Presidential year 2024

The President of the Swiss Confederation in 2024 is Viola Amherd from the canton of Valais. She was elected on 13 December 2023.

Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, and Karin Keller-Sutter, Vice President of the Federal Council, in the National Council chamber (Photo: Keystone)

The president’s department in 2024 is the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS). The last time it had that honour was in 2013.

The vice president of the Federal Council in 2024 is Karin Keller-Sutter. She heads the Federal Department of Finance (FDF).

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“In Switzerland, we are experts when it comes to achieving consensus. Our political system is designed for that and has evolved accordingly; quite in the spirit of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s principle whereby ‘matters that concern everyone can only be solved by everyone’.”

(Excerpt from the speech given by Federal Councillor Viola Amherd before the United Federal Assembly on 13 December 2023)

Election acceptance speech

Speeches given by the president and information about events attended are published on the website of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS.

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2024 Presidential Year: President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd

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

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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.