Poll finds Swiss president in popularity slide

Public support for Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz has waned in recent months, according to an opinion poll on the popularity of leading politicians.

The Isopublic polling firm asked respondents which politicians they wanted to play an important role in future politics.

Only 47 per cent of Swiss backed Merz, who has come under fire for his handling of relations with Libya, compared with 59 per cent in June.

No other minister holding the presidential role had experienced such a drop in the poll’s history, Isopublic director Matthias Kappeler said, adding however that Merz had been grappling with tough issues.

The three women cabinet ministers were the most popular. Economics Minister Doris Leuthard and Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf were neck-and-neck, with the support of 74 and 72 per cent of respondents respectively. Each gained two per cent compared with June’s poll.

Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey dropped seven per cent to 56 per cent.

Ueli Maurer, the minister for defence and sport, was backed by 55 per cent of respondents and Transport, Communications and Environment Minister Moritz Leuenberger was backed by 50 per cent.

The poll comes ahead of an election this week to fill the post of outgoing Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin, who also lost support in the poll, with three out of four respondents preferring to see him leave politics.

Around 1,000 people were questioned between August 27 and September 10 for the poll.

swissinfo.ch and agencies