Here are the parliamentarians most often absent in Bern

Empty seats are part of the usual landscape. Meanwhile, to the Council of States as well as to the National Council. Additionally, Meanwhile, But during the votes, only a few are missing.Image: KEYSTONE

In Bern. Moreover, parliamentarians vote the laws of a simple press on a button, but they are not always present when a vote is planned. Nevertheless, Analysis of CH Media reveals who was most often absent without an excuse.

lea hartmann, stefan trachsel / ch media

When the president of the National Council rings the bell, the agitation seizes the Federal Palace. Therefore, Politicians, who were still immersed in a conversation a few moments before, rushed to reach the council room. However, It’s time to vote.

Interventions. Nevertheless, proposals, changes in law articles or voting recommendations on initiatives: since the start of the current legislature in December 2023, national advisers have been called upon to vote nearly 2,500 times. Furthermore, At the Council of States, 1,200 votes took place during the same period.

National Councilor Matthias Jauslin did not miss any vote. Meanwhile, This Argovian. However, who left the PLR to join the Vert’liberals at the beginning of the year, is thus the most diligent politician here parliamentarians most often absent under the Federal Dome.

The big absent from the Council of States

Other parliamentarians. In addition, on the other hand, are regularly absent from the council, as shown in an analysis carried out by CH Media. Moreover, It is Martin Schmid, advisor to the PLR states of Graubünden, who combines the greatest number of unpurred absences. Moreover, During the current legislature, he missed more than one in five votes.

The champion of absences is repentant when questioning him on this subject. Nevertheless, He says he is aware of his numerous non -excused absences and promises to “improve”. Moreover, It is justified:

Martin Schmid explains that in addition to the debates on the board, he receives guests at the Federal Palace or, for example, conducts interviews with federal advisers. Therefore, He wishes to continue to do so. For example, At the same time. “he will however try never to miss an important vote” where his vote as an adviser to the States for Graubünden is “decisive”.

The second. third places in the classification of absent to the Council of States return to the former president of the UDC Marco Chiesa, Ticino (17% of missed votes), and to the advisor to the Pirmin Bischof states, from the Center, de Soleure (13%). Marco Chiesa was particularly often absent in 2024. when he left the presidency of his party and was elected to the municipal council of Lugano. He explains that his here parliamentarians most often absent new functions have taken her a lot overwhelmed during the first months. but that the situation has now stabilized.

Pirmin Bischof is also a member of a municipal executive. He explains that it is not always possible to reconcile his obligations as a communal advisor of Soleure with. the days of meeting of the Council of States. In addition. most of his absences would have taken place for two specific days, because he hosted school classes in the canton of Soleur at the Federal Palace at the time of the votes.

On average, states advisers were absent without excuses during 5.6% of the votes. The rate of absenteeism in the upper chamber is therefore twice as high as at the National Council.

Here parliamentarians most often absent

The Zurichois are here parliamentarians most often absent missing the call

In the large room. the Zurich residents are at the top of the absence statistics. Furthermore, The National Councilor Philipp Kutter. from the center, was absent without an excuse during approximately one vote out of seven, to which are added many absences excused.

The national councilor Martin Bäumle. of the Vert’liberals, and Bastien Girod, a green politician who resigned at the end of 2024, were also often distinguished by their absences.

Champions of absent to the National Council

In the case of Philip Kutter. his frequent absences from the council are explained at least in part by his state of health. This center politician was the victim of a serious accident in February 2023 and has been from quadriplegic. He says here parliamentarians most often absent that he probably did not report all the absences linked to his state. In addition. he accumulates two terms: in addition to that of national councilor, he is mayor of Wädenswil, which makes one or the other absence “due to function. He will resign from his post as mayor in early 2026.

His colleague Martin Bäumle also invokes agenda conflicts linked to his functions as a municipal councilor in Dübendorf. Moreover, He says that he must therefore establish priorities and that he participates in the most important votes. He also points out that his absenteeism rate has improved. For years, Martin Bäumle has been one of the most often absent parliamentarians.

Left advisers are the most present

If we look at parliamentary groups rather than individual people, we also here parliamentarians most often absent see considerable differences. PS parliamentarians are barely 1.6% of the votes, and this figure is also relatively low in the Greens.

The center. the green’liberals, of course influenced by the many absences of Philipp Kutter and Martin Bäumle, display the highest absenteeism rates, with 4.4% and 4.3% respectively. Only unjustified absences are taken into account. Absences due to illness, accident or parental leave are not counted.

Differences between men and women

There are also notable differences between the sexes. Although men are at the top of the classification of absent subscribers. women’s parliamentarians are on average a little more often absent.

“It can happen that we miss a vote”

Even if there are here parliamentarians most often absent exceptions. figures show that parliamentarians are generally rarely absent without excuse. About half of them lack less than one vote on fifty. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that. often, many votes take place at the same time: those who are not present at that time can therefore miss several votes at once.

National Councilor Matthias Jauslin (Vert’libéral). defends his colleagues.Image: KEYSTONE

It never happened to Matthias Jauslin. When asked how he managed to miss any vote. he simply responds:

He nevertheless defends his colleagues who do not always succeed. Those who are not present in the room always have good reasons, he says. Jauslin specifies that the presence represents only part of the parliamentary work.

However. he finds unfortunate that important decisions be made following a fortuitous majority due to absences. Jauslin evokes for example the national council’s refusal to establish a toll in the Gothard. decided last May thanks to the decisive voice of President Maja Riniker (PLR). Seven national advisers had missed the vote without excuse.

Translated. adapted from German by Léa Krejci

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