Swiss president to quit government

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) -- Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced Friday that he will quit the government at the end of the year, in a sudden move after more than a decade of ministerial service.

Switzerland's presidency rotates annually among the seven members of the government, called the Federal Council, of which Parmelin, 66, was the longest-serving minister.

Parmelin told a press conference in Bern that he had informed ministerial colleagues of his decision to step down on December 31.

"By then, it will have been 11 years since I was elected to this role, and the time has come for me to make way for new energy in these times of great uncertainty," he said, admitting to feeling "a certain weariness", while insisting he was not stepping down for medical reasons.

- Tariff tussle with Trump - A pragmatist, Parmelin seemed to make more headway with US President Donald Trump than his predecessor Karin Keller-Sutter.

Trump shocked Switzerland in August 2025 when he announced 39-percent duties on imports of Swiss goods, among the highest in his global tariff blitz.

Parmelin, the economy minister, went to Washington three times in a bid to reduce the rate.

Eventually, Switzerland and the United States announced a declaration of intent to cut tariffs to 15 percent, with the Swiss vowing to invest $200 billion in the United States.

A winegrower by trade, Parmelin is from the French-speaking western canton of Vaud. He is from the hard-right Swiss People's Party (SVP), which is the biggest in the country,

Parmelin was previously president in 2021 and took centre-stage as Switzerland hosted a summit in Geneva between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden.

The president of the Swiss Confederation is first among equals on the Federal Council, chairs its meetings and typically represents the country in major domestic and international matters.

The position goes to whoever has had the longest run on the council without being president.

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will become president in 2027.

Parmelin joined the Federal Council in 2016 as defence minister and has held the economy brief since 2019.

The Federal Council seven seats are shared 2-2-2-1 among the four main political parties under a decades-old tacit agreement known as "the magic formula".

Parmelin's successor will come from the SVP. Candidates have until October 23 to come forward, and parliament will choose on December 9.

Parmelin will visit India for a three-day state visit from Monday.