Swiss likely to adopt tougher EU stance after poll

Switzerland is likely to adopt tougher immigration policies and a more assertive stance towards the European Union after a stronger-than-expected showing of the ultranationalist Swiss People’s Party (SVP) of Christoph Blocher in the Parliamentary Elections, October 2007.

Mr Blocher, a billionaire businessman turned politician, is expected to seek a more prestigious position in the four-party coalition government following the SVP’s success, which saw it win 29 per cent of the vote – the highest share of any Swiss political party since 1919.