A special election is set for March 8th in Vaud, Switzerland, following the unexpected resignation of Socialist Rebecca Ruiz from the Council of State, creating a power vacuum in the canton’s executive body.The Swiss People’s Party (UDC) has quickly moved to fill the opening, unanimously selecting farmer and current Grand Council President Jean-François Thuillard as it’s candidate. This election is being closely watched as the UDC seeks to regain representation on the Council of State after an eleven-year absence, and early signals suggest a potential alliance with the FDP.The Liberals could bolster their chances.
Vaud, Switzerland – The Swiss People’s Party (UDC) has selected Jean-François Thuillard as its candidate for an upcoming special election to the Vaud Council of State, set for March 8. The election was triggered by the recent resignation of Socialist Rebecca Ruiz.
Thuillard was unanimously chosen by the UDC Vaud congress Thursday evening in Chavannes-le-Chêne, according to Sylvain Freymond, president of UDC Vaud and a national councillor. “Jean-François Thuillard was named candidate by unanimous vote of the assembly and by applause,” Freymond said.
The UDC announced its intention to field a candidate Wednesday, shortly after Ruiz announced her resignation. Thuillard, 60, is a farmer from the Gros-de-Vaud region and has served in the Grand Council since 2012. He recently held the presidency of the Grand Council during the 2024-2025 parliamentary year.
Beyond his role in the Vaud parliament, Thuillard previously served as vice president of UDC Vaud from 2013 to 2015. He has a long history of local government service in Froideville, joining the municipal council in 1985, becoming a member of the municipal executive in 2002, and being elected as mayor in 2016. A dedicated fan of the Lausanne Hockey Club, Thuillard has also unsuccessfully sought a seat in the National Council on multiple occasions.
Support from the FDP.The Liberals
The UDC Vaud is hoping to regain a seat on the Council of State, from which it has been absent since 2011 following the death of Jean-Claude Mermoud. Previous attempts to win a seat have been unsuccessful, including campaigns by Michaël Buffat in the 2022 cantonal elections and Pascal Dessauges in a 2019 special election – the latter losing to Ruiz.
The question now turns to whether Thuillard will receive the backing of the Vaud Alliance, a coalition comprised of the UDC, the FDP.The Liberals, and the Centre party. Delegates from the FDP.The Liberals, meeting Thursday evening in L’Isle, voted “by a large majority” to support Thuillard’s candidacy, the party said in a statement. The Centre party had previously indicated it might not put forward its own candidate.
Other parties are also preparing for the election. The Socialists will nominate a candidate to defend Ruiz’s seat, while the Green Party has already stated it will support the Socialist candidate and will not field its own. No other parties have yet announced plans to compete for the seat. The upcoming election will test the strength of the Vaud Alliance and the shifting political landscape following Ruiz’s departure.
