Concordance system

For other uses, see Concordance (disambiguation).

In Swiss politics, concordance system (German Konkordanzsystem) refers to the presence of all major parties in the Federal Council, also referred to as the integration of the political opposition into government.

The Concordance system is based on two principles

One of the reasons explaining such a system (that also exists at the cantonal level, for partly similar and partly other reasons) is the "threat" of direct democracy, since a sizeable opposition could in principle "paralyse" the government by submitting too many referenda.

The fact that the members of the government must reach common decisions and stand by them is referred to as the principle of collegiality (German Kollegialitätsprinzip), (grounded in the Federal Constitution, art. 177 al.1). The members of the Federal Council are thus supposed to forgo party politics in the interest of a cooperative spirit among the members of the executive. They must defend the government's official positions, even if it goes against their personal views or those of their party.

History

See also

References

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