The structure of the Swiss executives is a particularity that I think is not often stressed enough.
As you mention, the government is a group of 7 people (at the federal level). This means that the power of the executive branch of the state is not owned by one political group.
In all the other systems I know, the executive power is not shared - there is one president. This forces coalition to form to win this position. You have people allying themselves with other parties only to "win" elections. Coalitions are here only as a way to control the executive.
In Switzerland, this does not happen - power must be shared at the executive... (read more)
The structure of the Swiss executives is a particularity that I think is not often stressed enough.
As you mention, the government is a group of 7 people (at the federal level). This means that the power of the executive branch of the state is not owned by one political group.
In all the other systems I know, the executive power is not shared - there is one president. This forces coalition to form to win this position. You have people allying themselves with other parties only to "win" elections. Coalitions are here only as a way to control the executive.
In Switzerland, this does not happen - power must be shared at the executive... (read more)