Under the leadership of Christoph Blocher, SVP shifted its focus and maintained policy victories without moderating its rhetoric or losing voter support. The party has long campaigned against immigration with nationalist or xenophobic tones. It opposes immigration both on economic and cultural grounds. In recent years it has opposed the strict COVID-19 measures, and resisted sanctions against Russia, while adhering to conservative social views. The SVP is basically to the right on economic issues, advocating reduced welfare benefits and tax cuts, but they are also relatively protectionist and in favour of subsidies to farmers. It is not only one of the most eurosceptic parties in Switzerland; it is also critical of any international involvement by the country whatsoever.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, the SVP was challenged by a few minor right wing populist parties, namely the Swiss Democrats and the Freedom Party of Switzerland. These parties never got more than three and five percent, respectively.