Chancellor of Switzerland


The Federal Chancellor ; Chancelier fédéral; Cancelliere della Confederazione; Chancelier federal) is the head of the Federal Chancellery of Switzerland, which acts as the general staff of the seven-member Federal Council. The Swiss Chancellor is not a member of the government, and the office of Chancellor is not at all comparable to that of the Chancellor of Germany or the Chancellor of Austria.
The Federal Chancellor is elected for a four-year term by the Federal Assembly, assembled together as the United Federal Assembly, at the same time as it elects the Federal Council. The current Chancellor, Walter Thurnherr, a member of the Christian Democratic People's Party from Aargau, was elected on 9 December 2015 and began his term on 1 January 2016.

Vice-Chancellors

One or two vice-chancellors are also appointed. In contrast to the chancellor, they are appointed directly by the Federal Council. Before 1852, the position was called the State Secretary of the Confederation.

Role

The position is a political appointment and has only a technocratic role.
The Chancellor attends meetings of the Federal Council but does not have a vote. The Chancellor also prepares the Federal Council's reports to the Federal Assembly on its policy and activities. Still, the Chancellor's position is often referred to as that of an 'eighth Federal Councillor'. The chancellery is also responsible for the publication of all federal laws.

List of Federal Chancellors