View source for Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland

{{short description|Former Swiss political party}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| colorcode        = {{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}
| president        = [[Gerhard Pfister]]
| foundation       = 22 April 1912
| dissolved        = 31 December 2020
| merged           = [[The Centre (political party)|The Centre]]
| ideology         = [[Christian democracy]]<br>[[Social conservatism]]<ref>https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.letemps.ch%2Fsuisse%2F2017%2F08%2F26%2Fpdc-devient-un-parti-socialconservateur</ref><br />[[Conservatism]]<br />[[Social market economy]]
| headquarters     = Hirschengraben 9 <br/> CH-3011 [[Bern]]
| country          = Switzerland
| name             = Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
| native_name      = {{ubl|{{lang|de|italic=no|Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei}} ''([[German language|German]])''|{{lang|fr|italic=no|Parti démocrate-chrétien}} ''([[French language|French]])''|{{lang|it|italic=no|Partito Popolare Democratico}} ''([[Italian language|Italian]])''|{{lang|rm|italic=no|Partida Cristiandemocratica}} ''([[Romansh language|Romansh]])''}}
| logo             = Logo-CVP.svg
| logo_size        = 200px
| leader1_title    = Vice Presidents
| leader1_name     = {{ubl|[[Ida Glanzmann]]|[[Charles Juillard]]}}
| leader2_title    = General Secretary
| leader2_name     = [[Gianna Luzio]]
| leader3_title    = Member in Federal Council
| leader3_name     = [[Viola Amherd]]
| youth_wing       = [[Youth of the Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|Young CVP]]
| membership       = 100,000<ref>{{cite book | title=The Swiss Confederation – A Brief Guide | url=https://www.bk.admin.ch/dokumentation/02070/02480/09982/index.html?lang=en&download=NHzLpZeg7t,lnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1ad1IZn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6gpJCId355gWym162epYbg2c_JjKbNoKSn6A-- | year=2015 | page=19| publisher=Federal Chancellery | access-date=14 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220130200/https://www.bk.admin.ch/dokumentation/02070/02480/09982/index.html?lang=en&download=NHzLpZeg7t,lnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1ad1IZn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6gpJCId355gWym162epYbg2c_JjKbNoKSn6A-- | archive-date=20 December 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| membership_year  = 2015
| position         = [[Centrism|Centre]] to [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]]
| international    = [[Centrist Democrat International]]<br>'''Historical:'''<br>[[International Secretariat of Democratic Parties of Christian Inspiration|White International]]
| european         = [[European People's Party]] (associate)
| colours          = {{Color box|#EF7F00|border=darkgray}} [[Orange (colour)|Orange]]
}}
The '''Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland''' ({{langx|de|Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz}}, CVP), also called the '''Christian Democratic Party''' ({{langx|fr|Parti démocrate-chrétien}}, PDC), '''Democratic People's Party''' ({{langx|it|Partito Popolare Democratico}}, PPD) and '''Swiss Christian Democratic Party''' ({{langx|rm|Partida cristiandemocratica Svizra}}), PCD), was a [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] [[List of political parties in Switzerland|political party]] in [[Switzerland]].<ref name="KersbergenManow2009">{{cite book|author1=Philip Manow |author2=Kees van Kersbergen |title=Religion and the Western Welfare State—The Theoretical Context |work=Religion, Class Coalitions, and Welfare States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bPYdeROiAD8C&pg=PA21|access-date=2 August 2013 |year=2009|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-89791-4|page=21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bale |first=Tim |title=Riding the populist wave: Europe's mainstream right in crisis |date=2021 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |others=Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser |isbn=978-1-009-00686-6 |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |pages=34 |oclc=1256593260}}</ref> On 1 January 2021,<ref>{{cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/europeelects/status/1345485885723303936|author=Europe Elects|author-link=Europe Elects| user=EuropeElects|number=1345485885723303936|title=Switzerland: Yesterday, CVP (EPP) and BDP (*) merged.|date=2 January 2021 | access-date=2 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102214353/https://twitter.com/europeelects/status/1345485885723303936|archive-date=2 January 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> it merged with the [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland]] (BDP/PBD) to form [[The Centre (political party)|The Centre]], which now operates at the federal level. The name Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP) was used by some cantonal and regional organisations until 2024.  Its seats in the [[Federal Assembly (Switzerland)|Federal Assembly]] were transferred to the new party, as was its sole seat on the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]].

The party was founded as the '''Catholic Conservative Party''' in 1912. It peaked in the 1950s, having three members of the Federal Council (1954–1958) before agreeing to the [[Magic formula (Swiss politics)|magic formula]]. It adopted its current name in 1970. From [[1979 Swiss federal election|1979]] to [[2003 Swiss federal election|2003]], the party's vote declined, mostly in the favour of the [[Swiss People's Party]] (SVP/UDC); the party was reduced to one [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Councillor]] at the [[2003 Swiss Federal Council election|2003 Federal Council election]].

The party sat in the [[Centrism|centre]]<ref>{{Cite book |first=Urs |last=Altermatt |title=CVP: Von der katholischen Milieupartei zur Partei der bürgerlichen Mitte |work=Die Parteien in Bewegung: Nachbarschaft und Konflikte |publisher=Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung |year=2013 |pages=36–37}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first1=Diana |last1=Burlacu |first2=Gábor |last2=Tóka |title=Policy-based Voting and the Type of Democracy |work=Elections and Democracy: Representation and Accountability |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first1=Ian |last1=Budge |first2=Hans |last2=Keman |first3=Michael D. |last3=McDonald |first4=Paul |last4=Pennings |title=Organizing Democratic Choice: Party Representation Over Time |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2012 |page=134}}</ref> to [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]]<ref name="Skenderovic2009">{{cite book|author=Damir Skenderovic|title=The Radical Right in Switzerland: Continuity and Change, 1945-2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xUULxH8Q9noC&pg=PA156|access-date=19 July 2013|year=2009|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-1-84545-948-2|page=156}}</ref><ref name="House2011">{{cite book|author=Freedom House|title=Freedom in the World 2011: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kyzd8hYRkxUC&pg=PA649|date=1 December 2011|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-0996-1|page=649}}</ref> of the [[political spectrum]], advocating [[Christian democracy]],<ref name="Nordsieck">{{cite web |last=Nordsieck |first=Wolfram |year=2019 |title=Switzerland |url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/switzerland.html |access-date=9 November 2019 |website=Parties and Elections in Europe}}</ref> the [[social market economy]] and moderate [[social conservatism]]. The party was strongest in Catholic rural areas, particularly [[Central Switzerland]] and [[Valais]].

==History==
{{Christian Democracy sidebar}}
The [[Conservatism in Switzerland|Catholic-Conservative Party of Switzerland]] ({{langx|de|Katholisch-Konservative Partei der Schweiz}}) was founded in 1912. From 1919 on, the party occupied two out of the seven seats in the cabinet. Aided by the political climate of the postwar period, the party experienced its peak in the 1950s: It was represented by the biggest parliamentary delegation in the [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]], and from 1954 to 1958 the party occupied three out of seven seats in the cabinet. Nonetheless, the party had to relinquish the third seat in favor of the '[[Magic formula (Swiss politics)|magic formula]]', which was introduced to the cabinet in 1959. In 1957 it changed its name to the Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party ({{langx|de|Konservativ-Christlichsoziale Volkspartei}}) and to its current name in 1970. In the ensuing decades, the Catholic voter base dissolved somewhat. The reduction of the voter base, in addition to less cohesion among politicians in the party, led to six successive losses in federal elections after 1980.

The party lost its support over a number of years. Beginning in the 1990s, conservative voters from former strongholds of the CVP switched to vote for the [[right-wing populism|right-wing populist]] [[Swiss People's Party]]. From the [[1995 Swiss federal election|1995 election]] to the [[2019 Swiss federal election|2019 election]], the CVP's vote share decreased from 16.8% to 11.4%.<ref name=Mitte>{{cite news |url=https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/neuer-name-und-neues-logo-die-cvp-soll-neu-die-mitte-heissen |title=Die CVP soll neu "Die Mitte" heissen |publisher=SRF |language=de |date=2020-09-04}}</ref>  After the [[2003 Swiss federal election|2003 election]], [[Ruth Metzler]] of the CVP, was replaced by [[Christoph Blocher]] of the Swiss People's Party on the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]], leaving the CVP with only one seat in the country's executive.<ref name=Metzler>{{cite news |url=https://www.lenouvelliste.ch/articles/suisse/assemblee-du-pdc-le-centre-peut-atteindre-20-et-se-renforcer-a-l-executif-en-2027-973713 |title=Assemblée du PDC: «Le Centre peut atteindre 20% et se renforcer à l'exécutif en 2027» |work=Le Nouvelliste |language=fr |date=2020-09-05}}</ref>

CVP President Gerhard Pfister and BDP President [[Martin Landolt]], the leader of the Conservative Democratic Party, had ongoing discussions about a merger throughout 2020.<ref name=BDP>{{cite news |url=https://www.nau.ch/politik/bundeshaus/bdp-will-mit-statutenanderung-weg-fur-fusion-ebnen-65775426 |title=BDP will mit Statutenänderung Weg für Fusion ebnen |publisher=Nau.ch |language=de |date=2020-09-05}}</ref><ref name=Merger>{{cite news |url=https://www.nau.ch/politik/bundeshaus/martin-landolt-und-gerhard-pfister-bereiten-bdp-cvp-fusion-vor-65714649 |title=Martin Landolt und Gerhard Pfister bereiten BDP-CVP-Fusion vor |publisher=Nau.ch |language=de |date=2020-05-28}}</ref> In 2020, Pfister announced that the national CVP would undergo a change in branding with a new name and logo as part of a merger with the BDP. The party proposed to change the name to "The Center" or "The Alliance of the Center" ({{langx|de|Die Mitte}}, CVP; {{langx|fr|Le Centre}}, PDC; {{langx|it|il Centro}}, PPD; {{langx|rm|il Center}}) which is the name of the parliamentary group that the CVP shares with the other center-right parties, the [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland]] and the [[Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://telebasel.ch/2020/09/04/cvp-soll-neu-die-mitte-heissen/?channel=105105 |title=CVP soll neu "Die Mitte" heissen |language=de |publisher=Telebasel |date=2020-09-04}}</ref>  The merger was ratified by a vote of the entire party in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web | title=CVP schliesst sich mit BDP zur "Die Mitte" zusammen | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/cvp-schliesst-sich-mit-bdp-zur--die-mitte--zusammen/46190824 | date=28 November 2020 | work=[[Swissinfo]] | access-date=2 January 2022 | language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=BDP-Delegierte sagen Ja zum Zusammenschluss mit der CVP | url=https://www.suedostschweiz.ch/politik/2020-11-14/bdp-delegierte-sagen-ja-zum-zusammenschluss-mit-der-cvp | date=14 November 2020 | work=Suedostschweiz | access-date=2 January 2022 | language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=CVP und BDP sind ab 2021 «Die Mitte» | url=https://www.schweizerbauer.ch/politik-wirtschaft/cvp-und-bdp-sind-ab-2021-die-mitte/ | date=29 November 2020 | work=Schweizer Bauer | access-date=2 January 2022 | language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Wientzek | first1=Olaf | title=Historic day for Swiss Christian Democrats – Merger and Farewell to the "C" | url=https://www.kas.de/en/country-reports/detail/-/content/historic-day-for-swiss-christian-democrats-merger-and-farewell-to-the-c | date=1 December 2020 | work=[[Konrad Adenauer Foundation]] | access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref>  Cantonal parties were not required to adopt the new name if they do not wish to do so.<ref name=Mitte/>  Pfister estimated that a new center-right party could obtain up to 20% of the vote in future elections.<ref name=Nau>{{cite news |url=https://www.nau.ch/politik/bundeshaus/die-mitte-cvp-prasentiert-neuen-namen-und-logo-65774227 |title="Die Mitte": CVP präsentiert neuen Namen und Logo |language=de |work=Nau.ch |date=2020-09-04}}</ref>

==Platform==
In its [[party platform]], the CVP described itself as a [[centrism|centrist]] party. The CVP fostered a [[social market economy]] in which a balance is struck between [[economic liberalism]] and [[social justice]]. The expansion of the party in the [[Protestant]]-dominated cantons, in which the CVP uphold rather centrist policies, stands in contrast to the traditional role of the CVP as the leading party in rather [[Catholic]]-dominated cantons of central Switzerland and the cantons of [[Valais]]. There, the electorate was mostly [[social conservatism|socially conservative]].

The CVP had three main policies in the [[centrism|political centre]]:{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

*The CVP uphold the [[social market economy]]. It supports exporting industries and more spending on education, research and development. It also aims at combating the black market and tax evasion. In order to increase efficiency and incentives, the CVP calls for the reduction and streamlining of bureaucratic procedures and government agencies, low taxation for family enterprises and those who offer vocational education and internships. The CVP calls for equal wages and job opportunities for both men and women.
*The CVP called for flexible working times, childcare and affordable housing.
*The CVP aimed at ensuring social security. The CVP calls for reforms of the social security system, by raising taxes on demerit goods (e.g. tobacco taxes) to generate more revenues for the pension funds. The retirement age of 65 should also be upheld. The public health care system should be streamlined by a reduction of waiting times of medical procedures in order to ensure equitable services. The CVP also promotes [[workfare]] as the primary means to combat [[unemployment]].

==Popular support==
[[File:CHbezirke 110211 CVP.png|thumb|300px|Percentages of the CVP at district level in 2011]]
[[File:Switzerland largest parties in cantonal parliaments.svg|thumb|right|300px|The Christian Democrats are the largest party in Catholic southern and central Switzerland, and are the largest party in seven cantonal legislatures (coloured orange above).]]
[[File:Swiss party politics 2007 en.png|thumb|300px|The CVP's positions in the Swiss political spectrum (2007). Positions of voters and of party elites (elected officials) are shown separately. Data from the 2007 general election.<ref>The data is based on research by Philipp Leimgruber (University of Bern), Dominik Hangartner (Washington University) and Lucas Leemann (Columbia University), as part of the University of Lausanne's Swiss Electoral Studies (Selects), http://www2.unil.ch/selects{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, as published in Comparing Candidates and Citizens in the Ideological Space, Swiss Political Science Review 16(3) pp. 499-531(33). The graphical representation of the data is based on a graphic published in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung of 30 October 2010, p.13.</ref>]]

Following continuing losses in the federal parliamentary elections until 2003, in December 2003, the party lost one of its two seats in the four-party coalition government, the [[Swiss Federal Council]], to the [[Swiss People's Party]]. The CVP holds roughly 12% of the popular vote.

After the national election in late 2003, it held 28 seats (out of 200) in the [[Swiss National Council]] (first chamber of the Swiss parliament); 15 (out of 46) in the [[Swiss Council of States|Council of States]] (second chamber, and the largest party in this chamber) and 1 out of 7 seats in the Swiss Federal Council (executive body).

In 2005, it held 20.7% of the seats in the Swiss [[Cantons of Switzerland | Cantonal governments]] and 16.7% in the Swiss [[Cantonal parliaments]] (index "BADAC", weighted with the population and number of seats).
At the last [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland|legislative]] national [[elections in Switzerland|elections]], 22 October 2007, the party won 14.6% of the popular vote and 31 out of 200 seats in the National Council lower house.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politik-stat.ch/nrw2007CH_de.html|title=Nationalrat 2007|website=www.politik-stat.ch}}</ref> This was a gain of 3 seats, ending the long-term decline of the party. It was also only one of the four largest parties besides the Swiss People's Party to gain votes and seats.

In the [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland|Federal Assembly]], the CVP formerly sat in a bloc in the [[Christian Democrats/EPP/glp Group]], along with the [[Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland|Evangelical People's Party]] and [[Green Liberal Party of Switzerland|Green Liberal Party]].<ref>[http://www.parlament.ch/d/organe-mitglieder/bundesversammlung/fraktionen/fraktionen-48-legislatur/fraktion-ceg/Seiten/default.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103204518/http://www.parlament.ch/d/organe-mitglieder/bundesversammlung/fraktionen/fraktionen-48-legislatur/fraktion-ceg/Seiten/default.aspx|date=3 November 2009}}</ref>

== Election results ==
=== National Council ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:right;"
|-
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
|-
! [[1914 Swiss federal election|1914]]
| 71,668
| 21.1 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|37|189|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|-
! [[1917 Swiss federal election|1917]]
| 84,784
| 16.4 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|42|189|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 5
|-
! [[1919 Swiss federal election|1919]]
| 156,702
| 21.0 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|41|189|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
! [[1922 Swiss federal election|1922]]
| 153,836
| 20.9 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|44|198|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
|-
! [[1925 Swiss federal election|1925]]
| 155,467
| 20.9 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|42|198|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[1928 Swiss federal election|1928]]
| 172,516
| 21.4 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|46|198|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 4
|-
! [[1931 Swiss federal election|1931]]
| 184,602
| 21.4 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|44|187|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[1935 Swiss federal election|1935]]
| 185,052
| 20.3 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|42|187|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[1939 Swiss federal election|1939]]
| 105,018
| 17.0 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|43|187|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
! [[1943 Swiss federal election|1943]]
| 182,916
| 20.8 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|43|194|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{steady}}
|-
! [[1947 Swiss federal election|1947]]
| 203,202
| 21.2 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|44|194|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
! [[1951 Swiss federal election|1951]]
| 216,616
| 22.5 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|48|196|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 4
|-
! [[1955 Swiss federal election|1955]]
| 226,122
| 23.2 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|47|196|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
! [[1959 Swiss federal election|1959]]
| 229,088
| 23.3 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|47|196|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{steady}}
|-
! [[1963 Swiss federal election|1963]]
| 225,160
| 23.4 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|48|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
! [[1967 Swiss federal election|1967]]
| 219,184
| 22.1 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|45|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 3
|-
! [[1971 Swiss federal election|1971]]
| 407,225
| 20.4 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|44|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
! [[1975 Swiss federal election|1975]]
| 407,286
| 21.1 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|46|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
|-
! [[1979 Swiss federal election|1979]]
| 390,281
| 21.3 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|44|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[1983 Swiss federal election|1983]]
| 396,281
| 20.2 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|42|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[1987 Swiss federal election|1987]]
| 378,822
| 19.6 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|42|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{steady}}
|-
! [[1991 Swiss federal election|1991]]
| 367,928
| 18.0 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|35|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 7
|-
! [[1995 Swiss federal election|1995]]
| 319,972
| 16.8 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|34|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
! [[1999 Swiss federal election|1999]]
| 309,118
| 15.8 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|35|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
! [[2003 Swiss federal election|2003]]
| 301,652
| 14.4 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|28|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 7
|-
! [[2007 Swiss federal election|2007]]
| 335,623
| 14.5 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|31|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
|-
! [[2011 Swiss federal election|2011]]
| 300,544
| 12.3 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|28|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 3
|-
! [[2015 Swiss federal election|2015]]
| 293,653
| 11.6 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|27|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
! [[2019 Swiss federal election|2019]]
| 275,842
| 11.4 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|25|200|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|}

== Party strength over time ==

{| class="wikitable" style ="text-align: center"
|-
! Canton !! 1971 !! 1975 !! 1979 !! 1983 !! 1987 !! 1991 !! 1995 !! 1999 !! 2003 !! 2007 !! 2011 !! 2015 !! 2019

|+ Percentage of the total vote for Christian Democratic People's Party in Federal Elections 1971–2019<ref>{{cite report |title=Nationalratswahlen: Kantonale Parteistärke (Kanton = 100%) |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |date=29 November 2019 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/kataloge-datenbanken/tabellen.assetdetail.11048441.html | access-date=27 August 2020 }}</ref>
|-
! Switzerland || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.3 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 21.1 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 21.3 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.2 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 19.6 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 18.0 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.8 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 15.9 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.4 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 12.3 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 11.6 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 11.4
|-
! Zürich || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.5 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.7 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 7.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.9 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.9 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 7.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.0 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.2 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.4
|-
! Bern || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.3 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.3 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.5 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 1.8 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.3 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.7 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 1.8 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 1.9
|-
! Luzern || style="background: #EF9F58" | 48.8 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 50.1 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 50.4 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 49.6 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 47.0 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 48.6 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 37.3 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 33.8 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 29.5 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 30.2 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 27.1 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 23.9 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 25.5
|-
! Uri || style="background: #BFBFBF" | *{{ref|a|a}} || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 18.6 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 26.8 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.2
|-
! Schwyz || style="background: #FFBF80" | 38.5 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 46.4 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 49.4 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 46.6 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 36.9 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 32.8 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 27.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 27.3 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 23.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.1 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.6 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 19.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 18.4
|-
! Obwalden || style="background: #FF9F40" | 67.0 || style="background: #FF8000" | 97.1 || style="background: #FF8000" | 95.7 || style="background: #FF8000" | 91.0 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 51.7 || style="background: #FF8000" | 95.3 || style="background: #FF8000" | 94.2 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #FF9F40" | 66.4 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 32.5 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #FFBF80" | 36.7
|-
! Nidwalden || style="background: #FF8000" | 97.2 || style="background: #FF8000" | 97.6 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 49.5 || style="background: #FF8000" | 97.2 || style="background: #FF8000" | 96.9 || style="background: #FF8000" | 97.7 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 32.1 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #FFBF80" | 35.8
|-
! Glarus || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | *
|-
! Zug || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.4 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 34.1 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.9 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 34.2 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 34.2 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 27.1 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 26.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 22.9 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 23.3 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 24.3 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 26.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 23.8
|-
! Fribourg || style="background: #EF9F58" | 41.5 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 46.9 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.9 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 37.9 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 37.7 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 36.8 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 36.0 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 33.7 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 25.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 24.8 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.3 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 22.7 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 17.8
|-
! Solothurn || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 27.7 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 26.0 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 27.6 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 26.7 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 25.1 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 22.2 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 21.5 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 21.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 21.0 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.4 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 17.9 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.8 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.2
|-
! Basel-Stadt || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 11.2 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 12.1 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 13.9 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.9 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 10.0 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 10.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.7 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 8.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 6.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 7.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 6.5 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 6.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.6
|-
! Basel-Landschaft || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 13.3 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 13.3 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 11.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 10.8 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 12.3 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 11.6 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 11.7 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 12.0 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 10.0 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 11.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 8.2 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 8.5
|-
! Schaffhausen || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 8.0 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 6.3 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.7 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.2 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.1
|-
! Appenzell A.Rh. || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.1 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.5 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.7 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.5 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 10.6 || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | *
|-
! Appenzell I.Rh. || style="background: #FF8000" | 96.1 || style="background: #FF8000" | 98.3 || style="background: #FF8000" | 97.2 || style="background: #FF8000" | 95.6 || style="background: #FF8000" | 91.8 || style="background: #FF8000" | 98.7 || style="background: #FF8000" | 85.4 || style="background: #FF8000" | 73.5 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 69.2 || style="background: #FF8000" | 84.6 || style="background: #FF8000" | 76.1 || style="background: #FF8000" | 76.3 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 61.3
|-
! St. Gallen || style="background: #EF9F58" | 44.0 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 43.3 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 44.1 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 40.8 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.4 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 35.8 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 31.0 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 26.2 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 22.2 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 21.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.3 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.6 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 18.8
|-
! Graubünden || style="background: #FFBF80" | 37.3 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 35.9 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 35.5 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 33.3 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 28.5 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 25.6 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 26.9 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 25.6 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 23.7 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.3 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.6 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.8 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.3
|-
! Aargau || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 20.0 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.6 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 22.5 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 21.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 18.9 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.2 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.3 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 15.6 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 13.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 10.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 8.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.9
|-
! Thurgau || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 23.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 22.3 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 24.6 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 21.6 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.4 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 13.0 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 15.7 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 16.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 15.2 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.4 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 13.1 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 12.7
|-
! Ticino || style="background: #FFBF80" | 34.8 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 35.7 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 34.1 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 34.0 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 38.2 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 26.9 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 28.4 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 25.9 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 24.6 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 24.1 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 20.0 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 20.1 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 18.2
|-
! Vaud || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.3 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.5 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 3.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.5 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.4 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 5.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 2.4
|-
! Valais || style="background: #FF9F40" | 61.5 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 59.7 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 58.8 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 57.5 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 58.7 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 54.3 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 54.8 || style="background: #FF9F40" | 51.4 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 47.9 || style="background: #EF9F58" | 44.9 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.9 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.8 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 34.8
|-
! Neuchâtel || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 3.3 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 3.5 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 3.6 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 4.2
|-
! Genève || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 13.8 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.7 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.0 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 12.3 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.6 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.5 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 13.4 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 14.1 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 11.8 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.7 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 9.8 || style="background: #FFDFBF" | 12.1 || style="background: #F7DFC7" | 7.7
|-
! Jura || style="background: #BFBFBF" | {{ref|b|b}} || style="background: #BFBFBF" | {{ref|b|b}} || style="background: #FFBF80" | 37.7 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 25.1 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 33.0 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 36.0 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 38.2 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.2 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 39.5 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 25.0 || style="background: #FFBF80" | 33.2 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 27.6 || style="background: #EFBF8F" | 22.8
|-
|}
:1.{{note|a|a}}A "*" indicates that the party was not on the ballot in this canton.
:2.{{note|b|b}}Part of the Canton of Bern until 1979.

== Leadership ==

=== Presidents ===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:left;"
|-
! Name
! Dates
! Canton
|-
| [[Adalbert Wirz]] || 1912–1917 || [[Obwalden]]
|-
| [[Eugène Deschenaux]] || 1917–1920 || [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
|-
| [[Joseph Räber]] || 1920–1928 || [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]]
|-
| [[Ernest Perrier]] || 1928–1932 || [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
|-
| [[Eduard Guntli]] || 1932–1933 || [[Canton of St. Gallen|St. Gallen]]
|-
| [[Raymond Evéquoz]] || 1934–1935 || [[Valais]]
|-
| [[Emil Nietlispach]] || 1935–1940 || [[Aargau]]
|-
| [[Pierre Aeby]] || 1940–1946 || [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
|-
| [[Josef Escher]] || 1946–1950 || [[Valais]]
|-
| [[Max Rohr]] || 1950–1955 || [[Aargau]]
|-
| [[Jean Bourgknecht]] || 1956–1959 || [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
|-
| [[Ettore Tenchio]] || 1960–1968 || [[Ticino]]
|-
| [[Franz Josef Kurmann]] || 1968–1973 || [[Canton of Lucerne|Lucerne]]
|-
| [[Hans Wyer]] || 1973–1984 || [[Valais]]
|-
| [[Flavio Cotti]] || 1984–1986 || [[Ticino]]
|-
| [[Eva Segmüller]] || 1986–1992 || [[Canton of St. Gallen|St. Gallen]]
|-
| [[Carlo Schmid-Sutter]] || 1992–1994 || [[Appenzell Innerrhoden]]
|-
| [[Anton Cottier]] || 1994–1997 || [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]
|-
| [[Adalbert Durrer]] || 1997–2001 || [[Obwalden]]
|-
| [[Philipp Stähelin]] || 2001–2004 || [[Thurgau]]
|-
| [[Doris Leuthard]] || 2004–2006 || [[Aargau]]
|-
| [[Christophe Darbellay]] || 2006–2016 || [[Valais]]
|-
| [[Gerhard Pfister]] || 2016–2020 || [[Canton of Zug|Zug]]
|-
| colspan="3" |Source:<ref>{{HDS|17377|Christian Democratic Party|author=Urs Altermatt|date=13 March 2018}}</ref>
|}

=== Secretaries-General ===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:left;"
|-
! Name
! Dates
|-
| [[Iwan Rickenbacher]] || 1988–1992
|-
| [[:fr:Raymond Loretan|Raymond Loretan]] || 1992–1997
|-
| [[Hilmar Gernet]] || 1997–2001
|-
| [[Reto Nause]] || 2001–2008
|-
| [[Tim Frey]] || 2009–2012
|-
| [[Béatrice Wertli]] || 2012–2018
|-
| [[Gianna Luzio]] || 2018–2020
|}

== Notes and references ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |first=Thomas |last=Gees |title=Successful as a 'Go Between': The Conservative People's Party in Switzerland |editor1=Michael Gehler |editor2=Wolfram Kaiser |work=Christian Democracy in Europe since 1945 |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=0-7146-5662-3 |pages=33–46}}
* {{Cite book |first=Lukas |last=Rölli-Alkemper |title=Catholics between Emancipation and Integration: The Conservative People's Party in Switzerland |pages=53–64 |editor1=Wolfram Kaiser |editor2=Helmut Wohnout |work=Political Catholicism in Europe 1918-45 |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=0-7146-5650-X}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cvp.ch Official website]
*[https://www.historyofsocialsecurity.ch/stakeholders/political-parties/christian-democratic-party/?L=3 Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland] in [https://www.historyofsocialsecurity.ch/home/ History of Social Security in Switzerland]

{{Swiss political parties}}
{{European People's Party}}{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Switzerland|Conservatism}}

[[Category:Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland| ]]
[[Category:Catholic political parties]]
[[Category:Christian democratic parties in Europe]]
[[Category:Socially conservative parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1912]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2020]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in Switzerland]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Centrist parties in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Nationalist parties in Switzerland]]