in the 1943 federal election, the sp achieved the greatest electoral success in its history and became the largest parliamentary group. ernst nobs was the first member of sp to be elected to the federal council. with introduction of the , a further demand dating back to the time of the landesstreik was achieved. after the failure of an sp referendum on economic reforms in 1953, the sp member of the federal council, max weber and the general secretary david farbstein resigned. the sp remained in opposition until the introduction of the "magic formula" in 1959, which gave it two seats on the federal council. since that time the sp has been a member of the grand coalition which governs switzerland. the fifth party platform was also agreed in 1959, in which the party committed itself to reformist socialism on "democratic foundations".