The Swiss People's party (SVP) has run a predictably alarmist campaign to mobilise support ahead of Sunday's federal elections. But this time, the ultranationalists have had to scrape the barrel to find enough populist themes to bring out the vote.Once every four years, Switzerland's political system briefly attracts the world's attention as the SVP's provocative campaigning prompts accusations of racism and distortion, amid fears that one of Europe's most stable democracies may be lurching towards the far right.This year has been no exception. Battling as ever to "uphold Swiss values" on an aggressively anti-immigrant, law and order platform, SVP posters showing three white sheep on a Swiss cross kicking off a fourth black one were attacked as racist. This week a Zurich court ruled against the claim but the posters, having achieved their purpose, had already been withdrawn.But the SVP's tactics may prove to be less effective than in previous elections over the past 15 years.
The Swiss People's party (SVP) has run a predictably alarmist campaign to mobilise support ahead of Sunday's federal elections. But this time, the ultranationalists have had to scrape the barrel to find enough populist themes to bring out the vote.
Once every four years, Switzerland's political system briefly attracts the world's attention as the SVP's provocative campaigning prompts accusations of racism and distortion, amid fears that one of Europe's most stable democracies may be lurching towards the far right.
This year has been no exception. Battling as ever to "uphold Swiss values" on an aggressively anti-immigrant, law and order platform, SVP posters showing three white sheep on a Swiss cross kicking off a fourth black one were attacked as racist. This week a Zurich court ruled against the claim but the posters, having achieved their purpose, had already been withdrawn.
But the SVP's tactics may prove to be less effective than in previous elections over the past 15 years.
