List of members of the Swiss Federal Council

For a chronological list of Councillors serving together, see List of members of the Swiss Federal Council by date.
The Swiss Federal Council and the Federal Chancellor as of February 2008. From left to right: Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, Moritz Leuenberger, Micheline Calmy-Rey, Pascal Couchepin, Samuel Schmid, Doris Leuthard, Hans-Rudolf Merz, Federal Chancellor Corina Casanova.

This is a list of members of the Swiss Federal Council (German: Schweizerischer Bundesrat; French: Conseil fédéral suisse; Italian: Consiglio federale svizzero; Romansh: Cussegl federal svizzer). The Council's seven members constitute the federal government of Switzerland and serve as the country's head of state. Each of the seven Councillors heads a department of the Swiss federal administration.[1]

The members of the Federal Council are elected for a term of four years by both chambers of the federal parliament sitting together as the Federal Assembly. Each Councillor is elected individually by secret ballot by an absolute majority of votes. A person elected to the Council by the Federal Assembly is considered a Federal Councillor even if he or she declines the election.[2] Accordingly, the five persons who did so and never assumed office are listed in a separate table below. For the same reason, the principal table only records the date of election, and not the date on which the Councillors assumed their office.

Once elected for a four-year-term, Federal Councillors can neither be voted out of office by a motion of no confidence nor can they be impeached. Re-election is possible for an indefinite number of terms. Parliament has decided not to re-elect a sitting Councillor only four times, and only twice (in 2003 and 2007) since the beginning of the 20th century. In practice, therefore, Councillors serve until they decide to resign and retire to private life, usually after three to five terms of office.[3]

Contents

List of members

# Name Canton[4] Election Left office Department headed[5] Party Notes Seq[6]
1 Furrer, JonasJonas Furrer Jonas Furrer ZH 01848-11-16 November 16, 1848 01861-07-25 July 25, 1861 Foreign affairs,[7] Justice FDP/PRD Died in office A01
2 Ochsenbein, UlrichUlrich Ochsenbein Ulrich Ochsenbein.gif BE 01848-11-16 November 16, 1848 01854-12-06 December 6, 1854 Defence FDP/PRD Not re-elected[8] B01
3 Druey, HenriHenri Druey Daniel-Henri Druey.gif VD 01848-11-16 November 16, 1848 01855-03-29 March 29, 1855 Justice, Foreign affairs,[7] Finance FDP/PRD Died in office C01
4 Munzinger, JosefJosef Munzinger Martin Munziger.gif SO 01848-11-16 November 16, 1848 01855-02-06 February 6, 1855 Finance, Foreign affairs,[7]
Posts and Construction,
Trade and Customs		 FDP/PRD Died in office D01
5 Franscini, StefanoStefano Franscini Stefano Franscini.gif TI 01848-11-16 November 16, 1848 01857-07-19 July 19, 1857 Home affairs FDP/PRD Died in office E01
6 Frey-Herosé, FriedrichFriedrich Frey-Herosé Friedrich Frey-Herosé.gif AG 01848-11-16 November 16, 1848 01866-12-31 December 31, 1866 Trade and Customs, Foreign affairs,[7]
Defence		 FDP/PRD F01
7 Naeff, Wilhelm MatthiasWilhelm Matthias Naeff Naeff.gif SG 01848-11-16 November 16, 1848 01875-12-31 December 31, 1875 Posts and Construction, Foreign affairs,[7]
Trade and Customs, Posts,
Finance, Railway and Trade		 FDP/PRD G01
8 Stampfli, JakobJakob Stämpfli Jakob Stämpfli.gif BE 01854-12-06 December 6, 1854 01863-12-31 December 31, 1863 Justice, Foreign affairs,[7]
Finance, Defence		 FDP/PRD B02
9 Fornerod, ConstantConstant Fornerod Constant Fornerod.gif VD 01855-07-11 July 11, 1855 01867-10-31 October 31, 1867 Trade and Customs, Foreign affairs,[7]
Finance, Defence		 FDP/PRD C02
10 Knüsel, Melchior Josef MartinMelchior Josef Martin Knüsel Melchior Josef Martin Knüsel.gif LU 01855-07-14 July 14, 1855 01875-12-31 December 31, 1875 Finance, Trade and Customs, Justice,
Foreign affairs,[7] Home affairs		 FDP/PRD Elected after Johann Jakob Stehlin declined the election D02
11 Pioda, Giovanni BattistaGiovanni Battista Pioda Pioda.gif TI 01857-07-30 July 30, 1857 01864-01-26 January 26, 1864 Home affairs FDP/PRD E02
12 Dubs, JakobJakob Dubs Jakob Dubs.gif ZH 01861-07-30 July 30, 1861 01872-05-28 May 28, 1872 Justice, Foreign affairs,[7]
Home affairs, Posts		 FDP/PRD A02
13 Schenk, KarlKarl Schenk Karl Schenk.gif BE 01863-12-12 December 12, 1863 01895-07-18 July 18, 1895 Home affairs, Finance,
Railway and Trade		 FDP/PRD Died in office B03
14 Challet-Venel, Jean-JacquesJean-Jacques Challet-Venel Challet-Venel.gif GE 01864-07-12 July 12, 1864 01872-12-07 December 7, 1872 Finance, Posts FDP/PRD Not re-elected[9] E03
15 Welti, EmilEmil Welti Emil Welti.gif AG 01866-12-08 December 8, 1866 01891-12-31 December 31, 1891 Defence, Trade and Customs,
Posts and Telegraph,
Posts and Railways, Justice		 FDP/PRD F02
16 Ruffy, VictorVictor Ruffy Victor Ruffy.gif VD 01867-12-06 December 6, 1867 01869-12-29 December 29, 1869 Finance, Defence FDP/PRD Died in office C03
17 Ceresole, PaulPaul Cérésole Paul Ceresole.gif VD 01870-02-01 February 1, 1870 01875-12-31 December 31, 1875 Finance, Defence,
Foreign affairs,[7] Justice		 FDP/PRD C04
18 Scherer, Johann JakobJohann Jakob Scherer Johann Jakob Scherer.gif ZH 01872-07-12 July 12, 1872 01878-12-23 December 23, 1878 Finance, Railway and Trade,
Foreign affairs,[7] Defence		 FDP/PRD Died in office A03
19 Borel, EugèneEugène Borel Eugène Borel.gif NE 01872-12-07 December 7, 1872 01875-12-31 December 31, 1875 Posts and Telegraph FDP/PRD E04
20 Heer, JoachimJoachim Heer Joachim Heer.gif GL 01875-12-10 December 10, 1875 01878-12-31 December 31, 1878 Posts and Telegraph, Foreign affairs,[7]
Railway and Trade		 FDP/PRD D03
21 Anderwert, FridolinFridolin Anderwert Fridolin Anderwert.gif TG 01875-12-10 December 10, 1875 01880-12-25 December 25, 1880 Justice FDP/PRD Died in office
(committed suicide)[10]		 G02
22 Hammer, BernhardBernhard Hammer Bernhard Hammer.gif SO 01875-12-10 December 10, 1875 01890-12-31 December 31, 1890 Finance, Defence FDP/PRD E05
23 Droz, NumaNuma Droz Numa Droz.gif NE 01875-12-18 December 18, 1875 01892-12-18 December 18, 1892 Home affairs, Trade and Agriculture,
Foreign affairs		 FDP/PRD Elected after Antoine Louis John Ruchonnet and Charles Estoppey declined the election. C05
24 Bavier, SimeonSimeon Bavier Bavier.gif GR 01878-12-10 December 10, 1878 01883-01-05 January 5, 1883 Finance, Posts and Railways, Foreign affairs[7] FDP/PRD D04
25 Hertenstein, WilhelmWilhelm Hertenstein Hertenstein.gif ZH 01879-03-21 March 21, 1879 01888-11-27 November 27, 1888 Defence FDP/PRD Died in office A04
26 Ruchonnet, LouisLouis Ruchonnet Ruchonnet.gif VD 01881-03-03 March 3, 1881 01893-09-14 September 14, 1893 Economic affairs, Justice, Foreign affairs[7] FDP/PRD Elected after Karl Hoffmann declined his election. Died in office G03
27 Deucher, AdolfAdolf Deucher Deucher.gif TG 01883-04-10 April 10, 1883 01912-07-10 July 10, 1912 Justice, Posts and Railways, Economic affairs, Foreign affairs[7] FDP/PRD Died in office D05
28 Hauser, WalterWalter Hauser Hauser.gif ZH 01888-12-13 December 13, 1888 01902-10-22 October 22, 1902 Defence, Finance, Foreign affairs[7] FDP/PRD Died in office A05
29 Frey, EmilEmil Frey Emil Frey.gif BL 01890-12-11 December 11, 1890 01897-03-11 March 11, 1897 Defence FDP/PRD E06
30 Zemp, JosephJoseph Zemp Joseph Zemp.gif LU 01891-12-17 December 17, 1891 01908-06-17 June 17, 1908 Posts and Railways, Foreign affairs[7] CVP/PDC F03
31 Lachenal, AdrienAdrien Lachenal Adrien Lachenal.gif GE 01892-12-15 December 15, 1892 01899-12-31 December 31, 1899 Foreign affairs, Economic affairs, Home affairs FDP/PRD C06
32 Ruffy, EugèneEugène Ruffy Eugène Ruffy.gif VD 01893-12-14 December 14, 1893 01899-10-31 October 31, 1899 Justice, Home affairs,
Foreign affairs,[7] Defence		 FDP/PRD G04
33 Muller, EduardEduard Müller Eduard Müller.gif BE 01895-08-16 August 16, 1895 01919-11-09 November 9, 1919 Justice, Defence,
Foreign affairs[7]		 FDP/PRD Died in office B04
34 Brenner, ErnstErnst Brenner Ernst Brenner.gif BS 01897-03-25 March 25, 1897 01911-03-11 March 11, 1911 Justice, Foreign affairs[7] FDP/PRD Died in office E07
35 Comtesse, RobertRobert Comtesse Robert Comtesse.gif NE 01899-12-14 December 14, 1899 01912-03-04 March 4, 1912 Finance, Justice,
Posts and Railways, Foreign affairs[7]		 FDP/PRD C07
36 Ruchet, Marc-EmileMarc-Emile Ruchet Ruchet40.gif VD 01899-12-14 December 14, 1899 01912-07-09 July 9, 1912 Home affairs, Finance,
Foreign affairs[7]		 FDP/PRD G05
37 Forrer, LudwigLudwig Forrer Ludwig Forrer.jpg ZH 01902-12-11 December 11, 1902 01917-12-07 December 7, 1917 Economic affairs, Home affairs, Foreign affairs,[7] Defence, Justice, Posts and Railways FDP/PRD A06
38 Schobinger, Josef AntonJosef Anton Schobinger Josef Anton Schobinger.gif LU 01908-06-17 June 17, 1908 01911-11-27 November 27, 1911 Justice, Economic affairs, Finance, Home affairs CVP/PDC F04
39 Hoffmann, ArthurArthur Hoffmann Arthur Hoffmann.gif SG 01911-04-04 April 4, 1911 01917-06-19 June 19, 1917 Justice, Defence,
Foreign affairs		 FDP/PRD E08
40 Motta, GiuseppeGiuseppe Motta Giuseppe Motta.gif TI 01911-12-14 December 14, 1911 01940-01-23 January 23, 1940 Finance, Foreign affairs CVP/PDC F05
41 Perrier, LouisLouis Perrier Louis Perrier.gif NE 01912-03-12 March 12, 1912 01913-05-16 May 16, 1913 Posts and Railways, Home affairs FDP/PRD C08
42 Decoppet, CamilleCamille Decoppet Camille Decoppet.gif VD 01912-07-17 July 17, 1912 01919-11-07 November 7, 1919 Home affairs, Justice, Defence FDP/PRD G06
43 Schulthess, EdmundEdmund Schulthess Edmund Schulthess.gif AG 01912-07-17 July 17, 1912 01935-04-15 April 15, 1935 Economic affairs, Economic affairs FDP/PRD D06
44 Calonder, FelixFelix Calonder Felix-Louis Calonder.gif GR 01913-06-12 June 12, 1913 01920-02-12 February 12, 1920 Home affairs, Foreign affairs[7] FDP/PRD C09
45 Ador, GustaveGustave Ador Gustave Ador.gif GE 01917-06-26 June 26, 1917 01919-12-31 December 31, 1919 Foreign affairs, Home affairs LPS/PLS E09
46 Haab, RobertRobert Haab Robert Haab.gif ZH 01917-12-13 December 13, 1917 01929-12-31 December 31, 1929 Posts and Railways FDP/PRD A07
47 Scheurer, KarlKarl Scheurer Karl Scheurer.gif BE 01919-12-11 December 11, 1919 01929-11-14 November 14, 1929 Defence FDP/PRD Died in office B05
48 Chuard, ErnestErnest Chuard Ernest Chuard.gif VD 01919-12-11 December 11, 1919 01928-12-31 December 31, 1928 Home affairs FDP/PRD G07
49 Musy, Jean-MarieJean-Marie Musy Jean-Marie Musy.gif FR 01919-12-11 December 11, 1919 01934-04-30 April 30, 1934 Finance CVP/PDC E10
50 Haberlin, HeinrichHeinrich Häberlin Heinrich Häberlin.gif TG 01920-02-12 February 12, 1920 01934-03-12 March 12, 1934 Justice FDP/PRD C10
51 Pilet-Golaz, MarcelMarcel Pilet-Golaz Marcel Pilet-Golaz.gif VD 01928-12-13 December 13, 1928 01944-11-07 November 7, 1944 Home affairs, Posts and Railways,
Foreign affairs		 FDP/PRD G08
52 Minger, RudolfRudolf Minger Rudolf Minger.gif BE 01929-12-12 December 12, 1929 01940-12-31 December 31, 1940 Defence SVP/UDC B06
53 Meyer, AlbertAlbert Meyer Albert Meyer.gif ZH 01929-12-12 December 12, 1929 01938-12-31 December 31, 1938 Home affairs, Finance FDP/PRD A08
54 Baumann, JohannesJohannes Baumann Johannes Baumann.gif AR 01934-03-22 March 22, 1934 01940-12-31 December 31, 1940 Justice FDP/PRD C11
55 Etter, PhilippPhilipp Etter Philipp Etter.gif ZG 01934-03-28 March 28, 1934 01959-11-19 November 19, 1959 Home affairs CVP/PDC E11
56 Obrecht, HermannHermann Obrecht Hermann Obrecht.gif SO 01935-04-04 April 4, 1935 01940-06-20 June 20, 1940 Economic affairs FDP/PRD D07
57 Wetter, ErnstErnst Wetter Ernst Wetter.gif ZH 01938-12-15 December 15, 1938 01943-12-31 December 31, 1943 Finance FDP/PRD A09
58 Celio, EnricoEnrico Celio Enrico Celio.gif TI 01940-02-22 February 22, 1940 01950-06-23 June 23, 1950 Posts and Railways CVP/PDC F06
59 Stampfli, WaltherWalther Stampfli Walther Stampfli.gif SO 01940-07-18 July 18, 1940 01947-11-18 November 18, 1947 Economic affairs FDP/PRD D08
60 Steiger, Eduard vonEduard von Steiger Eduard von Steiger.gif BE 01940-12-10 December 10, 1940 01951-11-09 November 9, 1951 Justice SVP/UDC B07
61 Kobelt, KarlKarl Kobelt Karl Kobelt.gif SG 01940-12-10 December 10, 1940 01954-11-05 November 5, 1954 Defence FDP/PRD C12
62 Nobs, ErnstErnst Nobs Ernst Nobs.gif ZH 01943-12-15 December 15, 1943 01951-11-13 November 13, 1951 Finance SPS/PSS A10
63 Petitpierre, MaxMax Petitpierre Max Petitpierre.gif NE 01944-12-14 December 14, 1944 01961-06-30 June 30, 1961 Foreign affairs FDP/PRD G09
64 Rubattel, RodolpheRodolphe Rubattel Rodolphe Rubattel.gif VD 01947-12-11 December 11, 1947 01954-11-01 November 1, 1954 Economic affairs FDP/PRD D09
65 Escher, JosefJosef Escher Josef Escher.gif VS 01950-09-14 September 14, 1950 01954-11-26 November 26, 1954 Posts and Railways CVP/PDC F07
66 Feldmann, MarkusMarkus Feldmann Markus Feldmann.gif BE 01951-12-13 December 13, 1951 01958-11-03 November 3, 1958 Justice SVP/UDC B08
67 Weber, MaxMax Weber Max Weber.gif ZH 01951-12-13 December 13, 1951 01953-12-08 December 8, 1953 Finance SPS/PSS A11
68 Streuli, HansHans Streuli Hans Streuli.gif ZH 01953-12-22 December 22, 1953 01959-11-19 November 19, 1959 Finance FDP/PRD A12
69 Holenstein, ThomasThomas Holenstein Thomas Holenstein.gif SG 01954-12-16 December 16, 1954 01959-11-20 November 20, 1959 Economic affairs CVP/PDC F08
70 Chaudet, PaulPaul Chaudet Paul Chaudet.gif VD 01954-12-16 December 16, 1954 01966-11-28 November 28, 1966 Defence FDP/PRD D10
71 Lepori, GiuseppeGiuseppe Lepori Giuseppe Lepori.gif TI 01954-12-16 December 16, 1954 01959-11-24 November 24, 1959 Posts and Railways CVP/PDC C13
72 Wahlen, Friedrich TraugottFriedrich Traugott Wahlen Friedrich Traugott Wahlen.gif BE 01958-12-11 December 11, 1958 01965-12-31 December 31, 1965 Justice, Economic affairs,
Foreign affairs		 SVP/UDC B09
73 Bourgknecht, JeanJean Bourgknecht Jean Bourgknecht.gif FR 01959-12-17 December 17, 1959 01962-09-03 September 3, 1962 Finance CVP/PDC E12
74 Spuhler, WillyWilly Spühler Willy Spühler.gif ZH 01959-12-17 December 17, 1959 01970-01-31 January 31, 1970 Posts and Railways,
Transport, Energy, Communications,
Foreign affairs		 SPS/PSS A13
75 Moos, Ludwig vonLudwig von Moos Ludwig von Moos.gif OW 01959-12-17 December 17, 1959 01971-12-31 December 31, 1971 Justice CVP/PDC F09
76 Tschudi, Hans-PeterHans-Peter Tschudi Hans-Peter Tschudi.gif BS 01959-12-17 December 17, 1959 01973-12-31 December 31, 1973 Home affairs SPS/PSS C14
77 Schaffner, HansHans Schaffner Hans Schaffner.gif AG 01961-06-15 June 15, 1961 01969-12-31 December 31, 1969 Economic affairs FDP/PRD G10
78 Bonvin, RogerRoger Bonvin Roger Bonvin.gif VS 01962-09-27 September 27, 1962 01973-12-31 December 31, 1973 Finance,
Transport, Energy, Communications		 CVP/PDC E13
79 Gnägi, RudolfRudolf Gnägi Rudolf Gnägi.gif BE 01965-12-08 December 8, 1965 01979-12-31 December 31, 1979 Transport, Energy, Communications,
Defence		 SVP/UDC B10
80 Celio, NelloNello Celio Nello Celio.gif TI 01966-12-15 December 15, 1966 01973-12-31 December 31, 1973 Defence, Finance FDP/PRD D11
81 Graber, PierrePierre Graber Pierre Graber.gif NE 01969-12-10 December 10, 1969 01978-01-31 January 31, 1978 Foreign affairs SPS/PSS A14
82 Brugger, ErnstErnst Brugger Ernst Brugger.gif ZH 01969-12-10 December 10, 1969 01978-01-31 January 31, 1978 Economic affairs FDP/PRD G11
83 Furgler, KurtKurt Furgler Kurt Furgler.gif SG 01971-12-08 December 8, 1971 01986-12-31 December 31, 1986 Justice, Economic affairs CVP/PDC F10
84 Ritschard, WilliWilli Ritschard Willi Ritschard.gif SO 01973-12-05 December 5, 1973 01983-10-03 October 3, 1983 Transport, Energy, Communications,
Finance		 SPS/PSS Died in office C15
85 Hurlimann, HansHans Hürlimann Hans Hürlimann.gif ZG 01973-12-05 December 5, 1973 01982-12-31 December 31, 1982 Home affairs CVP/PDC E14
86 Chevallaz, Georges-AndréGeorges-André Chevallaz Georges-André Chevallaz.gif VD 01973-12-05 December 5, 1973 01983-12-31 December 31, 1983 Finance, Defence FDP/PRD D12
87 Honegger, FritzFritz Honegger Fritz Honegger.gif ZH 01977-12-07 December 7, 1977 01982-12-31 December 31, 1982 Economic affairs FDP/PRD G12
88 Aubert, PierrePierre Aubert Pierre Aubert.gif NE 01977-12-07 December 7, 1977 01987-12-31 December 31, 1987 Foreign affairs SPS/PSS A15
89 Schlumpf, LeonLeon Schlumpf Leon Schlumpf.gif GR 01979-12-05 December 5, 1979 01987-12-31 December 31, 1987 Transport, Energy, Communications SVP/UDC B11
90 Egli, AlphonsAlphons Egli Alphons Egli.gif LU 01982-12-08 December 8, 1982 01986-12-31 December 31, 1986 Home affairs CVP/PDC E15
91 Friedrich, RudolfRudolf Friedrich Rudolf Friedrich.gif ZH 01982-12-08 December 8, 1982 01984-10-20 October 20, 1984 Justice FDP/PRD G13
92 Stich, OttoOtto Stich Otto Stich.gif SO 01983-12-07 December 7, 1983 01995-10-31 October 31, 1995 Finance SPS/PSS C16
93 Delamuraz, Jean-PascalJean-Pascal Delamuraz Jean-Pascal Delamuraz.gif VD 01983-12-07 December 7, 1983 01998-03-30 March 30, 1998 Defence, Economic affairs FDP/PRD D13
94 Kopp, ElisabethElisabeth Kopp Elisabeth Kopp.gif ZH 01984-10-02 October 2, 1984 01989-01-12 January 12, 1989 Justice FDP/PRD G14
95 Koller, ArnoldArnold Koller Arnold Koller.gif AI 01986-12-10 December 10, 1986 01999-01-13 January 13, 1999 Justice, Defence CVP/PDC F11
96 Cotti, FlavioFlavio Cotti Flavio Cotti.gif TI 01986-12-10 December 10, 1986 01999-01-13 January 13, 1999 Home affairs, Foreign affairs CVP/PDC E16
97 Felber, RenéRené Felber René Felber.gif NE 01987-12-09 December 9, 1987 01993-03-31 March 31, 1993 Foreign affairs SPS/PSS A16
98 Ogi, AdolfAdolf Ogi Adolf Ogi.gif BE 01987-12-09 December 9, 1987 02000-12-31 December 31, 2000 Transport, Energy, Communications,
Defence		 SVP/UDC B12
99 Villiger, KasparKaspar Villiger Kaspar Villiger.gif LU 01989-02-01 February 1, 1989 02003-12-31 December 31, 2003 Defence, Finance FDP/PRD G15
100 Dreifuss, RuthRuth Dreifuss Ruth Dreifuss.gif GE 01993-03-10 March 10, 1993 02002-12-31 December 31, 2002 Home affairs SPS/PSS Elected after Francis Matthey declined the election. A17
101 Leuenberger, MoritzMoritz Leuenberger BR Moritz Leuenberger.jpg ZH 01995-09-27 September 27, 1995 — Transport, Energy, Communications SPS/PSS C17
102 Couchepin, PascalPascal Couchepin BR Pascal Couchepin.jpg VS 01998-03-11 March 11, 1998 — Economic affairs, Home affairs FDP/PRD D14
103 Metzler-Arnold, RuthRuth Metzler-Arnold Ruth Metzler.gif AI 01999-03-11 March 11, 1999 02003-12-31 December 31, 2003 Justice CVP/PDC Not re-elected[11] F12
104 Deiss, JosephJoseph Deiss Joseph Deiss.gif FR 01999-03-11 March 11, 1999 02006-07-31 July 31, 2006 Foreign affairs, Economic affairs CVP/PDC E17
105 Schmid, SamuelSamuel Schmid BR-Samuel-Schmid.jpg BE 02000-12-06 December 6, 2000 December 31, 2008[12] Defence BDP Elected as SVP/UDC member. B13
106 Calmy-Rey, MichelineMicheline Calmy-Rey Micheline Calmy-Rey 2008.png GE 02002-12-04 December 4, 2002 — Foreign affairs SPS/PSS A18
107 Blocher, ChristophChristoph Blocher Christoph Blocher (Bundesrat, 2004).jpg ZH 02003-12-10 December 10, 2003 02007-12-31 December 31, 2007 Justice SVP/UDC Not re-elected.[13] F13
108 Merz, Hans-RudolfHans-Rudolf Merz Hans-Rudolf Merz - 2008.jpg AR 02003-12-10 December 10, 2003 — Finance FDP/PRD G16
109 Leuthard, DorisDoris Leuthard Doris Leuthard 2008.png AG 02006-06-14 June 14, 2006 — Economic affairs CVP/PDC E18
110 Widmer-Schlumpf, EvelineEveline Widmer-Schlumpf Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.jpg GR 02007-12-12 December 12, 2007 — Justice BDP Elected as SVP/UDC member. F14

Legend:      Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD) after 1894; previously a more or less coherent group of Liberals, Radicals and Democrats[14]      Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC)      Liberal Party (LPS/PLS)      Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) after 1971; previously Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents (BGB/PAI) and associated minor parties      Social Democratic Party (SPS/PSS) The Councillors currently serving are indicated with bold type.

Members who declined their election

Five people have declined their election to the Federal Council by the Federal Assembly. Their number here is that of the Federal Councillor in the list above who was later elected in their place.

# Name Canton Election Party Notes
10 Stehlin, Johann JakobJohann Jakob Stehlin BS 01855-07-11 July 11, 1855 FDP/PRD
23 Ruchonnet, Antoine Louis JohnAntoine Louis John Ruchonnet VD 01875-12-10 December 10, 1875 FDP/PRD Later elected as
26th member.
23 Estoppey, CharlesCharles Estoppey VD 01875-12-18 December 18, 1875 FDP/PRD
26 Hoffmann, KarlKarl Hoffmann SG 01881-02-22 February 22, 1881 FDP/PRD
100 Matthey, FrancisFrancis Matthey NE 01993-03-03 March 3, 1993 SPS/PSS

Notes

  1. ↑ Swiss Federal Constitution / Bundesverfassung (BV) / Constitution fédérale (Cst.) / Costituzione federale (Cost.) of 1999-02-07, SR/RS 101 (D·F·I), art. 177 (D·F·I).
  2. ↑ This is the prevailing reading of the relevant constitutional provision: Swiss Federal Constitution / Bundesverfassung (BV) / Constitution fédérale (Cst.) / Costituzione federale (Cost.) of 1999-02-07, SR/RS 101 (D·F·I), art. 175 (D·F·I).
  3. ↑ Federal Council in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  4. ↑ For the abbreviations, see Data codes for Switzerland: Cantons. Up until 1987, the Federal Chancellery recorded the Councillors' legal place of origin. From 1987 on, the canton in which the Councillors live has been recorded, or, for councillors who were members of the Federal Assembly, the canton whose population they represented.
  5. ↑ The names of the federal departments have changed over the years. Generic names have been used as much as possible.
  6. ↑ The sequence number indicates to which of the seven seats (denoted by the letters A to G) the Councillor was elected.
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 As President of the Confederation. The department used to be held by councillors during the annually changing office of President of the Confederation.
  8. ↑ Ulrich Ochsenbein in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  9. ↑ Philippe Chenaux: Jean-Jacques Challet (-Venel) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Version of 2003-09-16.
  10. ↑ Fridolin Anderwert in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  11. ↑ Franz Xaver Bischof: Ruth Metzler (-Arnold) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Version of 2007-11-27.
  12. ↑ "Schmid announces resignation", Swissinfo (12 November 2008). Retrieved on 2008-11-12. 
  13. ↑ "Blocher ousted by Swiss parliament", Swissinfo (December 12, 2007). 
  14. ↑ Beginnings of the Free Democratic Party in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

References

Swiss Federal Council
Current members
Moritz Leuenberger  · Pascal Couchepin (President 2008) · Samuel Schmid  · Micheline Calmy-Rey  · Hans-Rudolf Merz (VP 2008) · Doris Leuthard  · Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
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Councillor-elect
Ueli Maurer (succeeding Samuel Schmid on 1 January 2009)
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