Walter Thurnherr

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Walter Thurnherr
Walter Thurnherr (2022).jpg
Official portrait, 2022
Chancellor of Switzerland
Assumed office
1 January 2016
PresidentJohann Schneider-Ammann
Doris Leuthard
Alain Berset
Ueli Maurer
Simonetta Sommaruga
Guy Parmelin
Ignazio Cassis
Preceded byCorina Casanova
Personal details
Born (1963-07-11) 11 July 1963 (age 58)
Muri, Aargau, Switzerland
Political partyChristian Democratic People's Party (before 2021)
The Centre (2021–present)
Children2
EducationETH Zurich
University of Bern

Walter Thurnherr (born 11 July 1963) is a Swiss government official who has served as Chancellor of Switzerland since 2016.[1] Although he holds a traditionally nonpartisan office, he was elected as a member of the Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC). When it merged with the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD) to form The Centre (DM/LC) in 2021, Thurnherr joined the new party.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Born in Muri, Aargau, Thurnherr graduated as a physicist at the ETH Zurich in 1987, before studying mathematics at the University of Bern. In 1989, he joined the ranks of Switzerland's diplomatic corps. In 2002, he was appointed chief of staff of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs under Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss. The following year, he was named chief of staff of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, first under Pascal Couchepin, then Deiss and finally Doris Leuthard. He followed Leuthard when she took over the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications in 2011 as her chief of staff.[2]

Federal Chancellor[]

He stood for election to succeed Corina Casanova as Chancellor of Switzerland on 9 December 2015, as the first unopposed candidate in 90 years. He was elected by the Swiss Federal Assembly with 230 votes out of 234.[3][4] He assumed office on 1 January 2016. He was reelected on 11 December 2019 with 219 votes out of 224.

References[]

  1. ^ "Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr". Federal Chancellery. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  2. ^ Wutrich, Bernard (16 December 2016). "Walter Thurnherr, un médiateur au service du Conseil fédéral". Le Temps.ch. Le Temps SA. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  3. ^ ATS/NXP (9 December 2015). "Walter Thurnherr élu chancelier de la Confédération". 24 Heures. ATS. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  4. ^ Amrein, Marcel (14 December 2015). "Walter Thurnherr, der logische Kanzler". Neue Zurcher Zeitung. Zurich. NZZ Mediengruppe. Retrieved 2 January 2016.

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by Chancellor of Switzerland
2016–present 		Incumbent
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