Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 29 October 1939.Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1895 The Free Democratic Party emerged as the largest party in the National Council, winning 49 of the 187 seats.Nohlen & Stöver, p1953 Due to the outbreak of World War II, there were no elections in nine of the 25 cantons; Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Valais, Vaud and Zug.Nohlen & Stöver, p1948 In what became known as "silent elections", a total of 55 candidates were elected unopposed.
Results
National Council
By constituency ConstituencySeatsElectorateTurnoutPartyVotesSeatswonAargau1275,50967,271Social Democratic Party258,9195Conservative People's Party168,6063Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents113,2702Free Democratic Party125,2322Young Farmers41,6630Ring of Independents34,0970Evangelical People's Party27,0750Appenzell Ausserrhoden2Elected unopposedSocial Democratic Party1Free Democratic Party1Appenzell Innerrhoden13,5012,153Conservative People's Party1,6401Basel-Landschaft428,20717,788Social Democratic Party18,8411Free Democratic Party16,4481Liberal Socialist Party11,5221Basel Farmers' Party, Free Democrats and Independents8,8641Conservative People's Party8,7671Young Farmers2,7880Communist Party1,6170Action Committee for Breaking the Interest Bondage2590Basel-Stadt751,83335,833Social Democratic Party81,4522Ring of Independents34,7112Liberal Democratic Party34,2021Free Democratic Party32,0871Conservative People's Party25,3731Communist Party22,7840Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents14,8690Bern31209,052148,467Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents1,421,51810Social Democratic Party1,351,56710Free Democratic Party674,2585Young Farmers458,0623Conservative People's Party267,6422Ring of Independents169,0461Liberal Socialist Party123,4770Communist Party24,8910Fribourg740,94528,485Conservative People's Party118,9975Free Democratic Party51,8152Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents24,0030Geneva850,17231,849Social Democratic Party90,5913Free Democratic Party81,4383Liberal Democratic Party42,8361Conservative People's Party34,2761Glarus210,1487,828Social-Political Group6,4951Social Democratic Party4,4961Free Democratic Party4,2420Grisons637,40928,325Social-Political Group64,0953Conservative People's Party56,0592Free Democratic Party28,6691Social Democratic Party15,9390Lucerne9Elected unopposedConservative People's Party5Free Democratic Party3Social Democratic Party1Neuchâtel6Elected unopposedSocial Democratic Party3Free Democratic Party2Liberal Democratic Party1Nidwalden14,4633,180Conservative People's Party1,4301Obwalden15,4612,275Conservative People's Party1,5351Schaffhausen215,69213,896Social Democratic Party11,6201Free Democratic Party9,2711Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents5,5020Schwyz3Elected unopposedConservative People's Party2Free Democratic Party1Solothurn7Elected unopposedFree Democratic Party3Social Democratic Party2Conservative People's Party2St. Gallen1377,17164,614Conservative People's Party317,2446Free Democratic Party213,1434Social Democratic Party128,9642Ring of Independents59,5791Association of Free Democrats38,5090Young Farmers35,3090Ticino7Elected unopposedConservative People's Party3Free Democratic Party2Social-Political Group1Social Democratic Party1Thurgau639,29831,485Social Democratic Party49,3232Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents42,5422Conservative People's Party36,9871Free Democratic Party36,7961Young Farmers13,9910Uri16,9794,091Free Democratic Party3,4481Vaud15Elected unopposedFree Democratic Party6Social Democratic Party4Liberal Democratic Party3Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents2Valais6Elected unopposedConservative People's Party4Free Democratic Party1Social Democratic Party1Zug2Elected unopposedConservative People's Party1Free Democratic Party1Zürich28205,426152,325Social Democratic Party1,306,63810Ring of Independents724,7155Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents574,2845Free Democratic Party517,4704Social-Political Group338,5082Conservative People's Party287,2142Liberal Socialist Party111,9430Young Farmers104,0680Communist Party98,1140Evangelical People's Party97,1780Source: Bundesblatt, 29 November 1939
Council of the States In several cantons the members of the Council of the States were chosen by the cantonal parliaments.Nohlen & Stöver, p1956
References