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 |
| Alma mater | University of Zurich University of Lausanne |
Ignazio Daniele Giovanni Cassis (born 13 April 1961) is a Swiss doctor and politician. He has been a Member of the Swiss Federal Council since November 1, 2017. The Federal Council is like the government of Switzerland. Cassis is part of the FDP.The Liberals political party. He was chosen for the Federal Council in 2017. Since then, he has been in charge of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, which handles Switzerland's relationships with other countries. In 2022, he was also the President of the Swiss Confederation, which is a special role that changes every year.
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Early Life and Education
Ignazio Cassis was born on April 13, 1961, in a town called Sessa in Ticino, Switzerland. His parents were Gino and Mariarosa Cassis. He has three sisters. When he was born, he was an Italian citizen. In 1976, when his parents became Swiss citizens, he also became one. For a while, he had dual citizenship, meaning he was a citizen of both Italy and Switzerland. He studied medicine at the University of Zurich and the University of Lausanne, finishing in 1987.
His Career as a Doctor
After medical school, Ignazio Cassis became a specialist in internal medicine and public health. Public health is about keeping whole communities healthy. He earned a master's degree in public health in 1996. In 1998, he received his doctorate in medicine from the University of Lausanne.
From 1996 to 2008, he worked as a doctor for the canton (like a state) of Ticino. He also served as the vice president of the Swiss Medical Association from 2008 to 2012.
Becoming a Politician
Serving in the National Council
Ignazio Cassis lives in the canton of Ticino. He was a member of the National Council from June 4, 2007, to October 30, 2017. The National Council is one of the two parts of the Swiss Parliament. During this time, he was part of the FDP.The Liberals party.
Joining the Federal Council
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In 2017, a Federal Councillor named Didier Burkhalter decided to retire. Ignazio Cassis was one of the top choices to take his place. On September 20, 2017, the Federal Assembly (the Swiss Parliament) elected Cassis to the Federal Council. He received 125 out of 244 votes. He became the 117th person to join the Federal Council since 1848.
Cassis was the first Federal Councillor from Ticino since 1999. He was also the first Italian-speaking Federal Councillor in a long time. People in Switzerland generally thought his election was a good thing.
He started his new job on November 1, 2017. He became the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Soon after his election, there was a discussion when it was reported that he had joined a group that supported gun rights. This might have made his work with the European Union (EU) more difficult. Cassis quickly ended his membership in that group.
Ignazio Cassis is also a member of a group in the Swiss Parliament that supports friendship with Israel. In 2019, he decided to change how Switzerland gave aid to a group called UNRWA.
President of Switzerland
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In 2021, Cassis served as the Vice President of Switzerland. Then, on December 8, 2021, he was elected President of Switzerland for the year 2022. He officially took office on January 1, 2022, taking over from Guy Parmelin.
In 2022, as president, Cassis played a big part in thinking about Swiss neutrality. Swiss neutrality means Switzerland usually does not take sides in wars or conflicts. However, because of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Cassis decided that Switzerland would support the European Union. This meant Switzerland joined in with international rules against Russia. On October 20, 2022, Cassis visited Ukraine. He met with the President, Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister of Ukraine.
His Personal Life
Ignazio Cassis is married to Dr. Paola Cassis. They live in a town called Montagnola.
See also
In Spanish: Ignazio Cassis para niños
