As expected, current vice-president Berset was selected from the seven-member executive body to start his second term as president from January 1. He previously held the post in 2018.
More
More
Switzerland’s 20 living ex-presidents: a world record
This content was published on
Twenty former Swiss presidents are still alive. What does this record say about the country’s political stability and leadership?
The Swiss presidency changes hands every year and passes between government ministers, who also continue with their ministerial duties.
This year, for example, Ignazio Cassis is both president and foreign minister. The system is designed to ensure that no single person can concentrate too much individual power in their own hands.
Besides chairing government meetings and giving speeches on important occasions, such as the August 1 Swiss National Day, the president has an international diplomatic function.
The Swiss president also meets visiting foreign heads of state and dignitaries when they come to Switzerland on official business.
More
More
Presidential duties
This content was published on
The office of federal president rotates every year among the seven cabinet ministers.
Parliament was less certain about whom to choose as 2023 president than in previous years. Berset received 140 votes, well below the 190 parliamentarians who endorsed him for the role in 2018.
Earlier on Wednesday parliament voted in two new ministers to the Federal Council from the start of 2023. They will replace the outgoing Ueli Maurer and Simonetta Sommaruga.
More
More
New Swiss government ministers elected to office
This content was published on
Switzerland’s parliament has appointed two new government ministers to serve in the country’s seven-member executive body.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Swiss price watchdog negotiates lower fees for card payments
This content was published on
Small businesses in Switzerland will have to pay fewer fees for cashless payments from customers over the next few years.
Lakes in Central Switzerland have best water quality for bathing
This content was published on
Anyone who swims in a lake in Central Switzerland need have no fear of infection from intestinal bacteria. The water samples taken at 65 bathing sites in 13 lakes all have good to excellent bathing water quality.
This content was published on
Unknown assailants have stolen a historic ring from a Basel museum. The stolen item was a gift from Russian Tsar Alexander I to his host in Basel in 1814.
More May hotel guests in Basel than at any time in past 90 years
This content was published on
Basel hotels recorded 150,854 overnight stays for the Eurovision Song Contest in May. This corresponds to a year-on-year increase of 8.4%.
Demand remains high for rental flats in Switzerland
This content was published on
More rental flats are once again being advertised on property portals in Switzerland. However, demand also remains very high.
One in five Europeans exposed to too much traffic noise
This content was published on
More than one in five Europeans are exposed to unhealthily high levels of traffic noise, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
New living space through densification often comes at expense of the poor
This content was published on
If demolition and new construction are carried out and tenants have to make way, low-income households are affected more often than average.
This content was published on
The ceasefire in the Iran-Israel war has visibly eased tensions on the financial markets. The SMI, Switzerland's leading stock market index, has risen above the 12,000 point mark again.
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
New Swiss government ministers elected to office
This content was published on
Switzerland's parliament has appointed two new government ministers to serve in the country’s seven-member executive body.
Switzerland’s 20 living ex-presidents: a world record
This content was published on
Twenty former Swiss presidents are still alive. What does this record say about the country’s political stability and leadership?
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.