# 1959 Swiss federal election

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 25 October 1959. The Social Democratic Party and the Free Democratic Party emerged as the largest parties in the National Council, each winning 51 of the 196 seats.

## Results
### National Council

| | Social Democratic Party | 259,139 | 26.38 | 51 | –2 |
| | Free Democratic Party | 232,557 | 23.67 | 51 | +1 |
| | Conservative Christian Social Party | 229,088 | 23.32 | 47 | 0 |
| | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 113,611 | 11.56 | 23 | +1 |
| | Alliance of Independents | 54,049 | 5.50 | 10 | 0 |
| | Swiss Party of Labour | 26,346 | 2.68 | 3 | –1 |
| | Liberal Democratic Party | 22,934 | 2.33 | 5 | 0 |
| | Social-Political Group | 21,170 | 2.15 | 4 | 0 |
| | Evangelical People's Party | 14,038 | 1.43 | 2 | +1 |
| | Other parties | 9,438 | 0.96 | 0 | – |
| Total | Total | 982,370 | 100.00 | 196 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 982,370 | 97.40 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 26,193 | 2.60 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 1,008,563 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 1,473,155 | 68.46 | | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver ||||||

#### By constituency

| Constituency | Seats | Electorate | Turnout | Party | Votes | Seats won |
| Aargau | 13 | 94,726 | 79,872 | Social Democratic Party | 310,962 | 4 |
| Aargau | 13 | 94,726 | 79,872 | Conservative People's Party | 226,341 | 3 |
| Aargau | 13 | 94,726 | 79,872 | Free Democratic Party | 184,747 | 2 |
| Aargau | 13 | 94,726 | 79,872 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 147,716 | 2 |
| Aargau | 13 | 94,726 | 79,872 | Ring of Independents | 65,889 | 1 |
| Aargau | 13 | 94,726 | 79,872 | Evangelical People's Party | 32,802 | 0 |
| Aargau | 13 | 94,726 | 79,872 | Free Voters for the Repeal of Compulsory Voting | 21,883 | 0 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | Elected unopposed | Elected unopposed | Free Democratic Party | | 1 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | Elected unopposed | Elected unopposed | Social Democratic Party | | 1 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 | 3,624 | 1,361 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 1,010 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 38,597 | 23,744 | Social Democratic Party | 31,119 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 38,597 | 23,744 | Free Democratic Party | 24,003 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 38,597 | 23,744 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 13,944 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 38,597 | 23,744 | Aktion Kanton Basel | 12,772 | 0 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 38,597 | 23,744 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 12,172 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 67,346 | 40,765 | Social Democratic Party | 96,439 | 3 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 67,346 | 40,765 | Free Democratic Party | 63,876 | 2 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 67,346 | 40,765 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 43,516 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 67,346 | 40,765 | Liberal Party | 40,230 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 67,346 | 40,765 | Ring of Independents | 35,809 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 67,346 | 40,765 | Party of Labour | 28,881 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 67,346 | 40,765 | Evangelical People's Party | 13,185 | 0 |
| Bern | 33 | 255,261 | 166,701 | Social Democratic Party | 1,917,983 | 12 |
| Bern | 33 | 255,261 | 166,701 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 1,799,135 | 11 |
| Bern | 33 | 255,261 | 166,701 | Free Democratic Party | 917,183 | 6 |
| Bern | 33 | 255,261 | 166,701 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 383,320 | 2 |
| Bern | 33 | 255,261 | 166,701 | Ring of Independents | 296,288 | 2 |
| Bern | 33 | 255,261 | 166,701 | Non-partisan List of Christian Citizens | 66,143 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 45,817 | 31,802 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 112,479 | 4 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 45,817 | 31,802 | Free Democratic Party | 49,507 | 1 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 45,817 | 31,802 | Social Democratic Party | 30,241 | 1 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 45,817 | 31,802 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 27,010 | 1 |
| Geneva | 8 | 67,674 | 30,914 | Free Democratic Party | 64,157 | 3 |
| Geneva | 8 | 67,674 | 30,914 | Party of Labour | 63,488 | 2 |
| Geneva | 8 | 67,674 | 30,914 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 41,879 | 1 |
| Geneva | 8 | 67,674 | 30,914 | Social Democratic Party | 38,125 | 1 |
| Geneva | 8 | 67,674 | 30,914 | Liberal Party | 36,948 | 1 |
| Glarus | 2 | 10,782 | 8,357 | Social Democratic Party | 6,505 | 1 |
| Glarus | 2 | 10,782 | 8,357 | Free Democratic Party | 4,723 | 1 |
| Glarus | 2 | 10,782 | 8,357 | Social-Political Group | 3,121 | 0 |
| Glarus | 2 | 10,782 | 8,357 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 2,159 | 0 |
| Grisons | 6 | 37,906 | 27,854 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 65,966 | 2 |
| Grisons | 6 | 37,906 | 27,854 | Social-Political Group | 46,225 | 2 |
| Grisons | 6 | 37,906 | 27,854 | Free Democratic Party | 26,303 | 1 |
| Grisons | 6 | 37,906 | 27,854 | Social Democratic Party | 24,564 | 1 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 69,773 | 59,301 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 270,546 | 5 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 69,773 | 59,301 | Free Democratic Party | 203,944 | 4 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 69,773 | 59,301 | Social Democratic Party | 50,539 | 0 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 41,660 | 23,229 | Social Democratic Party | 42,759 | 2 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 41,660 | 23,229 | Free Democratic Party | 30,354 | 2 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 41,660 | 23,229 | Liberal Party | 20,658 | 1 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 41,660 | 23,229 | Party of Labour | 12,146 | 0 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 41,660 | 23,229 | National Progressive Party | 6,953 | 0 |
| Nidwalden | 1 | 5,803 | 2,608 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 2,114 | 1 |
| Obwalden | 1 | 6,273 | 2,623 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 1,952 | 1 |
| Obwalden | 1 | 6,273 | 2,623 | Liberal Party | 563 | 0 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 17,801 | 15,283 | Social Democratic Party | 12,820 | 1 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 17,801 | 15,283 | Free Democratic Party | 8,591 | 1 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 17,801 | 15,283 | Ring of Independents | 6,079 | 0 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 21,194 | 15,901 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 25,141 | 2 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 21,194 | 15,901 | Social Democratic Party | 11,113 | 1 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 21,194 | 15,901 | Free Democratic Party | 10,527 | 0 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 55,169 | 45,939 | Free Democratic Party | 135,929 | 3 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 55,169 | 45,939 | Social Democratic Party | 96,818 | 2 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 55,169 | 45,939 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 79,664 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | 13 | 87,576 | 67,499 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 383,322 | 6 |
| St. Gallen | 13 | 87,576 | 67,499 | Free Democratic Party | 236,576 | 4 |
| St. Gallen | 13 | 87,576 | 67,499 | Social Democratic Party | 150,671 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | 13 | 87,576 | 67,499 | Ring of Independents | 65,031 | 1 |
| Ticino | 7 | 50,924 | 35,265 | Free Democratic Party | 99,493 | 3 |
| Ticino | 7 | 50,924 | 35,265 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 95,473 | 3 |
| Ticino | 7 | 50,924 | 35,265 | Social Democratic Party | 36,558 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 43,424 | 32,179 | Social Democratic Party | 53,313 | 2 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 43,424 | 32,179 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 48,594 | 2 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 43,424 | 32,179 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 47,425 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 43,424 | 32,179 | Free Democratic Party | 38,491 | 1 |
| Uri | 1 | 8,721 | 4,550 | Free Democratic Party | 3,417 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 119,220 | 65,588 | Free Democratic Party | 314,653 | 6 |
| Vaud | 16 | 119,220 | 65,588 | Social Democratic Party | 306,580 | 5 |
| Vaud | 16 | 119,220 | 65,588 | Liberal Party | 146,489 | 2 |
| Vaud | 16 | 119,220 | 65,588 | Party of Labour | 116,746 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 119,220 | 65,588 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 92,844 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 119,220 | 65,588 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 52,542 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 49,350 | 36,635 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 157,530 | 5 |
| Valais | 7 | 49,350 | 36,635 | Free Democratic Party | 49,459 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 49,350 | 36,635 | Social Democratic Party | 32,311 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 49,350 | 36,635 | Social Movement - Peasants, Workers and Independents | 14,520 | 0 |
| Zug | 2 | 13,067 | 8,296 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 7,630 | 1 |
| Zug | 2 | 13,067 | 8,296 | Free Democratic Party | 5,060 | 1 |
| Zug | 2 | 13,067 | 8,296 | Social Democratic Party | 3,276 | 0 |
| Zürich | 32 | 261,738 | 182,406 | Social Democratic Party | 1,606,287 | 9 |
| Zürich | 32 | 261,738 | 182,406 | Ring of Independents | 879,528 | 5 |
| Zürich | 32 | 261,738 | 182,406 | Free Democratic Party | 854,519 | 5 |
| Zürich | 32 | 261,738 | 182,406 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 847,913 | 5 |
| Zürich | 32 | 261,738 | 182,406 | Conservative Christian Social Party | 725,719 | 4 |
| Zürich | 32 | 261,738 | 182,406 | Social-Political Group | 336,388 | 2 |
| Zürich | 32 | 261,738 | 182,406 | Evangelical People's Party | 315,777 | 2 |
| Zürich | 32 | 261,738 | 182,406 | Party of Labour | 162,424 | 0 |
| Source: Bundesblatt, 3 December 1959 ||||||||

### Council of the States

In several cantons the members of the Council of the States were chosen by the cantonal parliaments.
| | Conservative Christian Social Party | 17 | 0 |
| | Free Democratic Party | 13 | +1 |
| | Social Democratic Party | 4 | –1 |
| | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 3 | 0 |
| | Liberal Democratic Party | 3 | 0 |
| | Social-Political Group | 1 | –1 |
| | Other parties | 3 | +1 |
| Total | Total | 44 | 0 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver ||||