Switzerland yearly President

Unlike many other democratic countries in the world, the president of Switzerland is not directly elected by their citizens and their president are elected annually.

If you have never lived in Switzerland, you may find it difficult to understand the process of their political system. So stay calm and don’t get confuse as I take you through the intricacies of Swiss government.

Switzerland political system is federal in nature and based on semi-direct democracy. Switzerland is a federal state with three political levels: the federal government, the 26 cantons (state or district) and almost 2,636 communes (small district) across the country.

The Federal Assembly, comprise of 200 elected members of the National Council (the 'lower chamber', representing the commune) and 46 elected members of the Council of States (the 'upper chamber', representing the cantons), these political class are the electorate who elects the President from members of the federal council. The Federal Council has just 7 members. 

In simple analogy; The members of the ‘Federal Assembly’ are elected by the Swiss people. The federal assembly are the electorates who then elect the ‘President’ from among the seven members of the ‘Federal council’.

During the election, the president of the Federal Assembly, who is also president of the National Council, communicates the name of the federal councillor nominated for the post of President. The electorate then write the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot. After the votes have been counted, the president of the Federal Assembly announces the result. 

This complex yet unique election takes place in December every year during the winter parliamentary session. 

This annual rotation might be the reason why people outside Switzerland and sometimes people within Switzerland find it difficult to know the name of Switzerland current President.

Well, Ignazio Cassis is Switzerland President for 2022.