In the
2007 Swiss federal elections, the SVP expanded their share of votes again, mostly at the expense of the
Social Democrats (SPS). Christoph Blocher, the
de facto leader of the SVP, had become embroiled in a political scandal over the circumstances of the resignation of federal chief prosecutor
Valentin Roschacher in 2006. However, a parliamentary oversight commission controlled by his political opponents failed to implicate him in any substantial wrongdoing. Under these circumstances, it was generally assumed that any attempt by the center-left parties in Parliament to unseat him must fail, even though Blocher had made many personal opponents with his confrontational political style. Nonetheless, according to a reconstruction of events by the
Neue Zürcher Zeitung, The GPS had previously tried to obtain a seat in 1987 and 1991, when they nominated
Leni Robert against the SVP's
Adolf Ogi, and in 2000, when they nominated
Cécile Bühlmann for Ogi's seat when he retired. Four days before the election, the Social Democrats contacted
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf to inform her that she would probably receive a substantial number of votes. Widmer-Schlumpf reportedly did not state whether she would accept or decline her possible election. At the same time, the Christian Democratic party chief,
Christophe Darbellay, publicly indicated his opposition to Blocher and hinted that he would accept if elected in his stead. On the eve of the elections, the leaders of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Christian Democrats secretly agreed to support Widmer-Schlumpf, after a test ballot in the Christian Democratic parliamentary group indicated that a majority of the group did not support Blocher. During the night, the Greens withdrew Recordon's candidacy and the center-left party leaders sought out support among individual representatives of the
Free Democrats (FDP). All the while, Widmer-Schlumpf's name was kept secret to prevent her party from exerting pressure on her and to prevent her from appearing as a candidate of the Left. Only immediately before the elections were most center-left members of parliament asked by their leadership to support Widmer-Schlumpf. == Candidates ==