Swiss President Guy Parmelin Announces End of Tenure at Year-End

Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced on October 2 that he will resign from the Federal Council effective December 31, concluding an eleven-year stretch in federal office. Speaking in Bern, Parmelin explained that after more than a decade he wishes to make way for new energy during a period of great uncertainty, acknowledging a sense of weariness while ruling out medical motives. The 66-year-old, a long-time member of the Swiss People’s Party, has held the defence portfolio since 2016 and the economy brief since 2019, and previously served as president in 2021.

His departure triggers a selection process for an SVP replacement, with nominations due by October 23 and Parliament voting on December 9. Parmelin will travel to India for a three-day state visit starting October 5, and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is slated to become president in 2027. The announcement follows Parmelin’s recent diplomatic work reducing U.S. tariffs on Swiss goods after a 2025 dispute with President Donald Trump.