Appointment of a New Leader for Switzerland's Largest Political Party

The Swiss far-right party "UDC," the largest political force in the country, appointed farmer Marcel Dettling as its new leader on Saturday. Dettling is an advocate for a hardline stance on immigration and asylum issues. He was unanimously elected as the party leader at a delegates' meeting in Langenthal, northern Switzerland. The 43-year-old deputy, representing the canton of Schwyz, managed the party's campaign that largely dominated the Swiss parliamentary elections in October. After his appointment, Dettling stated, "We will continue to defend our freedom and independence in the future, and we will not allow foreign rulers to bother us." He added, "In Switzerland, the people govern, not bureaucrats." The former leader of the far-right party, Marco Chiesa, announced in December that he would step down and not seek re-election at the end of his term on March 23.