The social cleavages and antagonistic political interests in the second half of the nineteenth century led to three main tendencies in Swiss political life: liberalism, conservatism and socialism. These tendencies crystallised in the three biggest parties which now dominate Swiss politics, radicals, Christian democrats and social democrats. Federalism and proportional representation, however, led to a highly fragmented multi-party system. Since there are no quotas, more than ten different parties are represented in the Federal Assembly today.

An important distinction has to be made between governmental and nongovernmental parties. The development of political power-sharing in the twentieth century has led to a multi-party government. Since 1959 there has been a stable coalition of the four biggest parties forming the Federal Council (the 'magic formula': two radicals, two Christian democrats, two social democrats and one member of the Swiss People's Party). The rest of the parties occupy about 30 per cent of the seats in the Federal Assembly and do not form a coherent opposition. The profiles of governmental and nongovernmental parties are as follows (1991 elections):

A. Governmental parties

Radical Party (21.0 per cent): regards itself as the heir to nineteenth century liberal ideas; it enjoys close relations with business and industry and is highly influential in economic matters. It is the political representative of independent professionals, entrepreneurs and the middle class.

Christian Democrats (18.2 per cent): successor to the Catholic conservative movement. Still the preferred party of the Catholics. With a bourgeois and a trade-union wing, it thus tries to integrate the opposing interests of entrepreneurs and employees.

Social Democrats (18.5 per cent): in former times it was periodically a radical-left movement. Today it is a moderate party standing for social, ecological and economic reforms. Enjoys close relations with trade unions. Most of its supporters are in urban, industrialised regions, but it draws all on social groups.

Swiss People's Party ('farmer's party'; 11.9 per cent): a conservative party appealing mainly to farmers, craftsmen and independent professionals. Enjoys strong support in Protestant cantons where Christian democrats are marginal.

B. Non-governmental parties

Small parties, sometimes represented in just a few cantons, of heterogeneous ideological orientation:

Green Party (6.1 per cent): young party of the ecology movement; has drawn from older parties as well as from new social movements.

Automobile Party (5.1 per cent): single-issue party defending interests of car owners and small craftsmen; with populist and xenophobic tendencies.

Swiss Democrats (3.3 per cent): party of the national extremist right with a bluntly xenophobic outlook. Successor to former xenophobe movements (Republicans, National Action).

Alternative Left (4.0 per cent): Successor of former radical left parties (mainly the Communist Labour Party and progressive organisations) that have almost disappeared. Non-dogmatic, social and ecological orientation.

Liberal party (3.0 per cent): Dates back to the nineteenth century; represents a right-wing secession from the radicals. Most affinity of all Swiss parties to neo-liberal ideas. Represents the upper middle-class and independent professionals, mostly in Protestant, French-speaking cantons.

Independent party (2.8 per cent): party with socio-liberal programme, representing consumer interests.

Protestant party (1.9 per cent): counterpart of the Christian democrats, but without its large electoral success.