Swiss federal election, 1979

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 21 October 1979. The Social Democratic Party and the Free Democratic Party emerged as the largest parties in the National Council, both winning 51 of the 200 seats.

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Social Democratic Party	447,990	24.4	51	–4
Free Democratic Party	440,099	24.0	51	+4
Christian Democratic People's Party	390,281	21.3	44	–2
Swiss People's Party	212,705	11.6	23	+2
Ring of Independents	74,623	4.1	8	–3
Liberal Party	51,258	2.8	8	+2
Evangelical People's Party	40,744	2.2	3	0
Swiss Party of Labour	38,187	2.1	3	–1
Swiss Progressive Organisations	31,128	1.7	2	+2
National Action	24,257	1.3	2	0
Republican Movement	11,587	0.6	1	–3
Group for the Protection of the Environment/Green Party of Zürich	11,583	0.6	1	+1
Autonomous Socialist Party	8,147	0.4	1	0
Federal Democratic Union	4,626	0.3	0	0
Feminist and Green Alternative Groups	3,236	0.2	0	–
Other parties	42,740	2.3	2	–
Invalid/blank votes	23,460	–	–	–
Total	1,856,651	100	200	0
Registered voters/turnout	3,864,285	48.0	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Council of the States

Party	Seats	+/–
Christian Democratic People's Party	18	+1
Free Democratic Party	11	–4
Social Democratic Party	9	+4
Swiss People's Party	5	0
Liberal Party	3	+2
Ring of Independents	0	–1
Total	46	+2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver