View source for Social Democratic Party of Switzerland

{{short description|Political party in Switzerland}}
{{Infobox political party
| logo_size        = 125
| colorcode        = {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}
| name             = Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
| native_name      = {{ublist
 | {{nowrap|{{native name|de|Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz|italics=no}}}}
 | {{native name|fr|Parti socialiste suisse|italics=no}}
 | {{native name|it|Partito Socialista Svizzero|italics=no}}
 | {{native name|rm|Partida Socialdemocrata da la Svizra|italics=no}}
}}
| logo             = 2022 logo of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland.svg
| abbreviation     = SP<br>PS
| president        = [[Cédric Wermuth]]<br/>[[Mattea Meyer]]
| leader1_title    = Members in Federal Council
| leader1_name     = [[Élisabeth Baume-Schneider]]<br/>[[Beat Jans]]
| foundation       = {{start date and age|1888|10|21|df=yes}}
| headquarters     = Theaterplatz 4, 3011 [[Bern]]
| youth_wing       = [[Young Socialists Switzerland]]
| membership       = {{c.}} 30,000<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=18|format=PDF|publisher=Federal Chancellery|access-date=14 December 2016|url-status=dead|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}}</ref>
| membership_year  = 2015
| ideology         = [[Social democracy]]
| position         = [[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]] to [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]
| european         = [[Party of European Socialists]] (associate)
| international    = [[Progressive Alliance]]
| colours          = {{colour box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=darkgray}} Red
| seats1_title     = [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]]
| seats1           = {{composition bar|2|7|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[Council of States of Switzerland|Council of States]]
| seats2           = {{composition bar|9|46|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]]
| seats3           = {{composition bar|41|200|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[List of cantonal executives of Switzerland|Cantonal executives]]
| seats4           = {{composition bar|28|154|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland|Cantonal legislatures]]
| seats5           = {{composition bar|442|2544|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}}}
| website          = {{url|https://sp-ps.ch}} (German)<br/>{{url|https://sp-ps.ch/fr}} (French)<br/>{{url|https://sp-ps.ch/it}} (Italian)
| country          = Switzerland
}}
The '''Social Democratic Party of Switzerland''' ({{langx|de|Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz}}, '''SP'''; {{langx|rm|Partida Socialdemocrata da la Svizra}}), also called the '''Swiss Socialist Party''' ({{langx|fr|Parti socialiste suisse}}; {{langx|it|Partito Socialista Svizzero}}, '''PS'''), is a [[List of political parties in Switzerland|political party]] in [[Switzerland]]. The SP has had two representatives on the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]] since 1960 and received the second-highest number of votes in the [[2023 Swiss federal election]].

The SP was founded on 21 October 1888 and is currently the second-largest of the four leading coalition political parties in Switzerland. It is positioning itself at the [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]].<ref name="Centre-left">{{bulleted list|{{cite news|last=Rahim|first=Zamira|date=20 October 2019|title='Not a wave, a tsunami': Green parties celebrate historic gains in Swiss election|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/switzerland-swiss-election-green-party-federal-council-system-a9164156.html|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=4 November 2019}}|{{cite book|last=Schwok|first=René|chapter=Why Switzerland Refused to Join the European Union|title=Switzerland--European Union: An Impossible Membership?|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L8HZoBv4_MAC&pg=PA119|year=2009|publisher=Peter Lang|isbn=9789052015767|page=119}}}}</ref> Currently, [[Élisabeth Baume-Schneider]] and [[Beat Jans]] represent the party. As of January 2024, the SP is the second-largest political party in the [[Federal Assembly (Switzerland)|Federal Assembly]].

Amongst all [[Pro-Europeanism|pro-European]] parties in Switzerland, the SP is the largest, and unlike most other Swiss parties, the SP supports Swiss membership in the [[European Union]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=SP Schweiz will EU-Beitritt in mehreren Etappen |url=https://www.watson.ch/!711474985 |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=[[Watson (newspaper)|Watson]] |language=de}}</ref><ref name="EED">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/switzerland/parties.html|title=Switzerland–Political Parties|work=European Election Database (EED)|publisher=Norwegian Centre for Research Data|access-date=31 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SP Schweiz will EU-Beitritt in mehreren Etappen |url=https://www.watson.ch/!711474985 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=[[Watson (newspaper)|Watson]] |language=de}}</ref> Additionally, it supports labour rights and tax incentives for companies that offer shares to employees.<ref name="SRF2010">{{cite web|title=Überwindung des Kapitalismus bleibt SP-Fernziel|url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/rendez-vous/ueberwindung-des-kapitalismus-bleibt-sp-fernziel|date=7 April 2010|publisher=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|access-date=25 February 2017|language=de}}</ref><ref name="SRF2016">{{cite web|title=SP will die "Überwindung des Kapitalismus" konkretisieren|url=http://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/sp-will-die-ueberwindung-des-kapitalismus-konkretisieren |date=3 December 2016|publisher=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|access-date=25 February 2017|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Positionspapier sorgt für rote Köpfe bei Genossen|url=http://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/positionspapier-sorgt-fuer-rote-koepfe-bei-genossen|date=19 November 2016|publisher=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|access-date=25 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> The party is a member of the [[Progressive Alliance]]<ref name="PA">{{cite web|title=Parties & Organisations|url=http://progressive-alliance.info/network/parties-and-organisations/|publisher=Progressive Alliance|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> and an associate member of the [[Party of European Socialists]].<ref>[http://www.pes.eu/en/about-pes/pes-members/parties "PES member parties"]. Party of European Socialists. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503194245/http://www.pes.eu/en/about-pes/pes-members/parties|date=3 May 2013}}. Retrieved 7 September 2013.</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Karikatur Das Verhältnis Arbeiter Unternehmer.jpg|thumb|"The new relationship between workers and entrepreneurs", a cartoon of 1896 on bad working conditions in Swiss factories according to the Swiss labour movement in the satirical Zurich magazine ''Der neue Postillon.''|400x400px]]
Before the establishment of the national SP, there were various 19th-century [[labour movement]]s in Switzerland such as the [[Grütli Union]], the [[Swiss Trade Union Federation]] and several local [[Social democracy|social democratic]] parties. Most of these labour parties only lasted a short time, until the foundation of the Social Democratic Party on 21 October 1888 (the Swiss [[Labour Day]]). [[Albert Steck]] of Bern composed the party's [[Party platform|platform]] which emphasised [[democracy]], rejected revolutionary aspirations, and mandated a democratic solution to the social question. The first party president was Alexander Reichel of Bern.

Two years after the party's foundation, [[Jakob Vogelsanger]] was the first Social Democrat to be elected to the [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]]. In 1904, the moderate party platform was replaced at a party conference in Aarau with a [[Marxism|Marxist]] program written by Otto Lang. The [[first-past-the-post voting]] system for elections to the National Council and the borders of the electorates initially prevented the party from achieving serious political power on the national level, despite growing numbers of supporters. Two [[Popular initiative in Switzerland|popular initiatives]] for the introduction of a [[Proportional representation|proportional voting]] system were rejected.

The party's historical archives are hosted today by the [[Swiss Social Archives]], which was founded in 1906 by Paul Pflüger. At a 1912 party conference in [[Neuchâtel]], the question of women's suffrage was debated for the first time. The SP accepted a proposal that committed the party to take any opportunity to "agitate for the introduction of women's suffrage."

=== Interwar period ===
Although Switzerland remained [[Swiss neutrality|neutral]] in the [[World War I|First World War]], it did not avoid the spiralling economic crisis that accompanied it. The resulting social tension was unleashed in 1918 by the labour unions and the SP who organised the [[1918 Swiss general strike]]. The goal of the strike was a fundamental reorganisation of society. The [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]] issued an ultimatum to the strikers and allowed the military occupation of central points. In this way the strike was ended after four days. Political action was quickly taken to conciliate the strikers with the introduction of a 48-hour working week and a popular initiative on proportional elections to the [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]] in the [[1918 Swiss referendums]] which passed on 13 October 1918. In the [[1919 Swiss federal election]], the SP doubled its mandate from 20 to 41 members.<ref name="swissinfo1">[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Social_Democratic_Party.html?cid=371956 "Social Democratic Party"]. Swissinfo.ch. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2013.</ref>

With the third party platform, adopted in 1920, disagreement within the party grew ever greater. In particular the fact that the platform called for the foundation of a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] during the transitional phase from a [[Capitalism|capitalist]] class-based society to a socialist commune sparked violent dispute within the party. In 1921, the party decided not to join the [[Communist International]]. The left-wing of the party then split from the SP and founded the [[Communist Party of Switzerland]]. In 1926, the SP joined the [[Labour and Socialist International]] and continued to be a member of until 1940.<ref>Kowalski, Werner (1985). [https://books.google.com/books?id=83QdPwAACAAJ ''Geschichte der sozialistischen arbeiter-internationale: 1923–1919'']. Berlin: Dt. Verl. d. Wissenschaften (in German). p. 323</ref>

With increasing power in parliament, the party now also demanded membership of the government, but their candidate in 1929 was not elected to the Federal Council. On the other hand, the party managed to enter the executive at a cantonal level in 1933. [[Geneva]] was the first canton to have a socialist government, with [[Léon Nicole]] as president. In the fourth party platform, promulgated in 1935, the SP rejected the idea of the dictatorship of the proletariat, but supporting the creation of a socialist society on "free and consensual foundations" remained the party's goal.

=== In government ===
[[File:Ernst Nobs.gif|thumb|left|[[Ernst Nobs]], the first SP member of the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council of Switzerland]].|200x200px]]
In the [[1943 Swiss federal election]], the SP achieved the greatest electoral success in its history and became the largest [[parliamentary group]]. [[Ernst Nobs]] was the first member of SP to be elected to the Federal Council. With introduction of the {{ill|old-age and survivors' insurance (Switzerland)|de|Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung|lt=Old-age and survivors' insurance}}, a further demand dating back to the time of the Landesstreik was achieved. After the failure of an SP referendum on economic reforms in 1953, the SP member of the Federal Council, [[Max Weber (Swiss politician)|Max Weber]], and the general-secretary, [[David Farbstein]], resigned. The SP remained in opposition until the introduction of the "[[Magic formula (Swiss politics)|magic formula]]" in 1959, which gave it two seats on the Federal Council. Since that time the SP has been a member of the grand coalition which governs Switzerland.<ref name="swissinfo1"/> In 1959, the fifth party platform was also agreed in which the party committed itself to reformist socialism on "democratic foundations".

In the 1970s and 1980s, the SP gained new followers from the [[new social movements]] that arose from the [[protests of 1968]], but lost part of their traditional voter base in the working class. This change led to fierce internal disputes and led to a decline in electoral success. After serious losses in the [[1987 Swiss federal election]], the SP was only the third-largest party in the National Council. This resulted in the foundation of a breakaway [[Democratic-Social Party (Switzerland)|Democratic-Social Party]], which was not a success.

The sixth party platform was promulgated in 1982. This presented the party as a modern people's party that supported democratic socialism and had social justice as its highest goal. In 1983, the SP nominated [[Lilian Uchtenhagen]] as their candidate for the Federal Council, the first time that a woman had been a candidate. The parliamentary majority elected [[Otto Stich]] instead. Part of the party demanded that the SP withdraw from the governing coalition as a result of this, but this was rejected by a party conference.<ref>Hadrien Buclin, Vents contraires. Le Parti socialiste suisse face aux crises économiques et à l'essor du néolibéralisme (1973-1995), Neuchâtel, Alphil, 2024, p. 124.</ref> Ten years later in March 1993, [[Ruth Dreifuss]] was elected as the first SD woman to serve in the Federal Council. On that occasion too, the [[Federal Assembly (Switzerland)#United Federal Assembly|United Federal Assembly]] did not choose the official candidate of the SP ([[Christiane Brunner]]), but the unofficial candidate Dreifuss (the {{ill|Brunner-Effekt|de}}).

In 1990, the SP party conference accepted Switzerland's accession to the [[International Monetary Fund]] with clear conditions and elected the Valais canton councillor, [[Peter Bodenmann]], as party president. At the 1992 party conference in Genf, the SP decided to support accession to the [[European Economic Area]] as a first step towards membership of the [[European Economic Community]] and endorsed a drug policy involving the [[Decriminalization|decriminalisation]] of drug consumption, controlled sale of drugs for medicinal purposes, and eventual legalisation of drugs. The following year, the SP supported the national people's initiative "for a reasonable drug policy" which envisioned the legalisation of [[cannabis]]. The SP supported the 1994 national initiative "for the protection of the Alps" which sought a substantial shift of transport of goods through the Alps from road to rail. After Otto Stich's resignation from the Federal Council in 1995, the Federal Councillor [[Moritz Leuenberger]] was elected as his successor. In the [[1995 Swiss federal election]], the SP made a substantial recovery and was once again the largest party in the Federal Council.

In June 1997, the party conference chose Zurich city councillor, [[Ursula Koch]] as party president (the first woman to hold the role), rather than the favourite {{ill|Andrea Hämmerle|de}}. In the [[1999 Swiss federal election]], Koch was also elected to the Federal Council. She resigned as party president and Federal councillor in 2000, due to internal party pressure. Her successor was Christiane Brunner, who led the party until 2004.

In the [[2007 Swiss federal election]], the SP suffered massive losses, falling to 19.5% of the vote, with only 43 seats in the National Council. In the following federal elections ([[2011 Swiss federal election|2011]] and [[2015 Swiss federal election|2015]]), their electoral support remained at the same level. In the [[Council of States (Switzerland)|Council of States]], where the SP traditionally have had only a few seats, the party was able to increase its representation over the 2000s and now hold 12 out of 46 seats. In 2017, the party withdrew from the [[Socialist International]] and joined the [[Progressive Alliance]]. After losing a large vote share in the [[2019 Swiss federal election|2019 elections]] to the green party the SP regained some of its 2019 losses in the most recent [[2023 Swiss federal election|2023 elections]] and currently holds 41 seats on the [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]] obtaining 18.27% of the vote.

== Structure ==
[[File:Organisationsstruktur SP Schweiz.svg|thumb|Organisational structure of the SP.|494x494px]]
The SP is composed of around 900 sections across Switzerland, which exist at cantonal and municipal levels. Each of the 32,000 party members are registered in a local section and thus are members of both the cantonal and national parties. Local sections elect delegates to attend the regular party members' conferences; these delegates are entitled to vote in cantonal party conferences.

Each of the 26 cantonal sections ([[Canton of Valais|Valais]] is divided into two sections, namely ''Oberwallis'' and ''Valais Romand'') elect delegates for national party conferences. The number of delegates for each canton is equivalent to the number of seats that the canton has in the [[National Assembly]].

The SP has a youth party called the [[Young Socialists Switzerland]] (JUSO/JS). The JS are independent of the SP in political terms but are supported by it financially and institutionally. Within the SP, the JS are seen as equivalent to a cantonal section and so they are entitled to send some delegates to party conferences. As of 2022, the president of the JS is Nicola Siegrist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geschäftsleitung |url=https://juso.ch/de/die-juso/geschaftsleitung/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=juso.ch |language=de}}</ref> There is also a separate, smaller SP youth party called [[Junge SP]] in the [[Olten]] region.

== Ideology ==
{{more citations needed|date=August 2024}}
[[File:Swiss party politics 2007 en.png|thumb|433x433px|The SP's positions in the Swiss political spectrum in 2007.]]
The SP supports classical [[Social democracy|social democratic]] policies,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/switzerland.html|title=Switzerland|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|first=Wolfram|last=Nordsieck|year=2019|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref> as well as some [[Democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] ones, and has been described as one of the more left-leaning social democratic parties in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazzoleni, Meuwly |first=Herausgegeben von Oscar, Olivier |date=2013 |title=Die Parteien in Bewegung |url=http://www.andreasladner.ch/dokumente/Literatur_Unterricht/Ladner_2013_CH_Parteien_internationaler_Vergleich.pdf |website=andreasladner}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ladner |first=Andreas |title=Die Positionierung der Schweizer Parteien im internationalen Vergleich - Die Positionierung der Schweizer Parteien im internationalen Vergleich |date=2013 |publisher=NZZ Libro |pages=213}}</ref> To that rule, the SP stands for a government offering strong [[public services]]. The SP is against far-reaching [[economic liberalism]] and has [[Anti-capitalism|anti-capitalist]] tendencies,<ref name="SRF2010"/><ref name="SRF2016"/> and is in favor of [[social progressivism]], [[environmental policy]] with [[climate change mitigation]], for an open foreign policy and a national security policy based on [[pacifism]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Democratic Party |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/social-democratic-party/371956 |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |date=30 November 2007 |language=en}}</ref>

In economic, financial, and social [[welfare spending|welfare]] policy, the SP rejects policies of [[economic liberalisation]] such as [[deregulation]], lowering taxes for high-income citizens, and decreases in [[government spending]] on [[social insurance]]. The SP also opposes raising the retirement age. In addition, the SP is a proponent of increasing welfare spending in some areas such as for a publicly financed [[Parental leave|maternity leave]], [[universal health care]] and a flexible retirement age. In tax policy, the SP opposes the notion of lowering taxes for high-income citizens. By campaigning for the harmonisation of all tax rates in Switzerland, the SP seeks more [[Redistribution (economics)|redistribution]]. The SP is skeptical toward the [[privatization]] of [[State ownership|state enterprises]]. Nonetheless, the SP also promotes more [[Competition (economics)|competition]] in the areas of agriculture and [[parallel imports]].

In social policy, the SP is committed to social equity and an [[open society]]. The SP aims at making working conditions for women in families easier by promoting more external childcare centers and more opportunities for [[part-time job]]s. It also aims at reinforcing sexual equality in terms of eliminating wage differences based on gender, supports [[civil union]] for [[homosexuals|Same-sex couples]] and takes an easier stance toward abortions. The SP also rejects strengthening restrictions on asylum seekers and immigrants. The party supports the integration of immigrants by which the immigrants are assigned to immigration procedures immediately after entering the country. The SP has a liberal stance toward drugs and is in favor of publicly regulated heroin consumption and the legalization of [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]]. Nevertheless, the SP supports the [[smoking ban]] in restaurants and bars.

In foreign policy, the SP promotes further participation by Switzerland in international organizations. It supports immediate entry of Switzerland into the [[European Union]], while recently [[Switzerland–European Union relations#Treaties|supported EU bilateral accords]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Social-Democratic-Party-of-Switzerland|title = Social Democratic Party of Switzerland &#124; political party, Switzerland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nsd.no/european_election_database/country/switzerland/parties.html|title = European Election Database (EED)}}</ref> The SP also stands for a less strict neutrality of Switzerland, and supports increased international efforts on the part of Switzerland in the areas of peace and human rights. However, the SP supports keeping the military neutrality and opposes entry into [[NATO]]. Its pacifist stance is also reflected in its military policy as the SP supports reducing the number of Swiss militia while making the military apparatus more professional and scrapping [[Conscription in Switzerland|conscription]]. Another demand of the SP is to end the tradition of [[Gun politics in Switzerland|gun ownership]], using severe and recent examples of abuse in terms of murder as proof.

The SP has common [[environmentalist]] policies with the [[Green Party of Switzerland]] which are reflected in the expansion of [[ecotax]] reforms and increased state support for energy saving measures and [[renewable energies]]. The SP is against the construction of new roads where possible and instead proposes to shift the transportation of goods from the roads to the railways and the introduction of a cap and trade and traffic management system when it comes to transportation across the [[Swiss Alps]]. Furthermore, the SP stands for an expansion of the public transportation system network and opposes [[nuclear power]].

== Electoral performance ==
[[File:CHbezirke 110211 SP.png|thumb|400x400px|Percentages of the SP at district level in 2011.]]
[[File:Switzerland largest parties in cantonal parliaments.svg|thumb|400x400px|Strongest in urban areas, the SP's support is spread across the country as they hold roughly one-fifth of seats in cantonal parliaments, but are the largest party in only two, [[Basel-Stadt]] and [[Basel-Landschaft]] (coloured red above).]]
In 2003, the party held 52 mandates out of 200 in the [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]] (lower chamber of the Swiss parliament); nine out of 46 in the [[Council of States (Switzerland)|Council of States]] (upper chamber) and two out of seven mandates in the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]] (executive body). By 2005, it held 23.8% of the seats in the [[List of cantonal executives of Switzerland|Cantonal governments]] and 23.2% in the [[Cantonal parliaments]] (index BADAC, weighted with the population and number of seats). At the [[2023 Swiss federal election]], the party won 18.27% of the popular vote and 41 out of 200 seats on the National Council.<ref name=NR2015/>

=== National Council ===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:right;"
|-
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! Rank
|-
![[1890 Swiss federal election|1890]]
|N/A
|3.6 (#5)
|{{composition bar|1|147|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 1
|5th 
|-
![[1893 Swiss federal election|1893]]
|N/A
|5.9 (#5)
|{{composition bar|1|147|#df1a22}}
|{{steady}}
|5th {{steady}}
|-
![[1896 Swiss federal election|1896]]
|25,304
|6.8 (#4)
|{{composition bar|2|147|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 1
|4th {{increase}}
|-
![[1899 Swiss federal election|1899]]
|35,488
|9.6 (#4)
|{{composition bar|4|147|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 2
|4th {{steady}}
|-
![[1902 Swiss federal election|1902]]
|51,338
|12.6 (#3)
|{{composition bar|7|167|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 3
|4th {{steady}}
|-
![[1905 Swiss federal election|1905]]
|60,308
|14.7 (#3)
|{{composition bar|2|167|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 5
|5th {{decrease}}
|-
![[1908 Swiss federal election|1908]]
|70,003
|17.6 (#3)
|{{composition bar|7|167|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 5
|4th {{decrease}}
|-
![[1911 Swiss federal election|1911]]
|80,050
|20.0 (#2)
|{{composition bar|15|189|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 8
|3rd {{increase}}
|-
![[1914 Swiss federal election|1914]]
|34,204
|10.1 (#3)
|{{composition bar|19|189|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 3
|3rd {{steady}}
|-
![[1917 Swiss federal election|1917]]
|158,450
|30.8 (#2)
|{{composition bar|20|189|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 2
|3rd {{steady}}
|-
![[1919 Swiss federal election|1919]]
|175,292
|23.5 (#2)
|{{composition bar|41|189|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 21
|2nd {{increase}}
|-
![[1922 Swiss federal election|1922]]
|170,974
|23.3 (#2)
|{{composition bar|43|198|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 2
|3rd {{decrease}}
|-
![[1925 Swiss federal election|1925]]
|192,208
|25.8 (#2)
|{{composition bar|49|198|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 6
|2nd {{increase}}
|-
![[1928 Swiss federal election|1928]]
|220,141
|27.4 (#1)
|{{composition bar|50|198|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 1
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[1931 Swiss federal election|1931]]
|247,946
|28.7 (#1)
|{{composition bar|49|187|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[1935 Swiss federal election|1935]]
|255,843
|28.0 (#1)
|{{composition bar|50|187|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 1
|1st {{increase}}
|-
![[1939 Swiss federal election|1939]]
|160,377
|25.9 (#1)
|{{composition bar|45|187|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 5
|2nd {{decrease}}
|-
![[1943 Swiss federal election|1943]]
|251,576
|28.6 (#1)
|{{composition bar|56|194|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 11
|1st {{increase}}
|-
![[1947 Swiss federal election|1947]]
|251,625
|26.2 (#1)
|{{composition bar|48|194|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 8
|2nd {{decrease}}
|-
![[1951 Swiss federal election|1951]]
|249,857
|26.0 (#1)
|{{composition bar|49|196|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 1
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[1955 Swiss federal election|1955]]
|263,664
|27.0 (#1)
|{{composition bar|53|196|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 4
|1st {{increase}}
|-
![[1959 Swiss federal election|1959]]
|259,139
|26.4 (#1)
|{{composition bar|51|196|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 2
|1st {{steady}}{{efn|name=tie|Tied with the [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|Free Democratic Party]].}}
|-
![[1963 Swiss federal election|1963]]
|256,063
|26.6 (#1)
|{{composition bar|53|200|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 2
|1st {{steady}}
|-
![[1967 Swiss federal election|1967]]
|233,873
|23.5 (#1)
|{{composition bar|50|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 3
|1st {{steady}}
|-
![[1971 Swiss federal election|1971]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch">{{cite web|last=Grossenbacher|first=Timo|url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/behind-the-figures_party-strongholds-and-political-battlefields-1971-2011/41462952|title=Party strongholds and political battlefields 1971−2011|publisher=SWI|date=30 September 2015|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref>
|452,195
|22.9 (#1)
|{{composition bar|46|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|2nd {{decrease}}
|-
![[1975 Swiss federal election|1975]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|477,125
|24.9 (#1)
|{{composition bar|55|200|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 9
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[1979 Swiss federal election|1979]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|443,794
|24.4 (#1)
|{{composition bar|51|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|2nd {{steady}}{{efn|name=tie}}
|-
![[1983 Swiss federal election|1983]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|444,365
|22.8 (#2)
|{{composition bar|47|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[1987 Swiss federal election|1987]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|353,334
|18.4 (#3)
|{{composition bar|41|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 6
|3rd {{decrease}}
|-
![[1991 Swiss federal election|1991]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|373,664
|18.5 (#2)
|{{composition bar|41|200|#df1a22}}
|{{unchanged}} 0
|2nd {{increase}}
|-
![[1995 Swiss federal election|1995]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|410,136
|21.8 (#1)
|{{composition bar|54|200|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 13
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[1999 Swiss federal election|1999]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|438,555
|22.5 (#2)
|{{composition bar|51|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 3
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[2003 Swiss federal election|2003]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|490,392
|23.3 (#2)
|{{composition bar|52|200|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 1
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[2007 Swiss federal election|2007]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|450,308
|19.5 (#2)
|{{composition bar|43|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 9
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[2011 Swiss federal election|2011]]<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/>
|451,236
|18.7 (#2)
|{{composition bar|46|200|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 3
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[2015 Swiss federal election|2015]]<ref name=NR2015>{{cite web|url=http://www.politik-stat.ch/nrw2015CH_de.html|title=Nationalratswahlen: Übersicht Schweiz|publisher=Bundesamt für Statistik|language=de|date=2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref>
|475,071
|18.8 (#2)
|{{composition bar|43|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 3
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[2019 Swiss federal election|2019]]
|408,128
|16.8 (#2)
|{{composition bar|39|200|#df1a22}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|2nd {{steady}}
|-
![[2023 Swiss federal election|2023]]
|466,714
|18.3 (#2)
|{{composition bar|41|200|#df1a22}}
|{{increase}} 2
|2nd {{steady}}
|}
{{notelist}}

=== Party strength over time ===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Canton !! 1971 !! 1975 !! 1979 !! 1983 !! 1987 !! 1991 !! 1995 !! 1999 !! 2003 !! 2007 !! 2011 !! 2015 !! 2019 !! 2023
|+Percentage of the total vote for the SP in federal elections, 1971–2019<ref>{{cite report |title=Nationalratswahlen: Kantonale Parteistärke (Kanton = 100%) |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |date=30 November 2023 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/asset/de/28765067 | access-date=3 April 2025 }}</ref>
|-
!Switzerland || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.4 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.8 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.8 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.8 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.3
|-
!Zürich || style="background: #EF8F8F"|20.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|26.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.1 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.8 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.1
|-
!Bern || style="background: #FF8080"|31.0 || style="background: #FF8080"|31.0 || style="background: #FF8080"|30.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|20.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.2 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|20.7
|-
!Luzern || style="background: #FFBFBF"|12.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|12.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.8 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|9.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.7 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|10.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.7
|-
!Uri || style="background: #BFBFBF"|*{{ref|a|a}} || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.0 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.5 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.3 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|*
|-
!Schwyz || style="background: #EF8F8F"|29.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|29.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.9 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.9 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.8 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|10.9
|-
!Obwalden || 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: #FFBFBF"|11.6 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #F7C7C7"|2.9 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|*
|-
!Nidwalden || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #FFBFBF"|10.6 || 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: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|*
|-
!Glarus || style="background: #DF2020"|57.2 || style="background: #DF2020"|64.7 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #DF2020"|53.7 || style="background: #FF0000"|83.9 || style="background: #FF0000"|85.7 || style="background: #DF2020"|67.1 || style="background: #DF2020"|55.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F" |24.6 || style="background: #FF4040"|45.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.4
|-
!Zug || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #FF8080"|35.7 || style="background: #FF8080"|30.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.4 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|9.1 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|5.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.8 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|9.3 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|5.2
|-
!Fribourg || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.7 || style="background: #FF8080"|30.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.2 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F" | 20.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|26.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|20.6
|-
!Solothurn || style="background: #EF8F8F"|26.3 || style="background: #FF8080"|31.4 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.4 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|20.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.2
|-
!Basel-Stadt || style="background: #FF8080"|30.4 || style="background: #FF8080"|33.3 || style="background: #FF8080"|33.3 || style="background: #FF8080"|31.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.3 || style="background: #FF8080"|35.5 || style="background: #FF8080"|33.3 || style="background: #FF4040"|40.9 || style="background: #FF8080"|35.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|29.1 || style="background: #FF8080"|33.3 || style="background: #FF8080"|32.7 || style="background: #FF8080"|31.8
|-
!Basel-Landschaft || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.2 || style="background: #FF8080"|30.3 || style="background: #FF8080"|31.4 || style="background: #FF8080"|32.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.4 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.3 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.4 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.7
|-
!Schaffhausen || style="background: #FF4040"|40.2 || style="background: #FF8080"|37.2 || style="background: #FF8080"|35.3 || style="background: #FF8080"|35.4 || style="background: #FF8080"|39.2 || style="background: #FF8080"|34.2 || style="background: #FF8080"|37.8 || style="background: #FF8080"|33.6 || style="background: #FF8080"|39.7 || style="background: #FF8080"|34.2 || style="background: #FF8080"|34.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|26.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.4
|-
!Appenzell A.Rh. || style="background: #FF8080"|37.4 || style="background: #FF4040"|40.1 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.6 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF" | * || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|29.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.9 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.6 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #BFBFBF"|*
|-
!Appenzell I.Rh. || 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: #EF8F8F"|20.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.1 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|8.7 || style="background: #BFBFBF"|*
|-
!St. Gallen || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.2 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.2 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|12.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|12.7
|-
!Graubünden || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.9 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|20.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|26.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.8
|-
!Aargau || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.2 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.9 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.4
|-
!Thurgau || style="background: #EF8F8F"|20.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|12.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|12.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|12.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|10.2
|-
!Ticino || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.9 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.2 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.8 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|9.3 || style="background: #F7C7C7"|6.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.8 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.9 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|12.5
|-
!Vaud || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.4 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|20.4 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.3
|-
!Valais || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.4 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|11.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.9 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.6 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|13.3 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|15.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.3
|-
!Neuchâtel || style="background: #FF8080"|30.6 || style="background: #FF8080"|38.9 || style="background: #FF8080"|37.4 || style="background: #FF8080"|33.1 || style="background: #FF8080"|30.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|29.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|29.2 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.9 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|16.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.5
|-
!Genève || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.1 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|22.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|21.5 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.2 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.6 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|26.4 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|30.0 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|20.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|24.8 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.1 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|19.9 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|14.7 || style="background: #FFBFBF"|18.4
|-
!Jura || style="background: #BFBFBF"|{{ref|b|b}} || style="background: #BFBFBF"|{{ref|b|b}} || style="background: #BFBFBF"|* || style="background: #FFBFBF"|17.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|25.5 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|28.8 || style="background: #FF8080"|32.4 || style="background: #FF8080"|34.2 || style="background: #FF8080"|34.2 || style="background: #FF8080"|36.9 || style="background: #FF8080"|30.8 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|23.7 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|27.0 || style="background: #EF8F8F"|29.6
|-
|}
:1.{{note|a|a}}* indicates that the party was not on the ballot in this canton.
:2.{{note|b|b}}It was part of the Canton of Bern until 1979.

== Presidents ==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|1888–1889 || [[Alexander Reichel (Swiss politician)|Alexander Reichel]]
|-
|1890–1891 || [[Albert Steck]]
|-
|1892–1894 || [[Eugen Wullschleger]]
|-
|1894–1896 || [[Wilhelm Fürholz]]
|-
|1897 || [[Karl Zgraggen]]
|-
|1898 || [[Paul Brandt (Swiss politician)|Paul Brandt]]
|-
|1898–1901 || [[Otto Lang (Swiss politician)|Otto Lang]]
|-
|1901–1902 || [[Joseph Albisser]]
|-
|1902–1908 || [[Gottfried Reimann]]
|-
|1909–1910 || [[Eduard Kessler]]
|-
|1911 || [[Hans Näher]]
|-
|1912–1916 || [[Fritz Studer]]
|-
|1916–1917 || [[Emil Klöti]]
|-
|1918 || [[Jakob Gschwend]]
|-
|1919 || [[Gustav Müller (Swiss politician)|Gustav Müller]]
|-
|1919–1936 || [[Ernst Reinhard]]
|-
|1937–1952 || [[Hans Oprecht]]
|-
|1953–1962 || [[Walther Bringolf]]
|-
|1962–1970 || [[Fritz Grütter]]
|-
|1970–1974 || [[Arthur Schmid]]
|-
|1974–1990 || [[Helmut Hubacher]]
|-
|1990–1997 || [[Peter Bodenmann]]
|-
|1997–2000 || [[Ursula Koch]]
|-
|2000–2004 || [[Christiane Brunner]]
|-
|2004–2008 || [[Hans-Jürg Fehr]]
|-
|2008–2020 || [[Christian Levrat]]
|-
|2020–present || [[Cédric Wermuth]]<br>[[Mattea Meyer]]
|}

== Members of the Federal Council ==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|1943–1951 || [[Ernst Nobs]]
|-
|1951–1953 || [[Max Weber (Swiss politician)|Max Weber]]
|-
|1959–1969 || [[Willy Spühler]]
|-
|1959–1973 || [[Hans-Peter Tschudi]]
|-
|1969–1977 || [[Pierre Graber]]
|-
|1973–1983 || [[Willy Ritschard]]
|-
|1977–1987 || [[Pierre Aubert]]
|-
|1987–1993 || [[René Felber]]
|-
|1983–1995 || [[Otto Stich]]
|-
|1993–2002 || [[Ruth Dreifuss]]
|-
|1995–2010 || [[Moritz Leuenberger]]
|-
|2003–2011 || [[Micheline Calmy-Rey]]
|-
|2010–2022 || [[Simonetta Sommaruga]]
|-
|2011–2023 || [[Alain Berset]]
|-
|2023–present
|[[Élisabeth Baume-Schneider]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Council |first=The Federal |title=Elisabeth Baume-Schneider |url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/bundesrat/mitglieder-des-bundesrates/elisabeth-baume-schneider.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=www.admin.ch |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2024–present
|[[Beat Jans]]
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.sp-ps.ch/ www.sp-ps.ch Official website] (in French and German)
* [https://ps-ticino.ch/ www.ps-ticino.ch Official website] (in Italian)
* [https://www.historyofsocialsecurity.ch/stakeholders/political-parties/social-democratic-party/ Social Democratic Party] at the [https://www.historyofsocialsecurity.ch/home/ History of Social Security in Switzerland]

{{Party of European Socialists}}
{{Swiss political parties}}
{{Presidents of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}
{{authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Socialism|Switzerland}}

[[Category:Social Democratic Party of Switzerland| ]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1888]]
[[Category:1888 establishments in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Full member parties of the Socialist International]]
[[Category:Members of the Labour and Socialist International]]
[[Category:Non-interventionist parties]]
[[Category:Parties related to the Party of European Socialists]]
[[Category:Pro-European political parties in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Progressive Alliance]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties]]
[[Category:Socialist parties in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Swiss Climate Alliance]]