Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced on Friday that he will step down from the Federal Council at the end of 2026, bringing his 11-year tenure in Switzerland’s government to a close.
Speaking at a news conference in Bern, Parmelin said he had informed his fellow federal councillors that he would leave office on December 31.
“By then, it will have been 11 years since I was elected to this position, and the time has come for me to make way for new forces,” he said.
The 66-year-old Swiss People’s Party (SVP) politician said he had reflected on his future during the summer and gradually concluded that leaving office at the end of the year was the most appropriate decision.
Parmelin was elected to the seven-member Federal Council in December 2015. He initially headed the Defence Department before taking charge of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research in 2019.
He has also served twice as Switzerland’s rotating federal president, first in 2021 and again in 2026.
Reflecting on Switzerland’s position amid global uncertainty, Parmelin pointed to the war in the Middle East, rising protectionism, geopolitical instability and supply-security concerns, as well as the growing impact of artificial intelligence on businesses and society.
Despite those challenges, he said Switzerland remained well positioned because of its sound public finances, controlled debt, strong education system and innovative businesses.
However, Parmelin cautioned that the country could not take its advantages for granted, warning that failure to adapt and make necessary decisions amid intensifying global competition could result in a “brutal awakening.”