Who is President of Switzerland?

Friday, 28 December 2007 | posted by Matt_BC
General, Politics

Frankly, most Swiss would start stumbling when being confronted with this question! Not because they're not interested in politics or the government is so unimportant to them but rather because the political system of Switzerland is unique in its way of function, very stable on the one hand but very dynamic on the other. To answer the question raised above I simply claim: there's none!

The executive authority of Switzerland is in the hands of the seven Federal Councils elected for a four years term from the National Council (House of Representatives) and the Council of States (Senate). The Federal Council cannot dissolve parliament nor does it need to resign when it is defeated in parliament or in a referendum. Its members are "magistrates" endowed with authority for a limited period of time. They're therefore not ministers serving a leader upon his or her call. It is collectively responsible for the whole government and the entire federal administration. Not a law, but rather an unwritten rule requires the Parliament to elect at least two members from non German speaking States (there're four language Regions in Switzerland: German, French, Italian, and Rumantsch). Furthermore, specific parties and the gender of a potential candidate are considered when a serving candidate does not run for re-election.

Unlike other federal systems, Switzerland is not run by one party or by a coalition of parties but by a college of members who have to find a consensus for everything they do and then answer for this consensus in the chambers of parliament and before the nation. Another distinguishing mark of the Swiss political system is the absence of a continuous bipolar dialogue or "tug of war" between the government and the opposition. Even though one party currently claims to be in the opposition, they must realize that the system simply isn't designed for one. This is because traditional values such as cooperative acttions, a common consensus finding and the willingness to cooperate in this small, but culturally, socially, and religiously very heterogeneous part of the world are so deep rooted in the state system.

Each member of the Federal Council is also head of a department and speaks in the chambers of parliament on all matters and answers all questions concerning their departments. One member of the Federal Council is chairman for only a year term and therefore entitled Federal President of the Swiss Confederation. Because this term is so short many people never really know who currently is entitled "Federal President". However, this dignity doesn't carry any special power but is rather seen as a primus inter pares (Latin for "First among equals"). So in short, the leading executive is a seven headed Council and not one single person. One traditional privilege the Federal President has though is the opening speech at the Annual Conference of the World Economic Forum. In 2008 this will be Federal Council Pascal Couchepin, Minister of Home Affairs. There's a picture of him in case you'll run into him.

(submitted by Armin)