Berset, who also holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, made his announcement on Wednesday, saying it was the right moment to move on after serving as a government minister since 2012.
As health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, Berset faced fierce criticism from some quarters for his role in enforcing lockdowns in the country.
The Social Democrat has since come under closer scrutiny following allegations that his department leaked information to the media about buying vaccines before official announcements.
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Switzerland’s Alain Berset is no Teflon man
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Switzerland loves a good summer scandal. And once again, it involves cabinet minister Alain Berset.
Only recently, he was standing defiant in the face of criticism, suggesting he would like to carry on at his post after this autumn’s general election.
“There is still so much to do. I have very large dossiers on the table that I want to finish,” Berset told Swiss public broadcaster SRF earlier this month when asked if he would stand for another term.
But in an apparent u-turn, Berset now says he feels he has served as government minister for long enough.
When asked about his future plans, he joked: “Maybe I’ll take up yoga. Do you know yoga?”
Social Democratic Party co-president Mattea Meyer called Berset an “approachable politician, uncomplicated person and independent statesman”.
“Covid challenged him and us as a society. We can only begin to imagine the hatred and anger he faced.”
Alain Berset
Alain Berset was elected to the government in 2011. Then 39, he became one of the youngest government members in history. Since then, he has headed the interior ministry, where his responsibilities include health, social insurance and culture.
Born in Fribourg in 1972, he is married with three children. He studied politics and economics at the University of Neuchâtel. After working as a scientific researcher and political advisor, he joined the Senate, the upper chamber of the Swiss parliament, in 2003 and was its president in 2009.
Berset held the rotating Swiss presidency for the first time in 2018. On December 7, 2022, he was elected for a second time by the Federal Assembly (the two chambers of parliament combined) for the year 2023. He received 140 votes out of 181 valid ballots. He had obtained a much better score (190 votes out of 210 valid ballots) during his first election to the presidency in 2018.
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Down-to-earth Swiss president raises eyebrows
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Images of the Swiss president sitting on the ground in New York have sparked a conversation on social media. For the Swiss, it’s business-as-usual.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
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The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
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The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
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In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
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As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
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After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
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A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
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The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
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Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
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Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
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Switzerland’s 19 living ex-presidents: a world record
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Nineteen former Swiss presidents are still alive. What does this record say about the country’s political stability and leadership?
Federal prosecutor opens probe into potential breaches by IT office
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The federal prosecutor has opened proceedings against the federal IT office in connection over suspected breaches of official secrecy.
Swiss president decries ‘illegal leaks’ implicating his office
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Health minister Alain Berset, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, refused to comment on information from an “illegal leak”.
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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.