Presidential year 2023

The President of the Swiss Confederation in 2023 is Alain Berset from the canton of Fribourg. He was elected on 7 December 2022.

Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation, and Viola Amherd, Vice President of the Federal Council, in the Federal Palace.

The president’s department in 2022 is the Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA. The last time it had that honour was in 2018.

The vice president of the Federal Council in 2023 is Viola Amherd. She heads the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS.

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“Switzerland still has a great deal of potential, for example the potential for compromise, for gender equality, inclusion, and the potential of young people in our country.”

(Excerpt from the speech given by Federal Councillor Alain Berset before the United Federal Assembly on his election as President of the Swiss Confederation for 2023)

Election acceptance speech

Speeches given by the president and information about events attended are published on the website of his department, the Federal Department of of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).

Presidential Year 2023: President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset

Review of the 2022 Presidential Year: President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis

Review of the 2021 Presidential Year: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin

Review of the 2020 Presidential Year: President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga

Presidential Year 2019: President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli Maurer

Presidential Year 2018: President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset

Review of the 2017 Presidential Year: President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard

Review of the 2016 Presidential Year: President of the Swiss Confederation Johann N. Schneider-Ammann

Review of the 2015 Presidential Year: President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga

Review of the 2014 Presidential Year: President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter

Presidential Services Unit

At the start of 2015 a Presidential Services Unit was established in the Federal Chancellery to help the department of the president with organising the president’s year. The unit was established by parliamentary decision on 28 September 2012, and its legal basis can be found in the Government and Administration Organisation Act.

The unit assists the current president’s department with any extra tasks during the presidential year. It brings under one roof the services which have been provided for some time by the Federal Chancellery and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). The core role of the Presidential Services Unit is to advise the president on foreign policy. This was formerly done by the Presidential Affairs section in the FDFA's State Secretariat. Prior to that, a diplomat was seconded to the president’s department. Parliament and the government expect the Presidential Services Unit to bring together experience, knowledge and contacts to create an institutional ‘memory’ – to ensure continuity and efficiency.