Conservative Democratic Party
The party was created by more moderate members of the rightwing Swiss People's Party. The group was set up by politicians who supported rivals of the former justice minister, Christoph Blocher, who failed to win re-election to cabinet in 2007.
The newly-elected Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf as well as the defence minister were thrown out of the People's Party accused of betraying Blocher.
The Conservative Democratic Party (Bürgerlich-Demokratische Partei/BDP, Parti Bourgeois Démocratique/PBD) which has its power bases in Graubünden and Bern, was founded in 2008.
Initially it had two representatives in the cabinet, before Defence Minister Samuel Schmid stepped down at the end of 2008. His post went to a member of the People's Party.
The Conservative People's Party has six seats in parliament, including one it one in a by-election.
Key facts
Founded in 2008
President: Hans Grunder, member of the House of Representatives
Seats in the House of Representatives: 5
Seats in the Senate: 1
Cabinet minister: Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
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