Swiss President Guy Parmelin to Step Down from Federal Council at Year-End
Guy Parmelin, Switzerland's president for 2026 and head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, announced on Friday 2 October that he will leave the Federal Council on 31 December, ending a decade in government. Parmelin turns 67 next month.
A member of the Swiss People's Party (SVP), Parmelin was first elected to the seven-member Federal Council at the end of 2015 and has led the economics ministry since 2019. His tenure included major trade negotiations; his team is credited with negotiating US tariffs on Swiss goods down from 39% to 15%. State Secretary Budliger Artieda of the economics ministry will also depart.
Members of the Federal Council are elected by the United Federal Assembly. Parmelin's successor is expected to be chosen at parliament's December session, with the SVP — the largest party in parliament — set by convention to nominate a candidate to retain the seat.
The departure comes about a year before the federal elections of October 2027 and is expected to trigger a reshuffle of portfolios and policy priorities within the government. Parmelin said the decision was personal and that the time was right.
Sources: Reuters reporting of 2 October and public records.
Source: 路透社
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 瑞士联邦主席居伊·帕默林，MBurch 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
