After the SVP became the largest party in the Federal Assembly in the 2003 federal elections, the SVP threatened to remove Schmid from the Council if it didn't get an additional seat (which eventually went to Blocher in that year).
Setelah SVP menjadi partai terbesar di Majelis Federal pada pemilu federal 2003, SVP mengancam menghapus Schmid dari Dewan jika tidak mendapatkan kursi tambahan (yang akhirnya diraih Blocher).