Regel Nummer 1 für Bundesratswillige: Preschen Sie nicht vor. (Es sei denn, die Verengung des Kandidierendenfeld auf "eine Deutschschweizer Frau", "einen Romand" macht Sie ohnehin zur naheliegenden Favoritin)

Rahel Freiburghaus@rfrbrghs.bsky.social · yesterday

Sie möchten Bundesrätin oder Bundesrat werden (d.h. eines der sieben Mitglieder der Regierung der Schweiz)? Dann brauchen Sie das richtige Timing, um Ihre Bundesratskandidatur anzukündigen. Meine Auswertung @nzz.ch ergibt eine goldene Formel für Bundesratswillige www.nzz.ch/meinung/das-...

Just as a private equity firm buys out a corporation and strips it for parts, a consultant class is raiding the Democratic Party and getting “generationally wealthy” along the way New from me and @adambonica.bsky.social newrepublic.com/article/2163...

How the Consulting Class Is Eating the Democratic Party

Fundraising costs gobble up most of the funds raised. Billions are spent on TV ads that have virtually no impact. Candidates may win or lose—but the consulting class always wins.

newrepublic.com

Sie möchten Bundesrätin oder Bundesrat werden (d.h. eines der sieben Mitglieder der Regierung der Schweiz)? Dann brauchen Sie das richtige Timing, um Ihre Bundesratskandidatur anzukündigen. Meine Auswertung @nzz.ch ergibt eine goldene Formel für Bundesratswillige www.nzz.ch/meinung/das-...

Wer zu früh startet, verliert oft: Analyse der Bundesrats-Ersatzwahlen seit 2000

Wer als erster Kandidat ins Bundesratsrennen steigt, verliert meistens. Es gibt aber auch Ausnahmen. Eine Analyse der siebzehn Ersatzwahlen seit 2000 ergibt eine «goldene Formel» für Bundesratswillige...

nzz.ch

Fédéralisme mal-aimé des jeunes, surreprésentation des vieilles générations, système pas à la hauteur des enjeux: la politologue et professeure d’université Rahel Freiburghaus pense que le moment de réinventer la politique suisse est venu. Interview fourmillant d’idées.

Pour la jeune politologue Rahel Freiburghaus, le moment de réinventer la politique suisse est venu

Fédéralisme mal-aimé des jeunes, surreprésentation des vieilles générations, système pas à la hauteur des enjeux: la politologue et professeure d’université Rahel Freiburghaus pense que le moment de réinventer la politique suisse est venu. Interview fourmillant d’idées.

blick.ch

Alle grossen Lebensträume erfüllt. Der Baum gepflanzt, die Kinder gezeugt, UND, jawohl, seit gestern ist nun auch unser Buch (also Büchlein) draussen. Ein 168 grämmiges Schmökerchen, das in jedes noch so proppenvolle Bücherregal passt. www.keinundaber.ch/buecher/komm... @keinundaber.bsky.social

“Crises always cost governments votes” True for most govts worldwide, but Switzerland is different @eliemichel.bsky.social & @lukaslauener.bsky.social show that COVID-19 drove voters away from governing parties. Yet the energy crisis boosted their support (and the war on Ukraine had little impact)

Rahel Freiburghaus@rfrbrghs.bsky.social · 4d ago

#POLITKOLUMNE: Swiss federal elections take place in one year! We debunk some misleading myths: ▪️giving each identity its own list (eg “best agers”) won’t win you more seats ▪️open-list PR gives voters more choice, but it is also associated with higher campaign spending www.derbund.ch/nationalrats...

Some days, you just gloss over it because it has become so normalized. Other days, it really hurts. Being catcalled online by a man using his real name when just publishing an op-ed with your picture is one of those moments. I am sharing this because we should never normalize this

#POLITKOLUMNE: Swiss federal elections take place in one year! We debunk some misleading myths: ▪️giving each identity its own list (eg “best agers”) won’t win you more seats ▪️open-list PR gives voters more choice, but it is also associated with higher campaign spending www.derbund.ch/nationalrats...

France, facing what Larry Bartels calls a “crisis of democratic expectations”, is in need of reform. The current widespread violence is a symptom. Looking forward to welcoming Prof. Raul Magni-Berton in my lecture (30.10., 8h30) to talk about whether the 'Swiss model' can offer a path forward for 🇫🇷

Rahel Freiburghaus@rfrbrghs.bsky.social · 2w ago

Switzerland is often too small for its neighbours to notice EXCEPT when it beats France on penalties (SOMMER HÄLT)! So I find it fascinating that French colleagues like Prof Raul Magni-Berton now draw inspiration from Swiss democracy. Plz join us for the conference I'm organizing @unil.bsky.social!

«Repenser nos institutions». Passionnante @rfrbrghs.bsky.social qui nous force à regarder les faits derrière les narratifs et redonne envie d’envisager autre chose

Pour cette politologue, le moment de réinventer la politique suisse est venu

Fédéralisme mal-aimé des jeunes, surreprésentation des vieilles générations, système pas à la hauteur des enjeux: la politologue et professeure d’université Rahel Freiburghaus pense que le moment de r...

blick.ch

merkenswert ist sie schon, diese „Bernoise, fille de paysans, à cheval entre urbanité et ruralité, un peu comme la Suisse, la jeune chercheuse et politologue ……. On va encore parler d’elle.“ … werde mir dieses interessante Inti mit Rahel Freiburghaus in der L’Illustré auch noch an einem Kiosk suchen

Nina Perrin@ninaperrin.bsky.social · 6d ago

«Repenser nos institutions». Passionnante @rfrbrghs.bsky.social qui nous force à regarder les faits derrière les narratifs et redonne envie d’envisager autre chose

Kleiner Regen-Samstag-Tipp für meine Deutschschweizer Timeline, wenn wir über die Romandie-Vertretung im Bundesrat diskutieren: am Kiosk die L‘Illustré kaufen und ein Interview auf Französisch lesen. Mich würde es sehr freuen!👇🏽 www.illustre.ch

L'actualité de la Suisse romande | L’illustré

Le magazine qui parle au coeur des Suisses romands. Découvrez nos photos, vidéos et reportages émouvants.

illustre.ch

Rahel Freiburghaus@rfrbrghs.bsky.social · last wk.

We should never be afraid to rethink democratic institutions! An once-in-a-lifetime honour to be interviewed by Switzerland’s legendary people’s magazine L‘ILLUSTRÉ. I had the chance to talk about my research, my work @unil.bsky.social, the rural-urban divide through my own lens as a firstgen etc.!

+ + BREAKING ++ Switzerland votes in one year. Latest polls suggest the radical right SVP could surpass its 2015 record, approaching 30%. But rather than framing this as a surge, the story of the SVP: a relatively stable electoral base, alongside an increasing number of defeats at the ballot box

We should never be afraid to rethink democratic institutions! An once-in-a-lifetime honour to be interviewed by Switzerland’s legendary people’s magazine L‘ILLUSTRÉ. I had the chance to talk about my research, my work @unil.bsky.social, the rural-urban divide through my own lens as a firstgen etc.!

We should never be afraid to rethink democratic institutions! An once-in-a-lifetime honour to be interviewed by Switzerland’s legendary people’s magazine L‘ILLUSTRÉ. I had the chance to talk about my research, my work @unil.bsky.social, the rural-urban divide through my own lens as a firstgen etc.!

Ironic institutional design here, but far better than the voters approving mandated spending that elected representatives then have to fund.

Rahel Freiburghaus@rfrbrghs.bsky.social · last wk.

In Swiss direct democracy, voters can say YES to a new constitutional provision, only to say NO later to the law implementing it. For example, in 2024, voters approved a 13th monthly pension payment for retirees. Now the proposal to fund it by increasing VAT is likely to be rejected in a referendum

In Swiss direct democracy, voters can say YES to a new constitutional provision, only to say NO later to the law implementing it. For example, in 2024, voters approved a 13th monthly pension payment for retirees. Now the proposal to fund it by increasing VAT is likely to be rejected in a referendum

LeeWas@leewas.bsky.social · last wk.

𝐊𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐡𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐡ö𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐡𝐫𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐮𝐞𝐫 𝐟ü𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝟏𝟑. 𝐀𝐇𝐕: Gemäss der 1. Welle der @20minuten.bsky.social -/Tamedia-Umfrage von @leewas.bsky.social sagen 60% Nein zur Mehrwertsteuererhöhung für die AHV (36% Ja, 4% Unentschiedene) @lucasleemann.bsky.social | @mariostauble.bsky.social

The Swiss radical right SVP is getting *more emotional* and *angrier*. The share of emotional speeches by the SVP MPs rose from 16% in the early 2000s to 29% (+76%!). Anger dominates v clearly. Meanwhile the Greens have rationalized their parliamentary rhetoric www.defacto.expert/2026/10/14/d...

The Swiss radical right SVP is getting *more emotional* and *angrier*. The share of emotional speeches by the SVP MPs rose from 16% in the early 2000s to 29% (+76%!). Anger dominates v clearly. Meanwhile the Greens have rationalized their parliamentary rhetoric www.defacto.expert/2026/10/14/d...

In 2026, Swiss voters vote on a total of 14 nationwide referendums. Among those already decided were highly polarising initiatives, such as capping Switzerland’s population at 10 million. In November, we’ll vote on the BÖLLERVERBOT: a proposed ban on fireworks. Polarising, too?

PS: ICYMI here is my interview on the Swiss public broadcaster SRF on why Swiss (direct) democracy is particularly vulnerable to disinformation. I speak my mother tongue „Bärndütsch“ (Swiss German), so I am particularly looking forward to feedback from German colleagues! www.srf.ch/play/tv/news...

Rahel Freiburghaus: «Unsere Demokratie hat Verwundbarkeiten» - News-Clip - Play SRF

Demokratie erklärt

srf.ch

Switzerland is often too small for its neighbours to notice EXCEPT when it beats France on penalties (SOMMER HÄLT)! So I find it fascinating that French colleagues like Prof Raul Magni-Berton now draw inspiration from Swiss democracy. Plz join us for the conference I'm organizing @unil.bsky.social!

Jill Lepore in der NZZaS: „Viele Menschen wissen gar nicht mehr, dass die Verfassung überhaupt reformiert werden könnte. Das ist fatal. Alles läuft nur noch über die Auslegung des Supreme Court. Aber alles, was dieses Gericht entscheidet, kann wieder geändert werden. Es spiegelt die Polarisierung“

Rahel Freiburghaus@rfrbrghs.bsky.social · 2w ago

To me, Prof Jill Lepore is one of the most intellectually inspiring scholars of our time. What a privilege to hear her in Switzerland! She reminds us what “amend” meant when the US Constitution was adopted & why it is deadly for democracies when constitutional amendment becomes virtually impossible

POV: Something only people who grew up on a farm would understand. Freshly harvested sugar beets („Zuckerrüben“) on freight trains at a main train station in a Swiss city. Most people walk by without noticing. Farm kids? We pause for that unmistakable sweet, earthy smell that feels like home

To me, Prof Jill Lepore is one of the most intellectually inspiring scholars of our time. What a privilege to hear her in Switzerland! She reminds us what “amend” meant when the US Constitution was adopted & why it is deadly for democracies when constitutional amendment becomes virtually impossible

One year from now, Switzerland will hold its next federal elections. Swiss elections rarely produce spectacular shifts. Change usually comes in small margins. Still, this time it will be very interesting to see how the crumbling mainstream right fares. Honoured to be asked to provide expertise👇🏽

ÉDITORIAL. La succession de Guy Parmelin pose la question des équilibres linguistiques au sein du Conseil fédéral. Si un Alémanique devait le remplacer le 9 décembre prochain, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider serait l’unique... ➡️ https://l.letemps.ch/C9i

What does far-right protest do to democracy? Join us online October 8, 12:15–13:15 CET as I present ongoing research with @xromerovidal.bsky.social, @pietrocastellig.bsky.social & A. Klassens. Thanks to @anketresch.bsky.social, GRIEC & Uni Lausanne. Info & registration 👇 www.unil.ch/events/fr/17...

Contesting Democracy: Far-Right Protest and Public Satisfaction with Democratic Institutions

Caterina Froio de Sciences Po Paris présentera ses récentes recherches.

unil.ch

Just to put the outgoing far-right SVP government member Parmelin into perspective with what an SVP leadership member said today re. the new Swiss-EU package deal: “No country in the world has a treaty like this. Foreign law, foreign judges, foreign penalties: a stranglehand & a colonial treaty“

Rahel Freiburghaus@rfrbrghs.bsky.social · 3w ago

Remarkable words from outgoing Swiss government member Guy Parmelin, of the far-right SVP: He calls for more women and more young people in the cabinet. With him, Switzerland loses most likely the last SVP voice in govt willing to say such things and to keep his distance from a radicalising party

Timeline cleanse with perhaps the most iconic Swiss name for a tiny village section that nevertheless gets its own bus stop: “Cheese and Bread“ 🇨🇭🧀🥖 Or, its official name in Swiss German: “Chäs und Brot” (“Käse und Brot” in standard German)