Swiss anti-immigration party rebounds to become largest parliamentary faction

Members of the right-wing Swiss People's Party cheer in St. Gallen, Switzerland on October 22, 2023. The anti-immigration party rebounded from searing losses four years ago, expanding its hold as the largest parliamentary faction following Sunday's elections. © Christian Merz, AP

Switzerland's anti-immigration Swiss People's Party rebounded from searing losses four years ago to become the largest parliamentary faction after the election, official results showed, as two environmentally-minded parties lost ground despite record glacier melt in the Alpine country.

Pre-election polls suggested that Swiss voters had three main concerns: Rising fees for the obligatory, free market-based health insurance system; climate change, which has eroded Switzerland’s many glaciers; and worries about migrants and immigration.