The Parti suisse du travail (Swiss Labour Party) was founded in October 1944, regrouping militants of the Swiss communist party (banned in 1940), of the Swiss socialist federation (banned in 1941) and numerous independent left persons. Thanks to the enthusiasm following the Nazi defeat, the party developed well in the industrialised cantons and the workers’ cities. But as a consequence of the cold war against USSR and the socialist countries, the Swiss bourgeoisie fought relentlessly against the PST. The party’s newspaper was constantly censored, its page number limited, some leaders were forbidden to write. Militants were fired because of their party’s membership.

Slowly, and in particular as from the ‘90s, the party lost lots of members. Today, it is present in the legislative and executive authorities of several towns and cantons, mainly French speaking. It is also present at the national parliament with one deputy.