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Poll boost for Swiss right-wing Poll boost for Swiss right-wing
(about 4 hours later)
The right-wing Swiss People's Party looks set to increase its lead in parliament, according to projections released after polls closed on Sunday.The right-wing Swiss People's Party looks set to increase its lead in parliament, according to projections released after polls closed on Sunday.
The party, whose campaign was marred by accusations of racism, was predicted to gain six seats, giving it 61 of the 200 seats in the National Council. The party, whose campaign was marred by accusations of racism, was predicted to gain seven seats, giving it 62 of the 200 seats in the National Council.
It appears to have bettered even its own expectations, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Bern. The SVP appears to have bettered even its own expectations, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Bern.
The left, however, had a disastrous result, she said. The left, however, is on course for a disastrous result, she adds.
The Social Democrats, the second-largest party, would drop nine seats, according to projections for the state-owned SRG television and radio networks. The Social Democrats, the second-largest party, would drop nine seats and be left 43 in parliament, according to projections for the state-owned SRG television and radio networks.
The Greens looked set to gain four. It's the party's best score since 1919 Yvan PerrinSwiss People's Party class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7050498.stm">Vote follows ugly campaign class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/3206778.stm">Profile: Christoph Blocher
The Greens looked set to gain five seats and the Christian Democratic People's Party three. The Radicals are predicted to lose five seats.
"It's the party's best score since 1919," said Yvan Perrin, an MP for the Swiss People's Party (SVP)."It's the party's best score since 1919," said Yvan Perrin, an MP for the Swiss People's Party (SVP).
It was already the largest party in Switzerland's parliament. Without an overall majority, however, it can only hope to govern in coalition with other parties.It was already the largest party in Switzerland's parliament. Without an overall majority, however, it can only hope to govern in coalition with other parties.
The party's campaign has caused deep unease among the large immigrant community, our correspondent says.The party's campaign has caused deep unease among the large immigrant community, our correspondent says.
One single issue dominated the election campaign: foreigners.One single issue dominated the election campaign: foreigners.
Twenty percent of Switzerland's population is foreign and the now notorious poster from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, in which three white sheep kick a black sheep out of Switzerland, was widely regarded as racist.Twenty percent of Switzerland's population is foreign and the now notorious poster from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, in which three white sheep kick a black sheep out of Switzerland, was widely regarded as racist.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7050498.stm">Vote follows ugly campaign class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/3206778.stm">Profile: Christoph Blocher Four political parties have shared power in Switzerland since 1959
But the party itself insisted the poster was simply an illustration of its campaign to have foreigners who commit crimes deported.But the party itself insisted the poster was simply an illustration of its campaign to have foreigners who commit crimes deported.
That campaign does seem to have struck a chord with voters.That campaign does seem to have struck a chord with voters.
The SVP will see its big share of the vote as a mandate to push forward policies like the deportation of foreign criminals, and a ban on building minarets, our correspondent says.The SVP will see its big share of the vote as a mandate to push forward policies like the deportation of foreign criminals, and a ban on building minarets, our correspondent says.
Opponents fear growing divisions in Swiss society and damage to Switzerland's reputation for consensus and tolerance.Opponents fear growing divisions in Swiss society and damage to Switzerland's reputation for consensus and tolerance.