Guy Parmelin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guy Parmelin
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Official portrait, 2026
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| President of Switzerland | |
| Assumed office 1 January 2026 |
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| Vice President | Ignazio Cassis |
| Preceded by | Karin Keller-Sutter |
| In office 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021 |
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| Vice President | Ignazio Cassis |
| Preceded by | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Succeeded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025 |
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| President | Karin Keller-Sutter |
| Preceded by | Karin Keller-Sutter |
| Succeeded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| In office 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020 |
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| President | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Preceded by | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Succeeded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| Member of the Swiss Federal Council | |
| Assumed office 1 January 2016 |
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| Department | Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (2016–2018) Economic Affairs, Education and Research (2018–) |
| Preceded by | Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf |
| Member of the Swiss National Council | |
| In office 1 December 2003 – 31 December 2015 |
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| Constituency | Vaud |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Guy Bernard Parmelin
9 November 1959 Bursins, Vaud, Switzerland |
| Political party | Swiss People's Party |
| Spouse |
Caroline Merotto
(m. 1995) |
Guy Bernard Parmelin, born on November 9, 1959, is an important Swiss politician. He is currently the President of Switzerland for the year 2026. He also served as president in 2021 and as Vice President in 2020 and 2025.
Mr. Parmelin leads the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. He is a member of the Swiss People's Party, a political group in Switzerland. He has been a member of the Federal Council, which is like the Swiss government, since 2016. Before his current role, he led the Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports from 2016 to 2018.
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Growing Up and Learning
Guy Parmelin was born on November 9, 1959, in a town called Bursins in Switzerland. He was the oldest of three children. His father, Richard Parmelin, was a farmer and grew grapes for wine. His mother was Jeannine Parmelin.
Guy finished high school in 1977. He then studied agriculture at a special college in Morges. In 1985, he earned a higher degree in viticulture, which is the science of growing grapes.
Starting in Politics
Mr. Parmelin was a skilled grape grower before he became a politician. He was first elected to the Grand Council of Vaud, a local government group, in 1994. He served there until 2003.
In 2003, he was elected to the National Council. This is one of the two parts of the Swiss parliament, where laws are made for the whole country. He represented the Vaud region. From 2000 to 2004, he also led the Swiss People's Party in his home region of Vaud.
On December 9, 2015, the Federal Assembly (which is both parts of the parliament together) chose him to join the Federal Council. This is the main governing body of Switzerland. He took the place of another politician, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.
Joining the Federal Council
In 2015, the Swiss People's Party won many votes in the national election. Because of this, they were able to gain a seat on the Federal Council. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, who held that seat, decided not to run again. The Swiss People's Party suggested three people for the role, and Guy Parmelin was chosen.
Mr. Parmelin became the first Federal Councillor from the Swiss People's Party who spoke French. Switzerland has different language regions, and he came from the French-speaking part called Romandy. He was first put in charge of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports. Later, in 2019, he started leading the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. This department handles important topics like business, schools, and research for the country.
Leading Switzerland
Mr. Parmelin served as the Vice President of Switzerland in 2020. He then became the President of Switzerland on January 1, 2021. During his presidency in 2021, he hosted an important meeting. This meeting was the 2021 Russia–United States summit in Geneva, where leaders Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden met. He hoped their discussions would be helpful for their countries and the world.
On December 10, 2025, the Federal Assembly elected Mr. Parmelin to be the President of Switzerland again for the year 2026. He received many votes for this important role.
His Family Life
In 1995, Guy Parmelin married Caroline Merotto. Her father, Aldo Merotto, was an engineer. Guy and Caroline Parmelin do not have children.
See also
In Spanish: Guy Parmelin para niños
