Cantonal elections SO 588 candidates for 100 seats in the Solothurn cantonal parliament

SDA

13.1.2025 - 17:44

On March 9, Solothurn voters will elect the 100-member cantonal council and the five-member cantonal government council. (archive picture)
On March 9, Solothurn voters will elect the 100-member cantonal council and the five-member cantonal government council. (archive picture)
Keystone

In the canton of Solothurn, a record number of 588 men and women are running for one of the 100 seats on the cantonal council. Three incumbents and five newcomers are standing for election to the five-member government council, as announced by the State Chancellery on Monday.

Keystone-SDA

The registration deadline for the "super election day" on March 9 expired on Monday. There are 588 candidates registered for the cantonal council in the five districts, five more than in the last elections. Never before have there been so many candidates for the cantonal council.

Average age 42

The youngest candidate is Jan Kaltenbauch, who lives in Feldbrunnen. The cantonal school pupil, who turns 18 on February 6, is running for the center. The oldest candidate is Charlotte Kanzso. The 77-year-old from Olten is a translator and is standing for the SVP. The average age of all candidates is 42.

The 100 seats in the cantonal council have been divided as follows since 2021: FDP 22, SVP 21, SP 20, Center 20, Greens 10, GLP 6 and EVP 1. 10 of the incumbents are no longer standing for election.

SVP wants to win a seat in the government for the first time

Susanne Schaffner (SP), Peter Hodel (FDP) and Sandra Kolly (center) are standing for re-election to the government. The Greens are sending cantonal councillor and lawyer Daniel Urech into the race to replace Brigit Wyss, who is no longer standing.

The FDP has nominated last year's cantonal council president Marco Lupi as Remo Ankli's successor. As the party with the most voters, the SVP is attempting to win a seat on the cantonal council for the first time with cantonal councillor Sibylle Jeker.

The centrist and SP parties are aiming for a second seat in government, with cantonal councillor and farmers' association managing director Edgar Kupper and cantonal councillor Mathias Stricker, primary school teacher and president of the Solothurn Teachers' Association, respectively.