Politics · Switzerland · 3 hrs ago
Christophe Darbellay to run for Swiss Council of States in 2027
Marianne Maret will leave Switzerland’s Council of States at the end of 2027, after eight years representing Valais.
She was the first woman from the canton to serve in the chamber, which represents Switzerland’s cantons at the federal level.
Christophe Darbellay, a Valais state councillor, has announced he will run to succeed her.
He has served in Switzerland’s National Council and led the Christian Democratic People’s Party, now called The Centre, before joining Valais’s government in 2017.
The Centre’s Valais section will choose its candidate, with applications due by 14 December and the party congress making the final decision.
Darbellay says he does not plan to hold both a federal and cantonal government role; if elected, a by-election for his cantonal government seat would be needed.
The change would bring a new Valais representative to the federal chamber after Maret’s departure.
Christophe Darbellay has confirmed he will run for a seat in Switzerland’s Council of States in 2027.
He announced his candidacy shortly after Valais senator Marianne Maret said she would leave the chamber at the end of 2027.
Darbellay said he had waited for Maret’s decision out of respect for her.
He has served in the Valais government since 2017 and previously spent three terms in the National Council.
The Centre Valais Romand has set 14 December as the deadline for candidates, with the party congress making the final decision.
- Who
- Christophe Darbellay, a Valais state councillor.
- What
- He has confirmed he will stand for the Council of States in 2027, seeking to succeed Marianne Maret.
- When
- He announced his candidacy on 20 October 2026. The election is in 2027.
- Where
- Valais, Switzerland; the Council of States is in Bern.
- Why
- He said he has the experience, motivation and energy to represent Valais. He waited for Maret’s decision out of respect for her.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Darbellay was elected to the Valais government after serving in the National Council from 2003 to 2015.
Maret announced she would leave the Council of States at the end of 2027.
Darbellay confirmed his candidacy shortly after Maret’s announcement.
The Centre Valais Romand’s deadline for Council of States candidates is set.
Maret is due to leave the Council of States at the end of the current legislative term.
- Candidate
- Christophe Darbellay
- Election year
- 2027
- Outgoing senator
- Marianne Maret
- Candidate deadline
- 14 December
- Previous National Council service
- 2003–2015
3 sources
En Valais, au moment où Marianne Maret officialise son retrait, Christophe Darbellay annonce qu’il sera candidat au Conseil des Etats en 2027
Valais : Marianne Maret quitte les États, Darbellay candidat
Christophe Darbellay lance sa candidature au Conseil des Etats, juste après l’annonce de Marianne Maret
What people are saying
I have all the strings to my bow to best defend the interests of Valais at a crucial time in its history
It is a decision I have thought through for a long time, and I wanted to wait for her decision, out of respect for her.