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World
Federal judges’ re-election postponed until the winter session
Herz — World Desk · · 30s summary · 1 min read
The essentials
The re-election of Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court judges has been postponed until Parliament’s winter session to allow further clarification. On August 26, 2026, in Bern, the parliamentary Judicial Committee questioned Yves Donzallaz and Beatrice van de Graaf, experts who wrote a report on their relationship, and the court’s president. The committee also wants to await decisions on review applications filed after the relationship became public. Weltwoche revealed the relationship in spring 2026. Donzallaz is a former Swiss People’s Party member who is now unaffiliated, while van de Graaf belongs to the party.
- The judges’ re-election has been postponed until the winter session.
- The two judges were questioned in Bern on August 26, 2026.
- Decisions on review applications are still pending.
- The relationship became public in spring 2026.
What is known
The parliamentary Judicial Committee has postponed the re-election of Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court judges until the winter session, Le Temps reports. The delay is intended to provide more time for further clarification.
The committee questioned federal judges Yves Donzallaz and Beatrice van de Graaf in Bern on August 26, 2026, about their relationship.
It also heard the authors of an expert report on the relationship and the president of the Federal Supreme Court.
The committee wants to await the Federal Supreme Court’s decisions on review applications filed after the relationship was revealed.
The relationship between the judges
Weltwoche revealed the relationship in spring 2026. Donzallaz is a former member of the Swiss People’s Party, known by its German abbreviation SVP, and is now unaffiliated. Van de Graaf belongs to the SVP.
According to media reports cited by Le Temps, their relationship is said to have lasted one year, beginning in spring 2025.
The legal and institutional context
The law prohibits the Federal Supreme Court from including judges who permanently share a household with one another.
The Federal Supreme Court referred the issue raised by the relationship to Parliament and also sent it a confidential report.
Timeline
- Spring 2025Reported start of the relationship between Yves Donzallaz and Beatrice van de Graaf.
- Spring 2026Weltwoche reveals the relationship between the two judges.
- August 26, 2026The judges, the experts and the court’s president are questioned in Bern.
- Winter sessionThe re-election of the federal judges is due to be considered following the postponement.
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