precedence over gender considerations, Basel Grand Council President Gianna Hablützel-Bürki and Zurich National Councillor Nina Fehr Düsel expressed optimism that a woman will be included on the ticket.

Zurich executive elections complicate Rickli decision

In the canton of Zurich, the succession debate intersects with the upcoming cantonal government elections set for 4 April 2027. Natalie Rickli, who has served as Zurich's health director since 2019, stated on Instagram on 6 October 2026 that she is taking time during an autumn diving vacation before deciding on a candidacy.

I am now literally diving under and will comment after the autumn holidays.

Rickli previously declined to run following Ueli Maurer's resignation announcement on 30 September 2022, choosing instead to remain in cantonal office. Her decision carries institutional weight because four of Zurich's seven sitting government councillors (Silvia Steiner, Carmen Walker Späh, Ernst Stocker, and Jacqueline Fehr) have already confirmed they will not seek re-election. If Rickli departs for the federal executive, five of seven seats would change hands simultaneously. Zurich SVP president Domenik Ledergerber stated that the cantonal party has prepared for several outcomes, noting National Councillors Thomas Matter, Benjamin Fischer, and Gregor Rutz as additional potential candidates from Zurich.

As the economic engine and most populous canton, Zurich's voice belongs in the national government.