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The President of the Swiss Confederation | |
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since 1 January 2024 | |
Status | Presiding member |
Residence | Federal Palace |
Term length | Unlimited non-consecutive one-year terms |
Inaugural holder | Jonas Furrer |
Formation | 21 November 1848 |
Deputy | Vice President of the Federal Council |
Salary | CHF 445,163 annually[1] |
Website | Federal Presidency |
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The president of the Swiss Confederation, also known as the president of the confederation, federal president or colloquially as the president of Switzerland, is as primus inter pares among the other members of the Federal Council formally the head of Switzerland's seven-member executive branch. Elected by the Federal Assembly for one year, the officeholder chairs the meetings of the Federal Council and undertakes special representational duties.
First among equals, the president of the Confederation has no powers over and above the other six councillors and continues to head the assigned department. Traditionally the duty rotates among the members in order of seniority; the vice president of the Federal Council assumes the presidency the year after the officeholder's tenure. The president of the Confederation is not the head of state because the entire Federal Council is the collective head of state.[2]
The constitutional provisions relating to the organisation of the Federal Government and federal administration are set out in Section 1 Organisation and Procedure of Chapter 3 Federal Council and Federal Administration of the Title 5 Federal Authorities of the Swiss Federal Constitution[3] at articles 174 to 179. Article 176 specifically relates to the presidency.
The current incumbent president is Viola Amherd, since 1 January 2024.[4]