Geneva Citizens' Movement

The Geneva Citizens' Movement (French: Mouvement Citoyens Genevois), abbreviated to MCG, is a populist[3][4] political party in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. On its own initiative, it started, and is a part of, the wider Romandy Citizens' Movement (French: Mouvement Citoyens Romand), abbreviated to MCR.

Geneva Citizens' Movement

Mouvement Citoyens Genevois
LeaderAna Roch
Founded2005
HeadquartersRue des Grand'Portes 1, CH-1213 Onex
Membership (2015)1,500[1]
IdeologyNational conservatism
Regionalism[2]
Right-wing populism[2]
Political positionRight-wing
Colours    Yellow, Red
National Council
0 / 200
Council of States
0 / 46
Council of State of Geneva
1 / 7
Grand Council of Geneva
11 / 100
Website
www.mcge.ch/

History

The MCG was co-founded in 2005 by Éric Stauffer and Georges Letellier. It established itself as the canton's third most powerful political party in the 2009 legislative election, winning 17 out of 100 seats in the Grand Council of Geneva.[3][5]

In 2010, the MCG formed a wider party organization with chapters throughout the cantons of Romandy, called the Mouvement Citoyen Romand (MCR).[6][7] However, only the Geneva chapter has seen real success.

The MCG made large gains in the March 2011 cantonal local elections, helping end a 20-year-old majority by left-of-center parties in the parliament of the city of Geneva.[8]

In 2013, the MCG further increased its share in the Grand Council of Geneva to 20 seats.[9] In addition, it gained a seat in the Council of State of Geneva, the executive organ of the canton, with Mauro Poggia taking the seat.[4]

In the federal election of October 2011, the MCG won one of Geneva's eleven seats in the National Council, with Mauro Poggia (b. 1959), formerly of the Christian Democrats and also the Italian Union of Christian and Centre Democrats. The MCG retained its one seat in the 2015 elections, later losing it in the 2019 elections.

Grand Council of Geneva election results
See also: Grand Council of Geneva
YearVotes%Seats
2005[10]6,6197.73%9
2009[11]12,73314.74%17
2013[12]17,64519.23%20
2018[13]8,3269.43%11

Ideology

The MCG calls itself neither left- nor right-wing,[1][3][7] but it is often referred to as right-wing populist,[4] far-right,[14] or xenophobic[7] by political opponents and the media.

The MCG campaigns on a platform of opposition to established party politics (classe politique)[3] and to the 65,000 cross-border commuters from France,[14] calling for the priority allocation of jobs to Swiss citizens.[15] The MCG takes eurosceptic or nationalist positions, such as supporting the preeminence of Swiss law before international law, opposing the bilateral accords with the European Union, and supporting reducing immigration.[16][7] In addition, it supported a strict implementation of the 2014 Swiss immigration referendum, which aimed to limit immigration through quotas.[16]

As of 2015, the MCG supports increased funding for renewable energies.[16] It believes more controls on social welfare are needed, but it does not support reducing benefits in order to reduce costs, preferring "a general reform of the system and not ineffective half-measures."[16] As of 2015, the MCG supports registered partnerships for same-sex couples but opposes full legalization.[16]

Presidents
  • Georges Letellier (2005–2006)
  • Georges Jost (2006–2008)
  • Éric Stauffer (2008–2012)
  • Roger Golay (2012–2016)
  • Ana Roch (2016–)

References
  1. The Swiss Confederation — A Brief Guide. Federal Chancellery. 2015. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  2. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Switzerland". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  3. "Les populistes brillent aux élections genevoises". Swissinfo (in French). 11 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  4. "Cross-Border Issues Cloud Geneva Election Result". Swissinfo. November 11, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  5. "Citizens' Movement Party Advances in Geneva". Swissinfo. October 12, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  6. Baertschi, François (April 20, 2010). "Le MCR est né". mcge.ch (in French). Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  7. Mombelli, Armando (July 25, 2015). "Small Parties of Protest and Principle". Swissinfo. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  8. "Left Loses Political Control of Geneva". Swissinfo. March 14, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  9. "Résultats par commune - CANTON DE GENEVE - Election au système proportionnel - Election du Grand Conseil du 6 Octobre 2013". Ge.ch. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  10. "Elections du Grand Conseil du 9 octobre 2005 - Total Genève". Ge.ch. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  11. "Election du Grand Conseil du 11 octobre 2009". Ge.ch. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  12. "Résultats par commune - CANTON DE GENEVE - Election au système proportionnel - Election du Grand Conseil du 6 Octobre 2013". Ge.ch. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  13. "Élection du Grand Conseil du 15 avril 2018". Ge.ch. 2018-04-15. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  14. Troubnikoff, Alexandra. "Suisse: la droite dure franchit la "ligne rouge" contre les voisins français" (in French). Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  15. "Grand Conseil genevois: la déferlante MCG" (in French). Télévision Suisse Romande. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  16. "Swiss Political Parties Reveal Their Colours". Swissinfo. September 11, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
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