Below is a list of presidents of the Swiss Confederation (1848–present). It presents the presiding member of the Swiss Federal Council, the country's seven-member executive. Elected by the Federal Assembly for one year, the President of the Confederation chairs the meetings of the Federal Council and undertakes special representational duties. ''

Primus inter pares ''Primus inter pares'' is a Latin phrase meaning first among equals. It is typically used as an honorary title for someone who is formally equal to other members of their group but is accorded unofficial respect, traditionally owing to their sen ...

'', the officeholder has no powers above the other Federal Councillors and continues to head his or her

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

. Traditionally, the duty rotates among the members in order of seniority and the previous year's vice president becomes president. Die Gartenlaube (1862) b 780.jpg,

Jonas Furrer Jonas Furrer (3 March 1805 – 25 July 1861) was a Swiss lawyer and politician who served as member of the Federal Council, from 1848 to 1861, and as the first president of the Swiss Confederation from 1848 to 1849, and again in 1852, 1855 and 18 ...

served as the first

president of the Swiss Confederation The president of the Swiss Confederation, also known as the president of the Confederation or colloquially as the president of Switzerland, is the head of Switzerland's seven-member Federal Council (Switzerland), Federal Council, the country's ...

(1848–1849). Jakob Stämpfli.gif,

Jakob Stämpfli Jakob Stämpfli (23 February 1820 – 15 May 1879) was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council (1854–1863). He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 6 December 1854, and handed over office on 31 December 1863. ...

, who presided over the Federal Council in 1856, was just 35 years old, the youngest to date. Karl Schenk.gif,

Karl Schenk Johann Karl Emmanuel Schenk (1 December 1823 – 18 July 1895) was a Swiss pastor, politician, and member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1863 until his death in 1895. Serving for , he was the longest-serving member in the Federal Council. L ...

, as the longest-serving member of the Federal Council, was president of the Confederation six times, a number only equaled by Emil Welti. Hertenstein.gif,

Wilhelm Hertenstein Wilhelm Friederich Hertenstein (5 May 1825, in Kyburg – 27 November 1888) was a Swiss politician. Hertenstein was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 21 March 1879 and died in office on 27 November 1888. He was affiliated to the Free De ...

died during his term, on 27 November 1888. As of , he is the only president not to complete his term. Alain Berset (2022).jpg,

Alain Berset Alain Berset (; born 9 April 1972) is a Swiss politician who has served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2012. A member of the Social Democratic Party (SP/PS), he has headed the Federal Department of Home Affairs since he took offi ...

1848–1899

1900–1999

2000–present

See also