This article gives an overview of
liberalism and the historical
radicalism movement within liberalism in
Switzerland. It is limited to
liberal and
radicalparties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
Introduction
In the nineteenth century the radicalism of Freisinn became the dominant political force in Switzerland, which remained for a long time in the twentieth century. Both the major
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz/Parti Radical-Démocratique Suisse, member
LI,
ALDE Party) and the minor
Liberal Party of Switzerland (Liberale Partei der Schweiz/Parti Libéral Suisse, member
LI) were right-of-center liberal parties that merged into
FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen/PLR.Les Libéraux-Radicaux, observer
LI, member
ALDE) in 2009.
From Liberal Democrats to Liberal Party of Switzerland
1893: The moderate liberals established the Liberal Democrats (Liberaldemokraten), but most German-speaking liberals joined in 1894 the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
1894: The Radicals (Freisinn in German) became a dominant factor in Swiss politics and established as a party the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz/Parti Radical-Démocratique Suisse)
1941: The Zürich branch joined the ⇒ Democratic Party of Switzerland
1971: The Zürich branch of the ⇒ Democratic Party of Switzerland rejoined the party
From Extreme Left to Democratic Party of Switzerland
1896: The left wing of the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland established the Extreme Left (Äußerste Linke)
1905: The Extreme Left organised itself as the social liberal Democratic Party of Switzerland (Demokratische Partei der Schweiz)
1941: A Zürich faction of the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland joined the party
1971: The Zürich branch of the party returned to the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland, while the Glarus and Grisons branches merged into the
Swiss People's Party