The Swiss People’s Party (SVP in German) – also known as the Democratic Union of the Center (UDC in French and Italian) – which has emerged as the dominant political force in the country, yesterday on Saturday elected its new leader Marcel Dettling, an advocate of a tough line on immigration and the right to asylum.

The election was of a procedural nature, since Detling was the only candidate. He was unanimously elected party leader at a congress of delegates in Langendal, northern Switzerland.

The 43-year-old member of parliament representing the canton of Schwyz (center) led the party’s election campaign that triumphed last October.

“We will continue to defend our freedom and independence. We will not allow harassment by foreign leaders,” he pledged after his election. “In Switzerland the people rule and not the bureaucrats in Brussels,” he emphasized in his speech.

The SVP (or UDC) has evolved over the years. From a rural party in the German-speaking part of Switzerland it became a major political force, focusing on three “no’s”: no to mass immigration, no to the European Union, no to abandoning traditional neutrality.

The former leader of the Swiss far-right, Marco Chiesa, announced in December that he did not intend to run for re-election. He led the party to its third best electoral result in its history, with 28% and nine additional seats in the Lower House.

The four largest parties are represented in Switzerland’s seven-member government (s.s. 2-2-2-1 in order). Government makes decisions by consensus and collective responsibility.

The Swiss People’s Party is represented in the current government by Economy Minister Guy Parmelain and Environment Minister Albert Resti.