Chancellor of Switzerland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Federal Chancellor of Switzerland
Incumbent Viktor Rossi since 1 January 2024
Federal Chancellery of Switzerland
Residence	Federal Palace
Term length	Four years, renewable
Inaugural holder	Jean-Marc Mousson
Formation	1803; 222 years ago (1803)
Website	www.bk.admin.ch

The Federal Chancellor is a very important role in Switzerland. This person leads the Federal Chancellery of Switzerland, which is like the main office for the Swiss government. It's the oldest government office in Switzerland, started way back in 1803. The Chancellor helps the seven members of the Federal Council, who are like the country's main leaders.

It's important to know that the Swiss Federal Chancellor is not like the Chancellor in Germany or Austria. They don't lead the government. Instead, they act more like a chief of staff, helping the government run smoothly.

The person holding this job right now is Viktor Rossi. He is a member of the Green Liberal Party and is from Bern. He was chosen on December 13, 2023, and started his work on January 1, 2024.

How the Federal Chancellor Is Chosen

Voting for the Chancellor

The Federal Chancellor is chosen for a four-year period. Members of the Federal Assembly (which is like Switzerland's parliament) vote for the Chancellor. They do this at the same time they choose the members of the Federal Council.

The Voting Process

The voting is done in secret. Each member of the Assembly can vote for anyone who is qualified in the first two rounds. If no one gets more than half of the votes, the person with the fewest votes is removed, and they vote again. This continues until one person gets a clear majority.

Meet the Vice-Chancellors

Who Are the Vice-Chancellors?

Besides the main Chancellor, there are also one or two Vice-Chancellors. These people are chosen directly by the Federal Council, not by the Federal Assembly. Before 1852, this job was called the "state secretary of the Confederation."

Current Vice-Chancellors

Currently, Rachel Salzmann is one of the Vice-Chancellors. She helps manage the Federal Council's schedule and meetings.

In May 2024, after Vice-Chancellor André Simonazzi passed away, Ursula Eggenberger stepped in temporarily. Then, Andrea Arcidiacono took over as Vice-Chancellor and spokesperson in October 2024. However, he left the role on March 31, 2025, and Ursula Eggenberger took on the temporary role again.

What Does the Federal Chancellor Do?

A Key Role in Government

The Federal Chancellor's job is a political one, but it's mostly about making sure things run well behind the scenes. It's a "technocratic" role, meaning they focus on how the government works efficiently.

Helping the Federal Council

The Chancellor attends all the meetings of the Federal Council. However, they don't get to vote on decisions. Their main job is to help prepare reports for the Federal Assembly about what the Federal Council is doing. Even though they don't vote, many people see the Chancellor as an "eighth federal councillor" because their work is so important. The Chancellery also makes sure that all new federal laws are officially published.

List of Federal Chancellors Throughout History

#	Tenure	Chancellor	Portrait	Birth–death	Party		Canton
1	1803–1830	Jean-Marc Mousson		1776–1861		Liberal Party	Vaud
2	1831–1847	Josef Franz Karl Amrhyn		1800–1849		Liberal Party	Lucerne
3	1848–1881	Johann Ulrich Schiess		1813–1883		Liberal Party	Appenzell Ausserrhoden
4	1882–1909	Gottlieb Ringier		1837–1929		Liberal Party	Aargau
5	1910–1918	Hans Schatzmann		1848–1923		Free Democratic Party	Aargau
6	1919–1925	Adolf von Steiger		1859–1925		Free Democratic Party	Bern
7	1925–1934	Robert Käslin		1871–1934		Free Democratic Party	Nidwalden
8	1934–1943	George Bovet		1874–1946		Free Democratic Party	Neuchâtel
9	1944–1951	Oskar Leimgruber		1886–1976		Christian Democratic People's Party	Fribourg
10	1951–1967	Charles Oser		1902–1994		Free Democratic Party	Basel-Stadt
11	1968–1981	Karl Huber		1915–2002		Christian Democratic People's Party	St. Gallen
12	1981–1991	Walter Buser		1926–2019		Social Democratic Party	Basel-Landschaft
13	1991–1999	François Couchepin		1935–2023		Free Democratic Party	Valais
14	2000–2007	Annemarie Huber-Hotz		1948–2019		Free Democratic Party	Zug
15	2008–2015	Corina Casanova		1956–		Christian Democratic People's Party	Grisons
16	2016–2023	Walter Thurnherr		1963–		Christian Democratic People's Party	Aargau
						The Centre
17	2024–present	Viktor Rossi		1968–		Green Liberal Party	Bern

See also

In Spanish: Canciller de la Confederación Suiza para niños

• Politics of Switzerland
• List of presidents of the Swiss Confederation
• List of members of the Swiss Federal Council
• Lists of office-holders