Natalie Rickli weighs a run for the Federal Council amid Zurich re-election plans
SVP politician Natalie Rickli said on LinkedIn she is contemplating a candidacy for the Federal Council seat vacated by Guy Parmelin, while also targeting re-election to the Zurich cantonal government.
Natalie Rickli, a prominent member of the Zurich SVP, posted on LinkedIn that she is considering a bid for the Federal Council seat that will open after Guy Parmelin’s resignation. She cited the need for careful deliberation and noted the party’s belief that Zurich’s voice belongs in the federal executive. Pierre Maudet, who failed to win a Federal Council seat in 2017 but later secured a decisive victory in Geneva’s cantonal elections, advised that such a campaign can be advantageous for future cantonal contests.
Political scientist Sarah Bütikofer warned that the timing differs from Maudet’s case, as Rickli’s window between a possible federal loss and a cantonal vote would be much shorter. Should she run and be elected in December, the Zurich SVP would have to quickly add a second cantonal candidate to its slate, complicating an already competitive election landscape.
Why it matters
Rickli’s decision could reshape the SVP’s strategy in both federal and cantonal elections.
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