Walter Thurnherr
Walter Thurnherr | |
---|---|
16th Chancellor of Switzerland | |
Assumed office 1 January 2016 | |
President | Johann Schneider-Ammann |
Deputy | André Simonazzi Thomas Helbling |
Preceded by | Corina Casanova |
Personal details | |
Born | Muri, Aargau, Switzerland | 11 July 1963
Political party | Christian Democratic People's Party |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | ETH Zurich |
Walter Thurnherr (born 11 July 1963) is the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland since 1 January 2016.[1]
Life and work
Born in Muri, Thurnherr graduated as a physicist at the ETH Zürich. In 1989, he joined the ranks of Switzerland's diplomatic corps. In 2002, he was appointed chief of staff of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs under Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss. The following year, he was named chief of staff of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, first under Pascal Couchepin, then Joseph Deiss, and finally Doris Leuthard. He followed Leuthard when she took over the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications in 2011 as her chief of staff.[2]
Federal Chancellor
He stood for election to succeed Corina Casanova as Federal Chancellor of Switzerland on 9 December 2015, as the first unopposed candidate in ninety years, and was elected by the Swiss Federal Assembly with 230 votes (out of 234 possible).[3][4] He assumed office on 1 January 2016.
References
- ^ "Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr". Federal Chancellery. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ Wutrich, Bernard (16 December 2016). "Walter Thurnherr, un médiateur au service du Conseil fédéral". Le Temps.ch. Le Temps SA. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ ATS/NXP (9 December 2015). "Walter Thurnherr élu chancelier de la Confédération". 24 Heures. ATS. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ Amrein, Marcel (14 December 2015). "Walter Thurnherr, der logische Kanzler". Neue Zurcher Zeitung. Zurich. NZZ Mediengruppe. Retrieved 2 January 2016.