Walter Thurnherr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Thurnherr
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Official portrait, 2023
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| 16th Chancellor of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2023 |
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| President | Johann Schneider-Ammann Doris Leuthard Alain Berset Ueli Maurer Simonetta Sommaruga Guy Parmelin Ignazio Cassis Alain Berset |
| Vice-Chancellor | Jörg De Bernardi Viktor Rossi André Simonazzi |
| Preceded by | Corina Casanova |
| Succeeded by | Viktor Rossi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 July 1963 Muri, Aargau, Switzerland |
| Political party | Christian Democratic People's Party (before 2021) The Centre (2021–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | ETH Zurich University of Bern |
Walter Thurnherr, born on July 11, 1963, is a Swiss government official. He worked as the Chancellor of Switzerland from 2016 until the end of 2023. The Chancellor's job is usually not linked to a specific political party. However, Walter Thurnherr was first elected as a member of the Christian Democratic People's Party. In 2021, this party joined with another to form "The Centre" party, and he became a member of this new group. On August 16, 2023, he announced he would be leaving his role by the end of that year.
Contents
Walter Thurnherr's Life
Early Years and Education
Walter Thurnherr was born in Muri, Aargau, Switzerland. He studied physics at ETH Zurich, a famous university, and graduated in 1987. After that, he also studied mathematics at the University of Bern.
In 1989, he started working for Switzerland's diplomatic service. This means he helped represent Switzerland in other countries.
Career in Government
Walter Thurnherr held several important roles in the Swiss government. In 2002, he became the chief of staff for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. This department handles Switzerland's relationships with other countries.
The next year, he moved to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs. He worked there as chief of staff for different leaders. In 2011, he became chief of staff for Doris Leuthard when she led the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.
Becoming Federal Chancellor
On December 9, 2015, Walter Thurnherr ran for the position of Chancellor of Switzerland. He was the only candidate running for the job in 90 years. The Swiss Federal Assembly, which is like Switzerland's parliament, elected him with a large number of votes.
He officially started his job as Chancellor on January 1, 2016. He was re-elected for another term on December 11, 2019.
In an interview in 2023, Walter Thurnherr said he believed Switzerland should be more involved in international discussions. He left his position at the end of 2023.
Personal Interests
Walter Thurnherr enjoys using social media, like Twitter. He often shares his interest in physics and mathematics there. He can speak English, German, and French. He also learned Russian when he worked as a diplomat in Moscow.
He is married and has two children. In his free time, he likes to go hiking and read books.
See also
In Spanish: Walter Thurnherr para niños
