A surprise bid from Solothurn

Rémy Wyssmann, a 59-year-old SVP National Councillor from Solothurn, announced on Wednesday, 21 October, that he is standing for the Federal Council. He made the announcement to the media in Solothurn, where he has chaired the cantonal SVP since 2024. A lawyer with his own practice, he has sat in the National Council since 2023 and is a member of its committee for social security and health. He previously served on the Solothurn Cantonal Council from 2017 to 2023 and as a municipal councillor in Kriegstetten from 2016 to 2023. He describes himself as a critic of the state and says he wants to serve at least two legislative terms to restore trust in government.

“I want to give citizens back their trust in our institutions.”

A record of fights with the cantonal government

Wyssmann built his profile in Solothurn through repeated campaigns against cantonal ballot proposals, several of which he fought fiercely. He organised referendums, helped defeat costly investments and filed lawsuits against the government. He also used the freedom of information law to publish documents that put the cantonal government in an unfavourable light. The Solothurn Chancellery accused the no committees in the September 2025 and February 2026 referendum campaigns of spreading disinformation, and Wyssmann sat on both committees. He claims credit for an appeal that led the Federal Administrative Court to order full disclosure of Covid vaccine contracts, which the Federal Office of Public Health then published unredacted. He has also spoken often in parliament about the fixed price of the F-35 and asked for clarity on who is responsible. Inside the SVP group in Bern, however, he is not part of the tight leadership circle, though he stands out for the number of his motions.

Wyssmann also addressed French-speaking Switzerland directly. Speaking partly in French at the press conference, he referred to the Romandy seat held by Guy Parmelin.

“I commit to working in French, and not only saying hello in French.”

The race and the Romandy seat

Céline Amaudruz, a National Councillor from Geneva, had already declared her candidacy and is the only other person formally in the race. Christian Imark, also from Solothurn, said on Tuesday, 20 October, that he would not stand. Among those who have declined are Natalie Rickli, Esther Friedli, SVP president Marcel Dettling and Pascal Schmid. Thomas Aeschi, the SVP leader in the federal chambers, told SRF radio that he wants a ticket of at least two names. The Vaud SVP argues that Parmelin's seat should go to a person from French-speaking Switzerland. Otherwise Elisabeth Baume-Schneider from the canton of Jura would, from the start of next year, be the only French-speaking member of the Federal Council.

Timetable to the 9 December election

Candidates have until Friday, 23 October, at 12:00 to register with the SVP's search commission. The commission then passes its proposal to the parliamentary group leadership by 13 November. The SVP group in the federal chambers is expected to decide the official ticket on 20 November. The Federal Assembly will elect Parmelin's successor on 9 December, and the new member takes office on 1 January. Guy Parmelin announced his resignation from the Federal Council, effective at the end of the year.