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🇨🇭 Switzerland /Elections & Politics

Johanna Gapany’s withdrawal puts Fribourg’s FDP Senate seat in serious danger

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Radical Liberal senator Johanna Gapany announced that she will not seek a third term in Switzerland’s Council of States in 2027.
  • Her decision puts the FDP’s Senate seat in Fribourg at risk and is likely to trigger a competitive race in the canton.
  • The announcement comes during the campaign for Fribourg’s cantonal government, where FDP ministers Romain Collaud and Didier Castella are seeking re-election.

Johanna Gapany chose Thursday evening to deliver a surprise to Fribourg’s Radical Liberals: she will not seek a third term in Switzerland’s Council of States in 2027. Her withdrawal puts the party’s seat in the upper house in serious danger and is expected to open a fierce political contest in the canton.

Speaking to the party’s delegates gathered in Fribourg, Gapany explained that she had planned her political career around two legislative terms. “I was 31 when I was elected. I knew then that I wanted to serve two terms. I will turn 40 in 2028, and if I want to return to the job market, now is the time!”

I was 31 when I was elected. I knew then that I wanted to serve two terms. I will turn 40 in 2028, and if I want to return to the job market, now is the time!

· Johanna Gapany, Swiss Radical Liberal senatorGapany explained why she will not seek a third term in the Council of States in 2027.

Gapany did not rule out a future return to electoral politics. A candidacy for Fribourg’s cantonal government could be one possibility. “Politics has been my life for 20 years! I love it and I always will!” she told journalists from Le Temps.

The announcement has unsettled Fribourg’s political scene, coming in the middle of the campaign for the cantonal executive. That race will end in two months, in November, leaving little room for candidates to enter another demanding contest. The canton’s two Radical Liberal government members, Romain Collaud and Didier Castella, are both seeking new terms. Castella, despite widespread speculation about national ambitions, confirmed on Thursday that he would not run for the Council of States in 2027.

Politics has been my life for 20 years! I love it and I always will!

· Johanna Gapany, Swiss Radical Liberal senatorShe stressed that her decision does not reflect a loss of attachment to politics and left open a possible future candidacy.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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