Alain Berset facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alain Berset
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Official portrait, 2023
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| Secretary General of the Council of Europe | |
| Assumed office 18 September 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Marija Pejčinović Burić |
| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023 |
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| Vice President | Viola Amherd |
| Preceded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| Succeeded by | Viola Amherd |
| In office 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018 |
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| Vice President | Ueli Maurer |
| Preceded by | Doris Leuthard |
| Succeeded by | Ueli Maurer |
| Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022 |
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| President | Ignazio Cassis |
| Preceded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| Succeeded by | Viola Amherd |
| In office 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017 |
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| President | Doris Leuthard |
| Preceded by | Doris Leuthard |
| Succeeded by | Ueli Maurer |
| Swiss Federal Councillor | |
| In office 1 January 2012 – 31 December 2023 |
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| Department | Home Affairs |
| Preceded by | Micheline Calmy-Rey |
| Succeeded by | Beat Jans |
| President of the Council of States | |
| In office 1 December 2008 – 23 November 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Christoffel Brändli |
| Succeeded by | Erika Forster-Vannini |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 April 1972 Fribourg, Switzerland |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party |
| Spouse |
Muriel Zeender
(m. 2002) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Belfaux, Switzerland |
| Education | University of Neuchâtel (BA, MA, PhD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Alain Berset (born 9 April 1972) is a Swiss politician. He was a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2012 to 2023. The Federal Council is like the government cabinet of Switzerland.
As a member of the Social Democratic Party, he was in charge of the Federal Department of Home Affairs. This department handles things like social security, health, and culture. Berset also served as President of Switzerland in 2018 and 2023. The President of Switzerland is a special role that rotates among the Federal Council members each year.
When he became President in 2018, he was 45 years old. This made him the youngest person to hold that office since 1934! Before joining the Federal Council, he was a member of the Council of States from 2003 to 2011. This is one of the two parts of the Swiss parliament. He even served as the President of the Council of States from 2008 to 2009. Alain Berset is very good at languages; he speaks French, German, Romansh, Italian, and English fluently.
In June 2023, he announced he would not run for re-election. He left his position on 31 December 2023. In June 2024, Berset was chosen to be the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. He started this important international role on 18 September 2024.
Contents
Biography
Personal life and education
Alain Berset was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, on 9 April 1972. He was the older of two children. His father was a teacher, and his mother was a bookseller. His family was interested in politics. His grandfather was one of the first local leaders of the Social Democratic Party in Fribourg.
Berset studied political science and economics at the University of Neuchâtel. He earned a master's degree in political science in 1996. Later, in 2005, he received a PhD in economics. His PhD research was about how people moving between countries can affect local jobs.
Alain Berset is married to Muriel Zeender Berset. They have three children and live in Belfaux, a village near Fribourg.
Early career in politics
From 1996 to 2000, Berset worked as a teaching assistant and researcher at the University of Neuchâtel. He then spent a year at an economic research institute in Germany. In 2000, he became a member of the local parliament in Fribourg. He led the Social Democratic group there until 2004. He also served in the local government of Belfaux from 2001 to 2003. In 2002, he became an advisor for economic matters in the canton of Neuchâtel.
Serving in the Council of States
In 2003, Alain Berset was elected to the Swiss Council of States. This is one of the two houses of the Swiss parliament, representing the different regions (cantons). He was the youngest member of the Council of States at that time. He became the vice president of his party's group in the Council in 2005. After being re-elected in 2007, he served as the Council's vice president from 2007 to 2008. Then, he became the President of the Council of States from 2008 to 2009.
Becoming a Federal Councillor
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On 14 December 2011, Alain Berset was elected to the Swiss Federal Council. This is the main governing body of Switzerland, made up of seven members. He was chosen to replace Micheline Calmy-Rey, who was retiring. Berset became the head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs.
On 1 January 2017, Berset became the Vice-President of the Federal Council. He then became the President of Switzerland on 1 January 2018. He served as President for that year. He was succeeded by Ueli Maurer at the end of 2018.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland, Berset played a very important role. As the head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs, he was one of the main leaders guiding the government's response to the health crisis. He worked very hard during this time.
On 1 January 2022, Berset became Vice-President of the Federal Council again. On 7 December 2022, he was elected President for the second time. He took office on 1 January 2023, succeeding Ignazio Cassis.
In January 2024, Berset was chosen as Switzerland's candidate to become the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. He won the election and started his new international role in September 2024.
Works
Alain Berset has written several books. He has also written about 30 articles on topics like economic growth, how people move between countries, and regional development.
Images for kids
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Alain Berset's signature.
See also
In Spanish: Alain Berset para niños
