President of the Swiss Confederation

The President of the Swiss Confederation is the chair of the Federal Council of Switzerland and is the first amongst equals of councillors of the executive branch of the Swiss government.

President of the Swiss Confederation Official names Bundespräsident(in)  (German) Président(e) de la Confédération  (French) Presidente della Confederazione  (Italian) President(a) da la Confederaziun  (Romansh)
Incumbent Karin Keller-Sutter since 1 January 2025
Residence	Federal Palace
Term length	1 year, not eligible for reelection immediately
Inaugural holder	Jonas Furrer
Formation	21 November 1848
Deputy	Vice President of the Federal Council
Salary	CHF 445,163, p.a. as of 1 January 2017[update][1]
Website	Federal Presidency

Role

Under the Swiss constitution of 1999, the Federal Council is the "highest executive authority". Although the president of the confederation has some extra duties to represent Switzerland, he is not the head of state.

All decisions are that a head of state would make are decided by a meeting of the Federal Council. For example, treaties are signed on behalf of the Federal Council, and all members of the federal council sign the "letters of credence" to introduce ambassadors sent by Switzerland to a foreign country. All ambassadors sent by a foreign country to Switzerland meet all of the members of the Federal Council, not just the President.

The President of the Confederation is sometimes called the "primus inter pares" (first equal) in the Federal Council.

Only three other countries in the world do not have one person as a head of state, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andorra and San Marino.

List of presidents of the Swiss Confederation

1848-1900

• Jonas Furrer
• Henri Druey
• Josef Munzinger
• Jonas Furrer
• W.M. Naeff
• Friedrich-Frey Herose
• Jonas Furrer
• Melchior Josef Martin Knusel
• Jakob Stampfli
• Constant Fornerod
• Jakob Dubs
• Karl Schenk
• Melchior Josef Martin Knusel
• Constant Fornerod
• Jakob Dubs
• Karl Schenk
• Emil Welti
• J.J. Scherer
• Emil Welti
• Joachim Heer
• Karl Schenk
• Bernard Hammer
• Emil Welti
• Numa Droz
• Simeon Bavier
• Louis Ruchonnet
• Emil Welti
• Adolf Deucher
• Numa Droz
• Wilhelm Hertenstein
• Bernard Hammer
• Louis Ruchonnet
• Emil Welti
• Walter Hauser
• Karl Schenk
• Emil frey
• Josef Zemp
• Adrien Lachenal
• Adolf Deucher
• Eugene Ruffy
• Eduard Muller

1900–1999

  Free Democratic Party
  Christian Democratic People's Party
  Liberal Party
  Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents
  Social Democratic Party
  Swiss People's Party

№		Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Political party	Canton
	(21)		Walter Hauser (1837–1902)	1 January 1900	31 December 1900	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	27		Ernst Brenner (1856–1911)	1 January 1901	31 December 1901	Free Democratic Party	Basel-Stadt
	(23)		Josef Zemp (1834–1908)	1 January 1902	31 December 1902	Catholic-Conservative Party	Lucerne
	(19)		Adolf Deucher (1831–1912)	1 January 1903	31 December 1903	Free Democratic Party	Thurgau
	28		Robert Comtesse (1847–1922)	1 January 1904	31 December 1904	Free Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
	29		Marc-Émile Ruchet (1853–1912)	1 January 1905	31 December 1905	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	30		Ludwig Forrer (1845–1921)	1 January 1906	31 December 1906	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	(26)		Eduard Müller (1848–1919)	1 January 1907	31 December 1907	Free Democratic Party	Bern
	(27)		Ernst Brenner (1856–1911)	1 January 1908	31 December 1908	Free Democratic Party	Basel-Stadt
	(19)		Adolf Deucher (1831–1912)	1 January 1909	31 December 1909	Free Democratic Party	Thurgau
	(28)		Robert Comtesse (1847–1922)	1 January 1910	31 December 1910	Free Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
	(29)		Marc-Émile Ruchet (1853–1912)	1 January 1911	31 December 1911	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	(30)		Ludwig Forrer (1845–1921)	1 January 1912	31 December 1912	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	(26)		Eduard Müller (1848–1919)	1 January 1913	31 December 1913	Free Democratic Party	Bern
	31		Arthur Hoffmann (1857–1927)	1 January 1914	31 December 1914	Free Democratic Party	St. Gallen
	32		Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940)	1 January 1915	31 December 1915	Catholic-Conservative Party	Ticino
	33		Camille Decoppet (1862–1925)	1 January 1916	31 December 1916	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	34		Edmund Schulthess (1868–1944)	1 January 1917	31 December 1917	Free Democratic Party	Aargau
	35		Felix Calonder (1863–1952)	1 January 1918	31 December 1918	Free Democratic Party	Grisons
	36		Gustave Ador (1845–1928)	1 January 1919	31 December 1919	Liberal Party	Geneva
	(32)		Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940)	1 January 1920	31 December 1920	Catholic-Conservative Party	Ticino
	(34)		Edmund Schulthess (1868–1944)	1 January 1921	31 December 1921	Free Democratic Party	Aargau
	37		Robert Haab (1865–1939)	1 January 1922	31 December 1922	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	38		Karl Scheurer (1872–1929)	1 January 1923	31 December 1923	Free Democratic Party	Bern
	39		Ernest Chuard (1857–1942)	1 January 1924	31 December 1924	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	40		Jean-Marie Musy (1876–1952)	1 January 1925	31 December 1925	Catholic-Conservative Party	Fribourg
	41		Heinrich Häberlin (1868–1947)	1 January 1926	31 December 1926	Free Democratic Party	Thurgau
	(32)		Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940)	1 January 1927	31 December 1927	Catholic-Conservative Party	Ticino
	(34)		Edmund Schulthess (1868–1944)	1 January 1928	31 December 1928	Free Democratic Party	Aargau
	(37)		Robert Haab (1865–1939)	1 January 1929	31 December 1929	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	(40)		Jean-Marie Musy (1876–1952)	1 January 1930	31 December 1930	Catholic-Conservative Party	Fribourg
	(41)		Heinrich Häberlin (1868–1947)	1 January 1931	31 December 1931	Free Democratic Party	Thurgau
	(32)		Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940)	1 January 1932	31 December 1932	Catholic-Conservative Party	Ticino
	(34)		Edmund Schulthess (1868–1944)	1 January 1933	31 December 1933	Free Democratic Party	Aargau
	42		Marcel Pilet-Golaz (1889–1958)	1 January 1934	31 December 1934	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	43		Rudolf Minger (1881–1955)	1 January 1935	31 December 1935	Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents	Bern
	44		Albert Meyer (1870–1953)	1 January 1936	31 December 1936	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	(32)		Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940)	1 January 1937	31 December 1937	Catholic-Conservative Party	Ticino
	45		Johannes Baumann (1874–1953)	1 January 1938	31 December 1938	Free Democratic Party	Appenzell Ausserrhoden
	46		Philipp Etter (1891–1977)	1 January 1939	31 December 1939	Catholic-Conservative Party	Zug
	(42)		Marcel Pilet-Golaz (1889–1958)	1 January 1940	31 December 1940	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	47		Ernst Wetter (1877–1963)	1 January 1941	31 December 1941	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	(46)		Philipp Etter (1891–1977)	1 January 1942	31 December 1942	Catholic-Conservative Party	Zug
	48		Enrico Celio (1889–1980)	1 January 1943	31 December 1943	Catholic-Conservative Party	Ticino
	49		Walther Stampfli (1884–1965)	1 January 1944	31 December 1944	Free Democratic Party	Solothurn
	50		Eduard von Steiger (1881–1962)	1 January 1945	31 December 1945	Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents	Bern
	51		Karl Kobelt (1891–1968)	1 January 1946	31 December 1946	Free Democratic Party	St. Gallen
	(46)		Philipp Etter (1891–1977)	1 January 1947	31 December 1947	Catholic-Conservative Party	Zug
	(48)		Enrico Celio (1889–1980)	1 January 1948	31 December 1948	Catholic-Conservative Party	Ticino
	52		Ernst Nobs (1886–1957)	1 January 1949	31 December 1949	Social Democratic Party	Zürich
	53		Max Petitpierre (1899–1994)	1 January 1950	31 December 1950	Free Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
	(50)		Eduard von Steiger (1881–1962)	1 January 1951	31 December 1951	Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents	Bern
	(51)		Karl Kobelt (1891–1968)	1 January 1952	31 December 1952	Free Democratic Party	St. Gallen
	(46)		Philipp Etter (1891–1977)	1 January 1953	31 December 1953	Catholic-Conservative Party	Zug
	54		Rodolphe Rubattel (1896–1961)	1 January 1954	31 December 1954	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	(53)		Max Petitpierre (1899–1994)	1 January 1955	31 December 1955	Free Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
	55		Markus Feldmann (1897–1958)	1 January 1956	31 December 1956	Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents	Bern
	56		Hans Streuli (1892–1970)	1 January 1957	31 December 1957	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	57		Thomas Holenstein (1896–1962)	1 January 1958	31 December 1958	Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party	St. Gallen
	58		Paul Chaudet (1904–1977)	1 January 1959	31 December 1959	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	(53)		Max Petitpierre (1899–1994)	1 January 1960	31 December 1960	Free Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
	59		Friedrich Traugott Wahlen (1899–1985)	1 January 1961	31 December 1961	Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents	Zürich
	(58)		Paul Chaudet (1904–1977)	1 January 1962	31 December 1962	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	60		Willy Spühler (1902–1990)	1 January 1963	31 December 1963	Social Democratic Party	Zürich
	61		Ludwig von Moos (1910–1990)	1 January 1964	31 December 1964	Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party	Obwalden
	62		Hans-Peter Tschudi (1913–2002)	1 January 1965	31 December 1965	Social Democratic Party	Basel-Stadt
	63		Hans Schaffner (1908–2004)	1 January 1966	31 December 1966	Free Democratic Party	Aargau
	64		Roger Bonvin (1907–1982)	1 January 1967	31 December 1967	Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party	Valais
	(60)		Willy Spühler (1902–1990)	1 January 1968	31 December 1968	Social Democratic Party	Zürich
	(61)		Ludwig von Moos (1910–1990)	1 January 1969	31 December 1969	Conservative-Christian-Social People's Party	Obwalden
	(62)		Hans-Peter Tschudi (1913–2002)	1 January 1970	31 December 1970	Social Democratic Party	Basel-Stadt
	65		Rudolf Gnägi (1917–1985)	1 January 1971	31 December 1971	Swiss People's Party	Bern
	66		Nello Celio (1914–1995)	1 January 1972	31 December 1972	Free Democratic Party	Ticino
	(64)		Roger Bonvin (1907–1982)	1 January 1973	31 December 1973	Christian Democratic People's Party	Valais
	67		Ernst Brugger (1914–1998)	1 January 1974	31 December 1974	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	68		Pierre Graber (1908–2003)	1 January 1975	31 December 1975	Social Democratic Party	Vaud
	(65)		Rudolf Gnägi (1917–1985)	1 January 1976	31 December 1976	Swiss People's Party	Bern
	69		Kurt Furgler (1924–2008)	1 January 1977	31 December 1977	Christian Democratic People's Party	St- Gallen
	70		Willi Ritschard (1918–1983)	1 January 1978	31 December 1978	Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland	Solothurn
	71		Hans Hürlimann (1918–1994)	1 January 1979	31 December 1979	Christian Democratic People's Party	Zug
	72		Georges-André Chevallaz (1915–2002)	1 January 1980	31 December 1980	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	(69)		Kurt Furgler (1924–2008)	1 January 1981	31 December 1981	Christian Democratic People's Party	St- Gallen
	73		Fritz Honegger (1917–1999)	1 January 1982	31 December 1982	Free Democratic Party	Zürich
	74		Pierre Aubert (1927–2016)	1 January 1983	31 December 1983	Social Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
	75		Leon Schlumpf (1925–2012)	1 January 1984	31 December 1984	Swiss People's Party	Graubünden
	(69)		Kurt Furgler (1924–2008)	1 January 1985	31 December 1985	Christian Democratic People's Party	St- Gallen
	76		Alphons Egli (1924–2016)	1 January 1986	31 December 1986	Christian Democratic People's Party	Lucern
	(74)		Pierre Aubert (1927–2016)	1 January 1987	31 December 1987	Social Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
	77		Otto Stich (1927–2012)	1 January 1988	31 December 1988	Social Democratic Party	Solothurn
	78		Jean-Pascal Delamuraz (1936–1998)	1 January 1989	31 December 1989	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	79		Arnold Koller (born 1933)	1 January 1990	31 December 1990	Christian Democratic People's Party	Appenzell Innerrhoden
	80		Flavio Cotti (born 1939)	1 January 1991	31 December 1991	Christian Democratic People's Party	Ticino
	81		René Felber (1933–2020)	1 January 1992	31 December 1992	Social Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
	82		Adolf Ogi (born 1942)	1 January 1993	31 December 1993	Swiss People's Party	Bern
	(77)		Otto Stich (1927–2012)	1 January 1994	31 December 1994	Social Democratic Party	Solothurn
	83		Kaspar Villiger (born 1941)	1 January 1995	31 December 1995	Free Democratic Party	Lucerne
	(78)		Jean-Pascal Delamuraz (1936–1998)	1 January 1996	31 December 1996	Free Democratic Party	Vaud
	(79)		Arnold Koller (born 1933)	1 January 1997	31 December 1997	Christian Democratic People's Party	Appenzell Innerrhoden
	(80)		Flavio Cotti (born 1939)	1 January 1998	31 December 1998	Christian Democratic People's Party	Ticino
	84		Ruth Dreifuss (born 1940)	1 January 1999	31 December 1999	Social Democratic Party	Geneva

2000–present

Political parties

  Swiss People's Party
  Social Democratic Party
  Free Democratic Party/FDP.The Liberals
  Christian Democratic People's Party
  Conservative Democratic Party

№		Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Political party	Canton
	(82)		Adolf Ogi (born 1942)	1 January 2000	31 December 2000	Swiss People's Party	Bern
	85		Moritz Leuenberger (born 1946)	1 January 2001	31 December 2001	Social Democratic Party	Zürich
	(83)		Kaspar Villiger (born 1941)	1 January 2002	31 December 2002	Free Democratic Party	Lucerne
	86		Pascal Couchepin (born 1942)	1 January 2003	31 December 2003	Free Democratic Party	Valais
	87		Joseph Deiss (born 1946)	1 January 2004	31 December 2004	Christian Democratic People's Party	Fribourg
	88		Samuel Schmid (born 1947)	1 January 2005	31 December 2005	Swiss People's Party	Bern
	(85)		Moritz Leuenberger (born 1946)	1 January 2006	31 December 2006	Social Democratic Party	Zürich
	89		Micheline Calmy-Rey (born 1945)	1 January 2007	31 December 2007	Social Democratic Party	Valais
	(86)		Pascal Couchepin (born 1942)	1 January 2008	31 December 2008	Free Democratic Party	Valais
	90		Hans-Rudolf Merz (born 1942)	1 January 2009	31 December 2009	FDP.The Liberals	Appenzell Ausserrhoden
	91		Doris Leuthard (born 1963)	1 January 2010	31 December 2010	Christian Democratic People's Party	Aargau
	(89)		Micheline Calmy-Rey (born 1945)	1 January 2011	31 December 2011	Social Democratic Party	Valais
	92		Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (born 1956)	1 January 2012	31 December 2012	Conservative Democratic Party	Graubünden
	93		Ueli Maurer (born 1950)	1 January 2013	31 December 2013	Swiss People's Party	Zürich
	94		Didier Burkhalter (born 1960)	1 January 2014	31 December 2014	FDP.The Liberals	Neuchâtel
	95		Simonetta Sommaruga (born 1960)	1 January 2015	31 December 2015	Social Democratic Party	Bern
	96		Johann Schneider-Ammann (born 1952)	1 January 2016	31 December 2016	FDP.The Liberals	Bern
	(91)		Doris Leuthard (born 1963)	1 January 2017	31 December 2017	Christian Democratic People's Party	Aargau
	97		Alain Berset (born 1972)	1 January 2018	31 December 2018	Social Democratic Party	Fribourg
	(93)		Ueli Maurer (born 1950)	1 January 2019	31 December 2019	Swiss People's Party	Zürich
	(95)		Simonetta Sommaruga (born 1960)	1 January 2020	31 December 2020	Social Democratic Party	Bern
	98		Guy Parmelin (born 1959)	1 January 2021	31 December 2021	Swiss People's Party	Vaud
	99		Ignazio Cassis (born 1961)	1 January 2022	31 December 2022	FDP.The Liberals	Ticino
	(97)		Alain Berset (born 1972)	1 January 2023	31 December 2023	Social Democratic Party	Fribourg
	100		Viola Amherd (born 1962)	1 January 2024	31 December 2024	The Centre	Valais
	101		Karin Keller-Sutter (born 1963)	1 January 2025	Incumbent	FDP.The Liberals	St. Gallen