Confederation President Berset Announces Year-End Resignation

President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset has announced that he will stand down from his position on the seven-member Federal Council at end-2023. While the President of the Confederation is a ceremonial position, the Federal Council is the joint head of government and state and its members sit as the senior-most politicians in the country. Given the collegiate nature of decision-making in Switzerland, the resignation of a single individual is unlikely to notably shift the country's policy direction.

• Berset, hailing from the centre-left Social Democratic Party was the longest-standing Federal Council member, having held his position since 2012. His resignation follows the 2022 resignations of other experienced members, Ueli Mauer from the right-wing populist Swiss People's Party (SVP) and another Social Democrat, Simonetta Sommaruga. With Berset resigning, SVP member Guy Parmelin will become the longest-serving councilor.
• The next election to the Federal Council takes place on 13 December, and follows the nationwide elections to the 200-member National Council on 22 October. The composition of the National Council has a bearing on the party breakdown in the Federal Council.
• The Social Democratic Party currently has two seats on the Federal Council, and with polls pointing towards the party retaining second place in the National Council, this will likely remain the case post-election.
• As such, it is likely that Berset will be replaced by another Social Democratic Party candidate who is also from the French-speaking community.