«Magic formula» as a way of the Swiss government formation

The article examines the forming procedure of the Swiss government in order to identify mechanisms for the distribution of political influence in conditions of heterogeneity of the parliamentary coalition. Successful operation of the Swiss semiparliamentary system is maintained due to the consensual model of democracy based on the principle of power-sharing. The analysis of the Swiss parliamentary system outlines the main stages of power-sharing implementation for the distribution of power between the constitutional parties in parliament and in government. The main forms of manifestation of power sharing include the federal structure, the institution of referendums, the proportional electoral system and the «grand coalition» in parliament. These elements ensure stability of the Swiss political process, which participants differ in language, social status and ideology. Particular attention is focused on the “Magic Formula” – the way of formation and function of the Swiss government (Federal Council). The “Magic formula”, based on the principle of power sharing, ensures proportional representation of the main political parties, linguistic groups and the most populous cantons in the Federal Council. Due to the “Magic formula”, the Swiss government makes decisions based on the principle of consensus, despite the fact that the ministers belong different parties. The “Magic Formula's” resistance to external and internal challenges characterized through the research of the recent changes in the Swiss parliamentary system, such as the rise and radicalization of the Swiss People's Party, the emergence of new parliamentary parties and the general polarization of parliamentary factions. Basing on the analysis of the recent Swiss elections, the prospects for further adjustment of the Magic Formula and its place in the Swiss political system are assessed.

1. Bochsler D., Hänggli R., Häusermann S. Introduction: consensus lost? Disenchanted democracy in Switzerland. Swiss political science review. 2015, N 21, (4), 475–490. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/spsr.12191

2. Caramani D., Mény Y. (eds). Challenges to consensual politics. Brussels: Peterang, 2005, 257 p.

3. Church C., Vatter A. Opposition in consensual Switzerland: a short but significant experiment. Government and opposition. 2009, N 44(4), P. 412–437. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-24938

4. Ganghof S. Beyond presidentialism and parliamentarism: democratic design and the separation of powers. Oxford: Oxford university press, 2021, 199 p.

5. Klöti U. Handbook of Swiss politics. Zurich: Neue Zürcher Zeitung Verlag, 2007, 799 p.

6. Kölz A. Neuere Schweizerische Verfassungsgeschichte. Ihre Grundlinien vom Ende der Alten Eidgenossenschaft bis 1848. Bern: Verlag Stämpfli + Cie AG, 1992, 374 s. (In German)

7. Kriesi H.P. Trechsel A. The politics of Switzerland: continuity and change in a consensus democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2008, 223 p.

8. Lijphart A. Patterns of democracy: government forms and performance in thirty-six countries. Second edition. New Haven: Yale university press, 2012, 348 p.

9. Lijphart A. The wave of power-sharing democracy. In: Reynolds A. (ed.). The architecture of democracy: constitutional design, conflict management, and democracy. 2002, P. 37–54. DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/0199246467.003.0003

10. Linder W., Mueller S. Swiss democracy: possible solutions to conflict in multicultural societies. 4 th ed. Gewerbestrasse: PalgraveMacmillan, 2021, 295 p.

11. Neidhart L. Die politische Schweiz, Zurich: NZZ, 2002, 414 s. (In German)

12. Neue Deutsche Biographie (NDB). Band 19. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 1999, 816 s. (In German)

13. Rosenberg M. Im Spannungsfeld der Politik. – Konservativ-Christlichsoziale Volkspartei der Schweiz. Bern: Verlag Buchdruckerei Maihof; o. J;. 1968, 180 s. (In German)

14. Shugart M.S., Carey J.M. Presidents and assemblies: constitutional design and electoral dynamics. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 1992, 332 p.

15. Siaroff A. Comparative European party systems. New York: Garland Publishing Inc., 2000, 484 p.

16. Steiner J. European democracies. London: Longman, 1991, 356 p.

17. Stojanovic N. Is democracy possible in a multilingual country? The Swiss experience and the paradox of direct democracy. In: Sinardet D. Hooghe M. (eds). Is democracy viable without a unified public opinion. Re-Bel e-book, 2009, P. 10–18.

18. Stojanovic N. Party, regional and linguistic proportionality under majoritarian rules: Swiss Federal Council Elections. Swiss political science review. 2016, N 22 (1), P. 41–58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/spsr.12208

19. Zaznaev O.I. Mixed forms of government, or how oil will mix with water. Polis. Political Studies. 2005, N 4, P. 158–171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2005.04.12 (In Russ.)

20. Zaznaev O.I., Sidorov V.V. Presidential or parliamentary system: what hinds an ethnic conflict? Political science (RU), 2020, N 4, P. 290–308. DOI: http://www.doi.org/10.31249/poln/2020.04.14 (In Russ.)