New Federal Councillor elected

Thursday, 13 March 2025 06:30

The health minister from canton Zug, Martin Pfister, has been elected as the new member of the Federal Council.

He’ll replace Viola Amherd, who’s retiring.

Federal councillors are elected by parliament – which chose him over a farmers’ favourite, Markus Ritter.

Pfister, a native German speaker, keeps the linguistic balance – so there are four German speakers and three French speakers.

But there is one less woman on the 7-member council – leaving only two – Karin Keller Sutter and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider.

Pfister is the first councillor from the central part of the country since Kaspar Villiger stepped down in 2003.

He’s also a colonel in the army – he mentioned while campaigning, he knows the barracks better than the Federal Palace.

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