President of the Swiss Confederation
The President of the Swiss Confederation is the chair of the Federal Council of Switzerland and is the first amongst equals of councillors of the executive branch of the Swiss government.
| President of the Swiss Confederation
Official names
| |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| Residence | Federal Palace |
| Term length | 1 year, not eligible for reelection immediately |
| Inaugural holder | Jonas Furrer |
| Formation | 21 November 1848 |
| Deputy | Vice President of the Federal Council |
| Salary | CHF 445,163, p.a. as of 1 January 2017[update][1] |
| Website | Federal Presidency |
Role
Under the Swiss constitution of 1999, the Federal Council is the "highest executive authority". Although the president of the confederation has some extra duties to represent Switzerland, he is not the head of state.
All decisions are that a head of state would make are decided by a meeting of the Federal Council. For example, treaties are signed on behalf of the Federal Council, and all members of the federal council sign the "letters of credence" to introduce ambassadors sent by Switzerland to a foreign country. All ambassadors sent by a foreign country to Switzerland meet all of the members of the Federal Council, not just the President.
The President of the Confederation is sometimes called the "primus inter pares" (first equal) in the Federal Council.
Only three other countries in the world do not have one person as a head of state, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andorra and San Marino.
List of presidents of the Swiss Confederation
1848-1900
- Jonas Furrer
- Henri Druey
- Josef Munzinger
- Jonas Furrer
- W.M. Naeff
- Friedrich-Frey Herose
- Jonas Furrer
- Melchior Josef Martin Knusel
- Jakob Stampfli
- Constant Fornerod
- Jakob Dubs
- Karl Schenk
- Melchior Josef Martin Knusel
- Constant Fornerod
- Jakob Dubs
- Karl Schenk
- Emil Welti
- J.J. Scherer
- Emil Welti
- Joachim Heer
- Karl Schenk
- Bernard Hammer
- Emil Welti
- Numa Droz
- Simeon Bavier
- Louis Ruchonnet
- Emil Welti
- Adolf Deucher
- Numa Droz
- Wilhelm Hertenstein
- Bernard Hammer
- Louis Ruchonnet
- Emil Welti
- Walter Hauser
- Karl Schenk
- Emil frey
- Josef Zemp
- Adrien Lachenal
- Adolf Deucher
- Eugene Ruffy
- Eduard Muller
1900–1999
Free Democratic Party
Christian Democratic People's Party
Liberal Party
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Social Democratic Party
Swiss People's Party
| № | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | Canton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (21) | 
|
Walter Hauser (1837–1902) |
1 January 1900 | 31 December 1900 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| 27 | 
|
Ernst Brenner (1856–1911) |
1 January 1901 | 31 December 1901 | Free Democratic Party | Basel-Stadt | |
| (23) | 
|
Josef Zemp (1834–1908) |
1 January 1902 | 31 December 1902 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Lucerne | |
| (19) | 
|
Adolf Deucher (1831–1912) |
1 January 1903 | 31 December 1903 | Free Democratic Party | Thurgau | |
| 28 | 
|
Robert Comtesse (1847–1922) |
1 January 1904 | 31 December 1904 | Free Democratic Party | Neuchâtel | |
| 29 | Marc-Émile Ruchet (1853–1912) |
1 January 1905 | 31 December 1905 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | ||
| 30 | 
|
Ludwig Forrer (1845–1921) |
1 January 1906 | 31 December 1906 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| (26) | 
|
Eduard Müller (1848–1919) |
1 January 1907 | 31 December 1907 | Free Democratic Party | Bern | |
| (27) |
|
Ernst Brenner (1856–1911) |
1 January 1908 | 31 December 1908 | Free Democratic Party | Basel-Stadt | |
| (19) | Adolf Deucher (1831–1912) |
1 January 1909 | 31 December 1909 | Free Democratic Party | Thurgau | ||
| (28) |
|
Robert Comtesse (1847–1922) |
1 January 1910 | 31 December 1910 | Free Democratic Party | Neuchâtel | |
| (29) | Marc-Émile Ruchet (1853–1912) |
1 January 1911 | 31 December 1911 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | ||
| (30) |
|
Ludwig Forrer (1845–1921) |
1 January 1912 | 31 December 1912 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| (26) |
|
Eduard Müller (1848–1919) |
1 January 1913 | 31 December 1913 | Free Democratic Party | Bern | |
| 31 | 
|
Arthur Hoffmann (1857–1927) |
1 January 1914 | 31 December 1914 | Free Democratic Party | St. Gallen | |
| 32 | 
|
Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940) |
1 January 1915 | 31 December 1915 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Ticino | |
| 33 | 
|
Camille Decoppet (1862–1925) |
1 January 1916 | 31 December 1916 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| 34 | 
|
Edmund Schulthess (1868–1944) |
1 January 1917 | 31 December 1917 | Free Democratic Party | Aargau | |
| 35 | 
|
Felix Calonder (1863–1952) |
1 January 1918 | 31 December 1918 | Free Democratic Party | Grisons | |
| 36 | 
|
Gustave Ador (1845–1928) |
1 January 1919 | 31 December 1919 | Liberal Party | Geneva | |
| (32) |
|
Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940) |
1 January 1920 | 31 December 1920 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Ticino | |
| (34) |
|
Edmund Schulthess (1868–1944) |
1 January 1921 | 31 December 1921 | Free Democratic Party | Aargau | |
| 37 | 
|
Robert Haab (1865–1939) |
1 January 1922 | 31 December 1922 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| 38 | 
|
Karl Scheurer (1872–1929) |
1 January 1923 | 31 December 1923 | Free Democratic Party | Bern | |
| 39 | 
|
Ernest Chuard (1857–1942) |
1 January 1924 | 31 December 1924 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| 40 | 
|
Jean-Marie Musy (1876–1952) |
1 January 1925 | 31 December 1925 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Fribourg | |
| 41 | 
|
Heinrich Häberlin (1868–1947) |
1 January 1926 | 31 December 1926 | Free Democratic Party | Thurgau | |
| (32) |
|
Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940) |
1 January 1927 | 31 December 1927 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Ticino | |
| (34) |
|
Edmund Schulthess (1868–1944) |
1 January 1928 | 31 December 1928 | Free Democratic Party | Aargau | |
| (37) |
|
Robert Haab (1865–1939) |
1 January 1929 | 31 December 1929 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| (40) |
|
Jean-Marie Musy (1876–1952) |
1 January 1930 | 31 December 1930 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Fribourg | |
| (41) |
|
Heinrich Häberlin (1868–1947) |
1 January 1931 | 31 December 1931 | Free Democratic Party | Thurgau | |
| (32) |
|
Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940) |
1 January 1932 | 31 December 1932 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Ticino | |
| (34) |
|
Edmund Schulthess (1868–1944) |
1 January 1933 | 31 December 1933 | Free Democratic Party | Aargau | |
| 42 | 
|
Marcel Pilet-Golaz (1889–1958) |
1 January 1934 | 31 December 1934 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| 43 | 
|
Rudolf Minger (1881–1955) |
1 January 1935 | 31 December 1935 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | Bern | |
| 44 | 
|
Albert Meyer (1870–1953) |
1 January 1936 | 31 December 1936 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| (32) |
|
Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940) |
1 January 1937 | 31 December 1937 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Ticino | |
| 45 | 
|
Johannes Baumann (1874–1953) |
1 January 1938 | 31 December 1938 | Free Democratic Party | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | |
| 46 | 
|
Philipp Etter (1891–1977) |
1 January 1939 | 31 December 1939 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Zug | |
| (42) |
|
Marcel Pilet-Golaz (1889–1958) |
1 January 1940 | 31 December 1940 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| 47 | 
|
Ernst Wetter (1877–1963) |
1 January 1941 | 31 December 1941 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| (46) |
|
Philipp Etter (1891–1977) |
1 January 1942 | 31 December 1942 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Zug | |
| 48 | 
|
Enrico Celio (1889–1980) |
1 January 1943 | 31 December 1943 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Ticino | |
| 49 | 
|
Walther Stampfli (1884–1965) |
1 January 1944 | 31 December 1944 | Free Democratic Party | Solothurn | |
| 50 | 
|
Eduard von Steiger (1881–1962) |
1 January 1945 | 31 December 1945 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | Bern | |
| 51 | 
|
Karl Kobelt (1891–1968) |
1 January 1946 | 31 December 1946 | Free Democratic Party | St. Gallen | |
| (46) |
|
Philipp Etter (1891–1977) |
1 January 1947 | 31 December 1947 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Zug | |
| (48) |
|
Enrico Celio (1889–1980) |
1 January 1948 | 31 December 1948 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Ticino | |
| 52 | 
|
Ernst Nobs (1886–1957) |
1 January 1949 | 31 December 1949 | Social Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| 53 | 
|
Max Petitpierre (1899–1994) |
1 January 1950 | 31 December 1950 | Free Democratic Party | Neuchâtel | |
| (50) |
|
Eduard von Steiger (1881–1962) |
1 January 1951 | 31 December 1951 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | Bern | |
| (51) |
|
Karl Kobelt (1891–1968) |
1 January 1952 | 31 December 1952 | Free Democratic Party | St. Gallen | |
| (46) |
|
Philipp Etter (1891–1977) |
1 January 1953 | 31 December 1953 | Catholic-Conservative Party | Zug | |
| 54 | 
|
Rodolphe Rubattel (1896–1961) |
1 January 1954 | 31 December 1954 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| (53) |
|
Max Petitpierre (1899–1994) |
1 January 1955 | 31 December 1955 | Free Democratic Party | Neuchâtel | |
| 55 | 
|
Markus Feldmann (1897–1958) |
1 January 1956 | 31 December 1956 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | Bern | |
| 56 | 
|
Hans Streuli (1892–1970) |
1 January 1957 | 31 December 1957 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| 57 | 
|
Thomas Holenstein (1896–1962) |
1 January 1958 | 31 December 1958 | Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party | St. Gallen | |
| 58 | 
|
Paul Chaudet (1904–1977) |
1 January 1959 | 31 December 1959 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| (53) |
|
Max Petitpierre (1899–1994) |
1 January 1960 | 31 December 1960 | Free Democratic Party | Neuchâtel | |
| 59 | 
|
Friedrich Traugott Wahlen (1899–1985) |
1 January 1961 | 31 December 1961 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | Zürich | |
| (58) |
|
Paul Chaudet (1904–1977) |
1 January 1962 | 31 December 1962 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| 60 | 
|
Willy Spühler (1902–1990) |
1 January 1963 | 31 December 1963 | Social Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| 61 | 
|
Ludwig von Moos (1910–1990) |
1 January 1964 | 31 December 1964 | Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party | Obwalden | |
| 62 | 
|
Hans-Peter Tschudi (1913–2002) |
1 January 1965 | 31 December 1965 | Social Democratic Party | Basel-Stadt | |
| 63 | 
|
Hans Schaffner (1908–2004) |
1 January 1966 | 31 December 1966 | Free Democratic Party | Aargau | |
| 64 | 
|
Roger Bonvin (1907–1982) |
1 January 1967 | 31 December 1967 | Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party | Valais | |
| (60) |
|
Willy Spühler (1902–1990) |
1 January 1968 | 31 December 1968 | Social Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| (61) |
|
Ludwig von Moos (1910–1990) |
1 January 1969 | 31 December 1969 | Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party | Obwalden | |
| (62) |
|
Hans-Peter Tschudi (1913–2002) |
1 January 1970 | 31 December 1970 | Social Democratic Party | Basel-Stadt | |
| 65 | 
|
Rudolf Gnägi (1917–1985) |
1 January 1971 | 31 December 1971 | Swiss People's Party | Bern | |
| 66 | 
|
Nello Celio (1914–1995) |
1 January 1972 | 31 December 1972 | Free Democratic Party | Ticino | |
| (64) |
|
Roger Bonvin (1907–1982) |
1 January 1973 | 31 December 1973 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Valais | |
| 67 | 
|
Ernst Brugger (1914–1998) |
1 January 1974 | 31 December 1974 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| 68 | 
|
Pierre Graber (1908–2003) |
1 January 1975 | 31 December 1975 | Social Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| (65) |
|
Rudolf Gnägi (1917–1985) |
1 January 1976 | 31 December 1976 | Swiss People's Party | Bern | |
| 69 | 
|
Kurt Furgler (1924–2008) |
1 January 1977 | 31 December 1977 | Christian Democratic People's Party | St- Gallen | |
| 70 | 
|
Willi Ritschard (1918–1983) |
1 January 1978 | 31 December 1978 | Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland | Solothurn | |
| 71 | 
|
Hans Hürlimann (1918–1994) |
1 January 1979 | 31 December 1979 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Zug | |
| 72 | 
|
Georges-André Chevallaz (1915–2002) |
1 January 1980 | 31 December 1980 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| (69) |
|
Kurt Furgler (1924–2008) |
1 January 1981 | 31 December 1981 | Christian Democratic People's Party | St- Gallen | |
| 73 | 
|
Fritz Honegger (1917–1999) |
1 January 1982 | 31 December 1982 | Free Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| 74 | 
|
Pierre Aubert (1927–2016) |
1 January 1983 | 31 December 1983 | Social Democratic Party | Neuchâtel | |
| 75 | 
|
Leon Schlumpf (1925–2012) |
1 January 1984 | 31 December 1984 | Swiss People's Party | Graubünden | |
| (69) |
|
Kurt Furgler (1924–2008) |
1 January 1985 | 31 December 1985 | Christian Democratic People's Party | St- Gallen | |
| 76 | 
|
Alphons Egli (1924–2016) |
1 January 1986 | 31 December 1986 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Lucern | |
| (74) |
|
Pierre Aubert (1927–2016) |
1 January 1987 | 31 December 1987 | Social Democratic Party | Neuchâtel | |
| 77 | 
|
Otto Stich (1927–2012) |
1 January 1988 | 31 December 1988 | Social Democratic Party | Solothurn | |
| 78 | 
|
Jean-Pascal Delamuraz (1936–1998) |
1 January 1989 | 31 December 1989 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| 79 | 
|
Arnold Koller (born 1933) |
1 January 1990 | 31 December 1990 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Appenzell Innerrhoden | |
| 80 | 
|
Flavio Cotti (born 1939) |
1 January 1991 | 31 December 1991 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Ticino | |
| 81 | 
|
René Felber (1933–2020) |
1 January 1992 | 31 December 1992 | Social Democratic Party | Neuchâtel | |
| 82 | 
|
Adolf Ogi (born 1942) |
1 January 1993 | 31 December 1993 | Swiss People's Party | Bern | |
| (77) |
|
Otto Stich (1927–2012) |
1 January 1994 | 31 December 1994 | Social Democratic Party | Solothurn | |
| 83 | 
|
Kaspar Villiger (born 1941) |
1 January 1995 | 31 December 1995 | Free Democratic Party | Lucerne | |
| (78) |
|
Jean-Pascal Delamuraz (1936–1998) |
1 January 1996 | 31 December 1996 | Free Democratic Party | Vaud | |
| (79) |
|
Arnold Koller (born 1933) |
1 January 1997 | 31 December 1997 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Appenzell Innerrhoden | |
| (80) |
|
Flavio Cotti (born 1939) |
1 January 1998 | 31 December 1998 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Ticino | |
| 84 | 
|
Ruth Dreifuss (born 1940) |
1 January 1999 | 31 December 1999 | Social Democratic Party | Geneva | |
2000–present
- Political parties
Swiss People's Party
Social Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party/FDP.The Liberals
Christian Democratic People's Party
Conservative Democratic Party
| № | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | Canton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (82) |
|
Adolf Ogi (born 1942) |
1 January 2000 | 31 December 2000 | Swiss People's Party | Bern | |
| 85 | 
|
Moritz Leuenberger (born 1946) |
1 January 2001 | 31 December 2001 | Social Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| (83) | 
|
Kaspar Villiger (born 1941) |
1 January 2002 | 31 December 2002 | Free Democratic Party | Lucerne | |
| 86 | 
|
Pascal Couchepin (born 1942) |
1 January 2003 | 31 December 2003 | Free Democratic Party | Valais | |
| 87 | 
|
Joseph Deiss (born 1946) |
1 January 2004 | 31 December 2004 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Fribourg | |
| 88 | 
|
Samuel Schmid (born 1947) |
1 January 2005 | 31 December 2005 | Swiss People's Party | Bern | |
| (85) |
|
Moritz Leuenberger (born 1946) |
1 January 2006 | 31 December 2006 | Social Democratic Party | Zürich | |
| 89 | 
|
Micheline Calmy-Rey (born 1945) |
1 January 2007 | 31 December 2007 | Social Democratic Party | Valais | |
| (86) |
|
Pascal Couchepin (born 1942) |
1 January 2008 | 31 December 2008 | Free Democratic Party | Valais | |
| 90 | 
|
Hans-Rudolf Merz (born 1942) |
1 January 2009 | 31 December 2009 | FDP.The Liberals | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | |
| 91 | 
|
Doris Leuthard (born 1963) |
1 January 2010 | 31 December 2010 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Aargau | |
| (89) |
|
Micheline Calmy-Rey (born 1945) |
1 January 2011 | 31 December 2011 | Social Democratic Party | Valais | |
| 92 | 
|
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (born 1956) |
1 January 2012 | 31 December 2012 | Conservative Democratic Party | Graubünden | |
| 93 | 
|
Ueli Maurer (born 1950) |
1 January 2013 | 31 December 2013 | Swiss People's Party | Zürich | |
| 94 | 
|
Didier Burkhalter (born 1960) |
1 January 2014 | 31 December 2014 | FDP.The Liberals | Neuchâtel | |
| 95 | 
|
Simonetta Sommaruga (born 1960) |
1 January 2015 | 31 December 2015 | Social Democratic Party | Bern | |
| 96 | 
|
Johann Schneider-Ammann (born 1952) |
1 January 2016 | 31 December 2016 | FDP.The Liberals | Bern | |
| (91) |
|
Doris Leuthard (born 1963) |
1 January 2017 | 31 December 2017 | Christian Democratic People's Party | Aargau | |
| 97 | 
|
Alain Berset (born 1972) |
1 January 2018 | 31 December 2018 | Social Democratic Party | Fribourg | |
| (93) |
|
Ueli Maurer (born 1950) |
1 January 2019 | 31 December 2019 | Swiss People's Party | Zürich | |
| (95) |
|
Simonetta Sommaruga (born 1960) |
1 January 2020 | 31 December 2020 | Social Democratic Party | Bern | |
| 98 | 
|
Guy Parmelin (born 1959) |
1 January 2021 | 31 December 2021 | Swiss People's Party | Vaud | |
| 99 | .jpg)
|
Ignazio Cassis (born 1961) |
1 January 2022 | 31 December 2022 | FDP.The Liberals | Ticino | |
| (97) | .jpg)
|
Alain Berset (born 1972) |
1 January 2023 | 31 December 2023 | Social Democratic Party | Fribourg | |
| 100 | .jpg)
|
Viola Amherd (born 1962) |
1 January 2023 | Incumbent | The Centre | Valais | |
References
- ↑ "How much does a federal councillor earn?" (official site). Berne, Switzerland: The Federal Council. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-17.