The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) deals with matters relating to economic affairs, research and education. It has been headed since January 2019 by Guy Parmelin.
Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin
Guy Parmelin was born in Bursins (Vaud) on 9 November 1959. He holds a federal baccalaureate specialising in Latin and English. Following a farming apprenticeship, he obtained a diploma from the agricultural college at Marcelin in 1979. In 1985, he obtained a Federal PET Diploma in agriculture and winegrowing. Guy Parmelin is married.
Guy Parmelin entered into politics in 1993 as president of Bursins communal council. Between 1994 and 2003, he was a member of the Vaud cantonal parliament. Between 2000 and 2004, he was president of the Vaud cantonal branch of the SVP. He was elected to the National Council in 2003.
As a master winegrower, he ran a farm and vineyard. Guy Parmelin was vice president of the board of the Federation of Swiss Agricultural Cooperatives (FENACO) and a board member of the ‘Etablissement d'assurance contre l'incendie et les éléments naturels’ (ECA) of the canton of Vaud.
Election to the Federal Council
On 09 December 2015 the Federal Assembly elected Guy Parmelin to the Federal Council. He took over as head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) on 1 January 2016. Since January 2019 he has been head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. He was president of the Swiss Confederation in 2021.
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER)
The EAER deals with economic affairs and trade policy, including agricultural policy. It is also responsible for education, research and innovation. Further areas such as housing are also part of its remit.
EAER facts and figures
Staff (full-time positions/2022): 2,212
Expenses 2022: CHF 12.67 billion
Last modification 29.12.2023
