Right-wing populists from the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) are leading the opinion polls going into a parliamentary election in Switzerland on Sunday.

According to surveys, the SVP is likely to gain ground. The populist party has been the strongest party in Switzerland for 20 years. It is likely to pick up around two points and garner some 28 per cent of the vote.

The Social Democrats (SP) are expecting to get around 18 per cent, while the Greens and the Green Liberals, who made massive gains four years ago, are expected to lose votes this time around.

Reto Foellmi, economics professor at the University of St Gallen said he expected a change in the tone and focus of the political debate after Sunday’s vote.

“On climate change, the government and the parliament will take the foot off the gas … and with migration the tone will get harder,” he said.

The SVP was a driving force behind a successful referendum that banned burqa-style face coverings in public places.

More than 5.5 million citizens are entitled to vote. Most of the time, more than 90 per cent vote by mail.

Sunday’s election result is not expected to lead to a change in Switzerland’s federal government, which consists of seven officials who make up the Federal Council.

The largest parties are the SVP and SP, the liberal Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (FDP) and the former Christian Democratic People’s Party (CVP), which is now called The Centre.

The seven federal councillors have been in office largely for 10 or more years and it is generally up to them to personally decide when they want to step down.

-AAP