Karin Keller-Sutter will be Federal President next year

What’s new?

Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter will be Federal President next year. Parliament elected the liberal from St. Gallen on Wednesday with 168 of 203 valid votes. This is a below-average result.

Of the 232 ballots cast, 23 were inserted blank and 6 were invalid. 35 votes did not go to the 60-year-old finance minister, but to other people.

How should the result be evaluated?

Although election to the Federal Presidency is considered a formality, council members often use it to express their displeasure or approval to members of the government. On average over the past ten years, the federal presidents received 178 votes from parliament.

However, before Keller-Sutter, Viola Amherd (center), Alain Berset (SP) and Ignazio Cassis (FDP) also had below-average results. The best result in recent decades was achieved by SVP Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer in 2018 with 201 votes, the worst by Micheline Calmy-Rey (SP) in 2011 with 106 votes.

The Social Democrats Hans-Peter Tschudi (BS) and Willi Ritschard (SO) achieved the best result of all time: both were elected Federal President in 1970 and 1978 with 213 votes each.

Who is the new vice president?

Economics Minister Guy Parmelin will be Vice President of the Federal Council next year. Parliament elected the Vaudois SVP politician on Wednesday with 196 of 219 valid votes. This means that Parmelin is likely to become Federal President for the second time in 2026.

23 votes went to other people. Parmelin was already Federal President in 2021. The now 65-year-old was elected to the Federal Council in December 2015 and initially served as Defense Minister. In 2019 he moved to the head of the Department of Economics, Education and Research (WBF).

What does Keller-Sutter say in her speech?

The state government should be able to make decisions and act as a collegial authority: Karin Keller-Sutter wants to make this the focus of her work as Federal President next year. In her speech to parliament, she called for compromise and exchange.

She stated her role in the Federal Council at the beginning of her speech in parliament after Wednesday’s election. As Federal President and chair of meetings, she has to ensure that the Federal Council takes up and completes its tasks in a timely, expedient and coordinated manner. She has to mediate in disputed issues.

The aim is to ensure that the Federal Council is able to make decisions and act. Because he is not just an executive authority. “He must also be a reliable partner for parliament, a prudent management of the administration and a trustworthy institution for the population.”

Karin Keller-Sutter will speak on December 11th.Bild: keystone

In uncertain times, the need for orientation is great, said Keller-Sutter and advocated discussion and differentiated opinion formation. Because although orientation is easier to find in rough outlines and in contrast: “We know from experience that the real solutions do not lie in contrast, but in compromise.”

It is a question of the political will of all institutions to overcome challenges such as solid finances and sustainably financed pension provision. “I’m confident about it,” said Keller-Sutter. Because direct democracy is well-established, federalism works, and the economy is strong.

“If we cultivate this foundation, if we pull ourselves together, do our homework, and seize the opportunities that come our way, we can make a decisive contribution to prosperity despite the difficult environment,” she said. This is a contribution to social peace in the country. (sda)

(dab/rbu/sda)

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