Burkhalter’s portfolios include health, social security, culture as well as science and research.
The 49-year-old former senator, who was elected by parliament in September, will also act as deputy economics minister, according to a statement by the Federal Chancellery.
As widely expected all the other cabinet members remained in the current posts.
Burkhalter is one of two representatives of the centre-right Radical Party in the seven-member multi-party government.
The allocation of ministries is done by consensus according to a system of seniority.
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New cabinet member has “politics in his blood”
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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…
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Burkhalter was elected in the fourth round of voting in parliament, gaining the support of 129 out of 245 members. Burkhalter comes from the French-speaking canton of Neuchâtel, which he has represented in the Senate since 2007. He sat in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007, and was a member of the Neuchâtel…
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The 49-year-old from canton Neuchâtel was elected with 129 votes in the fourth round of voting in parliament. His win enables the centre-right Radical Party to retain its two seats in the seven-member cabinet. Urs Schwaller of the centre-right Christian Democrats came second with 106 votes.
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