Below is a list of presidents of the Swiss Confederation (1848–present). It presents the presiding member of the

Swiss Federal Council The Federal Council (german: Bundesrat; french: Conseil fédéral; it, Consiglio federale; rm, Cussegl federal) is the executive body of the federal government of the Swiss Confederation and serves as the collective head of state and governm ...

, 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'', the officeholder has no powers above the other Federal Councillors and continues to head his or her department. 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 1 ...

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, the country's executive branch. Elected by ...

(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 186 ...

, who presided over the Federal Council in 1856, was just 35 years old, the youngest to date. Karl Schenk.gif, Karl Schenk, as the longest-serving member of the Federal Council, was president of the Confederation six times, a number only equaled by

Emil Welti Friedrich Emil Welti (23 April 1825, in Zurzach – 24 February 1899, in Bern, called exclusively ''Emil Welti'') was a Swiss politician, lawyer and judge. From 1856 to 1866, he was a member of the government of the canton of Aargau and, beginning ...

. Hertenstein.gif, Wilhelm Hertenstein 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, 175th and current president of the Confederation (2023).

1848–1899

1900–1999

2000–present

;Political parties

1848–1899

1900–1999

2000–present

See also