Swiss voting for new parliament

The controversial poster bears the slogan "For more security"

Officials in Switzerland have begun counting ballots from the country's general election, following a campaign marred by accusations of racism.
The right-wing Swiss People's Party, already the largest party in Switzerland's parliament, looks set to get the biggest share of the vote.

Switzerland's system of proportional representation means the party cannot hope for an overall majority.

But the campaign has caused deep unease among the large immigrant community.

One single issue dominated the election campaign: foreigners.

Twenty percent of Switzerland's population is foreign and the now notorious poster from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, in which three white sheep kick a black sheep out of Switzerland, was widely regarded as racist.

But the party itself insisted the poster was simply an illustration of its campaign to have foreigners who commit crimes deported.

That campaign does seem to have struck a chord with voters.

The party has been leading in the opinion polls, and it is likely to get the biggest share of the vote.

The People's Party will see that as a mandate to push forward policies like the deportation of foreign criminals, and a ban on building minarets.

Opponents fear growing divisions in Swiss society and damage to Switzerland's reputation for consensus and tolerance.