Wikipedia

President of the Swiss Confederation

presiding member of the seven-member Swiss Federal Council

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
    • Bundespräsident(in)  (German)
    • Président(e) de la Confédération  (French)
    • Presidente della Confederazione  (Italian)
    • President(a) da la Confederaziun  (Romansh)
Incumbent
Viola Amherd
since 1 January 2024
ResidenceFederal Palace
Term length1 year, not eligible for reelection immediately
Inaugural holderJonas Furrer
Formation21 November 1848
DeputyVice President of the Federal Council
SalaryCHF 445,163, p.a. as of 1 January 2017[1]
WebsiteFederal Presidency

Role

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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

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1848-1900

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  • 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

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  Free Democratic Party
  Christian Democratic People's Party
  Liberal Party
  Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents
  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

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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   Ignazio Cassis
(born 1961) 		1 January 2022 31 December 2022 FDP.The Liberals Ticino
(97)   Alain Berset
(born 1972) 		1 January 2023 31 December 2023 Social Democratic Party Fribourg
100   Viola Amherd
(born 1962) 		1 January 2023 Incumbent The Centre Valais

References

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  1. ↑ "How much does a federal councillor earn?" (official site). Berne, Switzerland: The Federal Council. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
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