Alain Berset | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Secretary General of the Council of Europe | |
| Assumed office 18 September 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Marija Pejčinović Burić |
| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023 | |
| Vice President | Viola Amherd |
| Preceded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| Succeeded by | Viola Amherd |
| In office 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018 | |
| Vice President | Ueli Maurer |
| Preceded by | Doris Leuthard |
| Succeeded by | Ueli Maurer |
| Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022 | |
| President | Ignazio Cassis |
| Preceded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| Succeeded by | Viola Amherd |
| In office 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017 | |
| President | Doris Leuthard |
| Preceded by | Doris Leuthard |
| Succeeded by | Ueli Maurer |
| Swiss Federal Councillor | |
| In office 1 January 2012 – 31 December 2023 | |
| Department | Home Affairs |
| Preceded by | Micheline Calmy-Rey |
| Succeeded by | Beat Jans |
| President of the Council of States | |
| In office 1 December 2008 – 23 November 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Christoffel Brändli |
| Succeeded by | Erika Forster-Vannini |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 April 1972 Fribourg, Switzerland |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party |
| Spouse |
Muriel Zeender (m. 2002) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Belfaux, Switzerland |
| Education | University of Neuchâtel (BA, MA, PhD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | alainberset parlament |
Alain Berset (French pronunciation: [alɛ̃ bɛʁsɛ]; born 9 April 1972) is a Swiss politician who served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2012 to 2023. A member of the Social Democratic Party (SP/PS), he headed the Federal Department of Home Affairs from when he took office. Berset served as President of the Swiss Confederation for 2018 and 2023.
At age 45, he was the youngest officeholder since Marcel Pilet-Golaz in 1934.[1] Prior to his election to the Federal Council in 2011, he was a member of the Council of States (from the canton of Fribourg, 2003–2011), where he served as President of the Council of States for the 2008–2009 term. Berset speaks French, German, Romansh, Italian and English fluently.[2][3]
On 21 June 2023, he announced in a press conference that he would not run for re-election as a member of the Federal Council in the election on 13 December 2023.[4] He left office on 31 December 2023,[5] and was succeeded by Beat Jans on the Federal Council.[6] On 25 June 2024, Berset was elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and assumed his role on 18 September 2024 succeeding Marija Pejčinović Burić.[7] He defeated Belgian candidate Didier Reynders and Estonian candidate Indrek Saar.[8]
- ^ Jaberg, Samuel; Kamel, Dhif (1 January 2018). "Youngest Swiss President in 84 Years Takes Office". Swissinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ World Economic Forum (26 January 2018), Press Conference with Swiss President Alain Berset after meeting with US President Donald Trump,
The Swiss President will make his statement in German and French but can take questions in English as well.
- ^ "Alain Berset elected Swiss president for 2018". The Local. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
"It is a great honour and a great responsibility," Berset told parliament after the vote, delivering his message in all four of Switzerland's official languages (German, French, Italian and Romansh).
- ^ Gall, Corina (21 June 2023). "Alain Berset kündigt seinen Rücktritt auf Ende Jahr an". Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Swiss President Alain Berset to step down at end of the year". Reuters. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Beat Jans ist neuer SP-Bundesrat und Nachfolger von Alain Berset". SWI swissinfo.ch (in German). 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Alain Berset elected Secretary General of Council of Europe". www.admin.ch. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Reynders defeated in race to lead Council of Europe". POLITICO. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.