Transparency in Switzerland’s federal parliament remains limited. According to a new report by the watchdog organisation Lobbywatch, only 27% of parliamentarians fully disclose
their additional income from mandates in companies and associations.
The ‘Transparency Report 2025’, published on Monday, shows that 44% of members of parliament declare no such income at all. Overall levels of transparency have stagnated compared with the previous survey in early 2024, when 42% of parliamentarians failed to disclose any additional earnings.
For the first time, Lobbywatch distinguishes between full transparency — where all income is disclosed — and partial transparency, meaning that only some remuneration is declared. Using this new methodology, the organisation concludes that only a minority of parliamentarians are genuinely transparent about their financial interests.
Party differences
The Green Party ranks highest on transparency, with 68% of its members fully disclosing their income. The Social Democratic Party follows with just over half of its members (51%). However, Lobbywatch notes that both the Social Democrats and the Green Liberals have become less transparent compared with previous years.
By contrast, the right-wing Swiss People’s Party has improved its record and now matches the Centre Party in terms of disclosure. The Radical-Liberal Party ranks last: none of its members fully disclose their income, and only around one in three declares any part of their additional remuneration.
Gender and chamber gaps
Members of the House of Representatives are generally more forthcoming than those of the Senate. Partial transparency stands at 58% in the lower house, compared with 48% in the upper chamber. Full transparency remains low in both.
The report also highlights a gender gap. Around one third of female parliamentarians fully disclose their income, compared with just a quarter of their male counterparts.
Lobbywatch conducted its survey in the summer of 2025, asking all members of parliament to declare their additional income. Photo by Flooffy, Wikimedia commons.