The head of the Department of Defense, Civil Protection, and Sport in Switzerland, 61-year-old Viola Amherd, has officially become the Swiss President for the year starting from January 1, 2024.

Amherd, who became the first woman to lead the Swiss Ministry of Defense, replaces Alain Berset as the president, who held the position throughout 2023.

Unlike most countries, the President of Switzerland does not have real executive powers - these are exercised on behalf of the entire country by the collective body, the Federal Council (analogous to the government). Each of its seven members takes turns serving as president for a year in a rotational basis.

Members of the Federal Council and the president are elected in a closed session of both houses of parliament, but this is essentially a procedural step, as it is already known who will hold which position.

In addition to the formal representation of Switzerland abroad, the president presides over the meetings of the Federal Council and serves as a mediator in case of disputes.

In emergency situations, for example, if the Federal Council cannot hold a meeting for specific reasons, the President of Switzerland can make unilateral decisions or issue orders for emergency measures.

Swiss media note that Viola Amherd is the second consecutive French-speaking president of Switzerland and the fourth president not originating from a German-speaking canton.

Alain Berset, as reported, decided to step down from the Federal Council of Switzerland last year, so in December, his party colleague, the social democrat Beata Jansa, was chosen to replace him.