It also came out in favour of increasing the number of state secretaries, according to a statement by the Federal Chancellery on Thursday.
Extending the presidency, which rotates among cabinet members according to a principle of seniority, would help boost the leading role of the office and represent the country better abroad, the statement said.
The announcement comes amid criticism of the government for failing to act quickly in times of crisis or under pressure from industrial powers.
The cabinet, which plans to present a bill to parliament in the next few months, is also considering reorganising some of the ministries.
According to Thomas Fleiner, a constitutional law expert, changes will eventually be unavoidable for Switzerland to be more flexible and adaptable to international developments.
The Swiss government has seven members, including a president with largely ceremonial powers. In addition there are four state secretaries.
Previous attempts at government reform failed either in parliament or at the ballot box. Voters in 1996 rejected a plan for the introduction of up to ten state secretaries.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Parliament endorses calls for cabinet reform
This content was published on
The House on Thursday unanimously approved a Senate motion aimed at boosting the efficiency of the cabinet to focus on strategic issues and improve cooperation between the seven ministries. Federal Chancellor Corina Casanova assured parliament that the cabinet would present its reform plans in the first half of next year. The motion, the brainchild of…
This content was published on
Burkhalter was voted into cabinet in an election on Wednesday to replace fellow centre-right Radical Party member Pascal Couchepin, who steps down on October 30. At 49 Burkhalter is the second youngest in the seven-member body, and brings to the table strong free-market views and nearly two decades of political experience. He has a “vocation…
This content was published on
The announcement comes amid a heated debate over whether President Hans-Rudolf Merz was right in acting alone last week by apologising to Libya for the 2008 arrest of Moammar Gaddafi’s son and daughter-in-law. The justice ministry has been given until the spring of 2010 to come up with proposals. A few potential reforms were listed…
This content was published on
The group photo of the Swiss Federal Council is an annual ritual. It is not just a souvenir but also captures the ambitions through symbolism.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.