Ignazio Cassis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ignazio Cassis
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Official portrait, 2024
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| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022 |
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| Vice President | Alain Berset |
| Preceded by | Guy Parmelin |
| Succeeded by | Alain Berset |
| Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021 |
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| President | Guy Parmelin |
| Preceded by | Guy Parmelin |
| Succeeded by | Alain Berset |
| Member of the Swiss Federal Council | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2017 |
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| Department | Foreign Affairs (2017–present) |
| Preceded by | Didier Burkhalter |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ignazio Daniele Giovanni Cassis
13 April 1961 Sessa, Ticino, Switzerland |
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| Political party | FDP.The Liberals |
| Spouse | Dr. Paola Rodoni |
| Residences | Montagnola, Ticino |
Ignazio Daniele Giovanni Cassis (born 13 April 1961) is a Swiss politician and doctor. He has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2017. The Federal Council is a group of seven people who lead the government of Switzerland.
As a member of the FDP.The Liberals political party, Cassis was chosen for the Federal Council on 20 September 2017. Since taking office, he has been in charge of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, which handles Switzerland's relationships with other countries. In 2022, he served as the President of Switzerland, a role that rotates among the council members each year.
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Early Life and Education
Ignazio Cassis was born in Sessa, a town in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland called Ticino. He was born with Italian citizenship. When he was 15, his parents became naturalized Swiss citizens, and he did too. For many years, he was a citizen of both Italy and Switzerland.
For his education, Cassis decided to study medicine. He went to the University of Zurich and later the University of Lausanne, finishing his main medical studies in 1987.
Career as a Doctor
After becoming a doctor, Cassis continued his studies. He specialized in internal medicine (treating diseases inside the body) and public health (keeping entire communities healthy). He earned a master's degree in public health in 1996 and a doctorate in medicine in 1998.
From 1996 to 2008, he worked as a cantonal doctor in Ticino. A canton is like a state in Switzerland, so he was a top public health official for his region. He also served as the vice president of a major Swiss medical association from 2008 to 2012.
Political Career
Cassis began his political career in the National Council, which is one of the two parts of Switzerland's parliament. He represented the canton of Ticino from 2007 until 2017.
Joining the Federal Council
In 2017, a member of the Federal Council named Didier Burkhalter retired. Cassis's party, FDP.The Liberals, chose him as one of three people to possibly take Burkhalter's place. On 20 September 2017, the Swiss parliament elected Cassis to the Federal Council.
His election was important because he became the first Federal Councillor from the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino since 1999. When he joined the council, he took over the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Serving as President
In Switzerland, the role of president is mostly ceremonial and changes every year. In 2021, Cassis served as the Vice President of Switzerland. The following year, on 8 December 2021, he was elected President for 2022.
During his time as president, a major event was the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cassis led Switzerland in deciding how to respond. He supported joining the European Union in placing sanctions on Russia. In October 2022, he visited Ukraine to meet with its leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Personal Life
Ignazio Cassis is married to Dr. Paola Cassis. They live in a town called Montagnola in the canton of Ticino.
See also
In Spanish: Ignazio Cassis para niños
